Popular Durban publicist’s car stolen in Durban CBD
Following the theft of the branded Publicity Matters vehicle for Denis Hurley Centre, a Back-A-Buddy page has been launched to raise money for new wheels for Illa Thompson who is their publicist.
ON Thursday, October 19, well-known publicist for the arts sector in South Africa, Illa Thompson, was shocked to find that someone had stolen her hard-working, reliable old car.
According to Raymond Perrier, director of the Denis Hurley Centre (DHC), Illa Thompson’s blue Ford Laser (with ‘Publicity Matters’ written on the side) has been a distinctive sight on the streets of Durban for years.
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“Since she took over running our Street Lit project, her ‘blue bullet’ has also been the car we have relied on for collecting books, delivering booksellers to outlying venues and picking up unsold books, tables or banners,” said Perrier.
Perrier says the vehicle was stolen on Thursday morning at the Playhouse in Durban Central. “We know that cars are stolen every day in SA, and it is always a pain to the owner. In this case, the pain is also being felt by our hard-working Street Lit booksellers – they may have to spend money on Ubers to get them to venues, or take fewer books (and thus make less money), or miss out completely on selling opportunities.”
“We can cope in the short-term, but without a car, which is available for this (and other DHC pick-ups), we are really compromised. The only other vehicle that the DHC has is our mobile clinic,” said Perrier.
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The centre is appealing to anyone who may have a reliable second-hand car or bakkie they want to sell at a low price, or even donate, to assist. Or if you have contacts with a car dealership, get in touch with the Denis Hurley Centre urgently via email at books@denishurleycentre.org.
There has also been a Back-A-Buddy page launched to raise money for Illa, who is involved in various projects that help the Durban community, to get her a car that will help her continue her good deeds for so many.
Click on this link to donate:
www.backabuddy.co.za/illa-thompson-5736420253116388465
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