A taxi driver operating from Rank 5 found a stolen wallet on Friday 11 October and wanted to meet its owner.
The taxi driver, who is associated with the Davidsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) believes it to be his moral duty to return the lost item and money.
Ntevhedzeni Munyai says that he reported the lost wallet to both the rank steward and Rank 5 manager, Itani Davhana.
“When something that was left behind on a taxi is found, we follow a process of reporting it.
“We check the item and surroundings for any personal identification of the owner.
“If nothing identifies the owner, we get involved personally to find the person who lost it – at least, I do.”
According to Dorljota’s Veronica Mosiapoa responsible taxi driver Munyai followed all the correct routes and was excited to get involved. The leather wallet that was found contained no identity document or driver’s licence but a substantial amount of money and what seems to be a salary envelope.
“Most of what came in that envelope was still left in the wallet,” Mosiapoa explained.
“The envelope didn’t indicate who the receiver was, but had a company name and the salary amount printed on it as well as an address.”
No further contact details for either the company or the owner of the wallet could be obtained, so a group of Dorljota members along with the Record journalist set out to the address, 78A Totius Road in Poortview, hoping the owner would be there.
Searching, hooting and enquiring with the neighbours were to no avail – the owner neither was on the seemingly deserted property, nor did it seem like the business’ offices, but the neighbour later stated that she knew of a man who worked there and would make contact with him should she see him again.
“I’d have liked to see his reaction,” said a disappointed Munyai.
“I know he’s in pain since he lost [most of] his salary,” he said, as only about R230 of the total salary amount was spent.
With Munyai having a wife and four children of his own, he says he has a fair salary “but would have been lost without it”.
Anyone with any information about the address or the property owner, the employee or his personal contact details, or who believes that the wallet lost was theirs, should contact Veronica Masiapoa on 082 775 4179.
A series of security questions may be asked to ascertain whether the information communicated is correct.