Help pours in for newspaper man Patrick after mugging

Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Thanks to kind-hearted members of the Graaff-Reinet community and beyond, help has already started to pour in for Advertiser seller Patrick Johnson (48), who was robbed on the job in Church Street last week Thursday.

Johnson started working for the Advertiser when he was 21 years old, when the newspaper cost 10c and was published on Mondays and Thursdays.

"In all my years here, something like this has never happened to me," Johnson said of the incident, during which two unknown men grabbed him and stole R460 from his pocket.

Many Advertiser readers were upset when they heard the news, as Johnson is well-known and trusted in the community. "I've known [Johnson] for more than 10 years; a very dedicated and humble man," said Johan Hendricks. "This is my neighbour and a very handy man in the area," agreed Thandi Majoka from Umasizakhe.

Upon request from readers who wished to make donations to Johnson, the ABSA branch in Graaff-Reinet opened a savings account for him on Monday, free of charge. "After hearing how community members wanted to help, we decided to assist him in that way," said Sales Consultant Fenicia du Prearce.

Johnson can not remember when last he had a bank account. "Thank you to the friendly employees of ABSA and the Graaff-Reinet community. I am so grateful."

He added that he is not scared to return to work on Thursday. "I need this job to keep bread on the table and the lights on." Johnson lives with his brother Dennis (47), who also sells newspapers, and their nephew (27), whose mother has died. They are grateful to Mina Speelman, who often offers them a warm meal.

Patrick Johnson with a few of the ABSA employees who assisted him: Merle Koeberg (customer services and hosting manager), Zizikazi Skepe (sales consultant) and Zizipho Dlambewu (sales support consultant).
Photos: Paula-Ann Smit

When he was young, Johnson dreamt of becoming a math teacher. "I loved school and didn't mind walking kilometres without shoes to get there," he said. His dreams were cut short when he left school in Grade Eight to help his family financially. His father died in 1993 and his mother last year.