Carlo has been at Circle Centre for ages. The community often pays toward a little account at the local coffee shop to keep him fed. Recently, his seat was stolen, but his people made fast plans to get him a new one!
Somerset West, South Africa (30 October 2026) – Someone recently made off with Carlo’s chair. Not cool.
Carlo is described as a ‘local institution’ by community members who frequent the shopping centre. He’s been around there since the ‘90s. He’s a trusted face who always greets with a smile, and the people of Somerset West have grown rather fond of Carlo over the years.
The folks at Sage & Thyme, the local coffee shop, have even opened a little account for Carlo. Community members chip in to keep him fed.
Circle Centre just isn’t the same without him.
So when someone made off with his chair recently, the coffee shop wasn’t going to let that slide.
They made a few calls through their network. In record time, the team at My Office Furniture stepped up and donated a replacement chair!
Sage & Thyme shared the news on Facebook with a big thank you, and said the gesture reminded them what community spirit is all about.
The best part of the post is the comments, where people started sharing their Carlo stories.
Juanita Botha has known him since 1999.
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WATCH: Australia’s Winning Netball Ball Gets a South African Makeover“I have known Carlo since 1999. My dad was the owner of the Bistro in the Circle center and Carlo got had tea and brekkie there. He is still to this day very respectful towards me and my mother.” she writes.
Craig Damon remembers seeing Carlo at the centre every day after school. He’s a grown adult now!
“I attended Hendrik Louw Primary and Carlo was the familiar face in Circle Centre after school.
I’m a grown up man today and Carlo still looks the same!”
Georgie Barlow is 32 and can’t remember a time when Carlo wasn’t there.
“Carlo has been there for as long as I can remember! I remember going to Somerset House as a child and my mom would pick us up from school and make a quick stop at the Circle Centre. Carlo was always there and is still today! The Centre definitely wouldn’t be the same without him!”
Tougeeda Abrahams Robyntjies says Carlo has a sunshine soul.
“Carlo is a loving person, always has a smile on his face! May God continue to bless your beautiful soul.”
Carlo has kept a watchful eye over Circle Centre for decades. The people who grew up seeing him everyday are still making sure he’s looked after and has a comfortable seat at his regular spot. That’s community!
If you’d like to do something nice for him, you can pop into Sage & Thyme and add to Carlo’s account. Even R10 or R20 goes towards a warm coffee or a decent breakfast.
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