Some heroes don’t wear capes – they wear uniforms and carry kindness in their hearts. When Rose Mosiane’s car broke down outside Westpark Cemetery, panic set in. But just when she needed it most, a helping hand arrived in the form of Officer Gerald Nxumalo, a man who proves that true service goes far beyond the badge.
Johannesburg, South Africa (04 March 2025) – Kindness is one of the most powerful forces in the world. It changes lives in an instant, turns bad days around and reminds us that goodness is still very much alive. Sometimes, kindness comes from family, friends, or even strangers who cross our paths at just the right moment.
And in this case, it came in the form of a dedicated officer who went above and beyond to help a woman in distress.
Rose Mosiane, a 63-year-old mother of three and grandmother to three grandkids, found herself in an incredibly stressful situation on 1st March 2024. She had been attending a funeral in Ormonde and was part of the procession heading to Westpark Cemetery when her car suddenly lost power. Not knowing what was wrong, she continued cautiously, with her sister as a passenger, until the engine finally cut out just outside the cemetery entrance.
“I managed to roll just the front part out of the busy road, but the tail was still obstructing traffic,” Rose recalled.
“I panicked, thinking that the speeding cars behind me might slam into the back of mine.”
Desperate for assistance, she spotted traffic officers directing vehicles near the cemetery entrance. She approached them, hoping for a quick helping hand to push her car to safety. However, she was told they were still busy and advised to seek help from locals inside the cemetery.
With the chaos of the funeral and no way to locate these individuals, Rose realised she would have to find another way.
Stuck and unsure of what to do next, she kept phoning her son for help, but with their home in Kempton Park, assistance was still far off. That’s when she noticed an officer walking toward her – and in that moment, her worries began to ease.
The officer was none other than Gerald Nxumalo, a name some might recognise for his previous outstanding service in law enforcement. But on this day, he wasn’t chasing criminals or enforcing laws – he was simply a kind-hearted human being stepping up to help someone in need.
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“Gerald immediately assisted with everything, including opening the car engine lid to see what the problem was,” Rose shared.
“All I was expecting was just to get the car off the road, but he went beyond that.”
Gerald quickly assessed the situation and discovered that the car had overheated due to a lack of water in the cooling system. With only a small bottle of drinking water on hand, Rose was at a loss. That’s when Gerald did something remarkable – he walked all the way into the cemetery, filled up two containers of water, and returned to carefully top up the car.
“He was so patient, explaining what to look for in case there was a leak, and he never once seemed in a rush to get back to his colleagues,” Rose said in awe.
“He waited for the car to cool down, checked the temperature gauge, and only once he was sure that we were safe did he say he was happy for me to drive.”
Grateful beyond words, Rose asked how she could make sure his good deed was recognised. Gerald, ever the humble man, simply laughed and told her to Google him. She did – and what she found left her even more amazed.
“That is when I saw your article on him that you did in 2019 and was very impressed. I had also been following the Good Things Guy before, so I knew about your page and the articles you had posted of good samaritans, so that was even more impressive to see that you had once profiled him for his good work.”
Back in 2019, Good Things Guy had already written about Officer Gerald Nxumalo for his incredible dedication to law enforcement. Having served in various high-risk police units, he had been crowned JMPD Officer of the Year for his outstanding service. But beyond the accolades and official commendations, his heart for people is what truly stands out.
“I always go above and beyond the call of duty,” Gerald once said.
“If you don’t love what you do, you’ll always suffer from a migraine each time you need to come to work, so you have to give it 100% or more.”
For Rose Mosiane, his selflessness that day made all the difference.
“I got home safely because of him. He deserves all the recognition. I am in awe of his good heart and spirit to serve, especially as it is so rare to find these days.”
Officer Gerald Nxumalo isn’t just a man in uniform – he’s proof that compassion still drives our communities forward. And that’s something worth celebrating.
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