An officer’s morning jog took an unexpected turn when he encountered a destitute eight-year-old boy and his mother who had gone days without food.
Free State, South Africa (12 September) – While police officers are often associated with danger and crime, they also serve as compassionate protectors of our communities.
A heartwarming example of this was the response of SAPS’ Lieutenant Colonel Tume Ramahlaha, who was stopped in his tracks during a morning jog when he came across an eight-year-old boy and his mom looking through the rubble for food scraps.
Their paths crossed on Monday, September 9, when Ramahlaha established that it had been days since the boy and his mother had something to eat. The boy also did not have a uniform and was not allowed to attend school.
Moved by their plight, he not only provided them with a meal but also arranged for the boy to attend school and receive essential supplies like a uniform, clothes, and toys.
“Through further questioning, Ramahlaha realised that 9 September also happened to be the boy’s birthday and shared this information with Captain Cilliè Truter and the rest of the Border Policing members deployed in the Free State,” a SAPS statement reveals.
Without hesitation, Truter and his team went above and beyond to make the day special for the little man. They arranged for the boy to get a haircut and bought him a school uniform, new clothes, shoes, toys and a birthday cake.
The Department of Social Development also intervened, and the boy will be going back to school.
Truter shared that this was all made possible through contributions made by each of his compassionate members from their own pockets.
“There is no greater calling than being of service to our communities. We are deployed to combat illicit mining activities in the Free State, but we will not fold our arms when vulnerable community members need our help,” said Truter.
The heart-tugging gesture just goes to show the compassion and selflessness that can be found within the ranks of law enforcement.
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