When reputation is more important than quick cash.

A South African has found inspiration from a gentleman driving a taxi, with honest old fashioned values.

It is fairly common in a place like South Africa where poverty reigns for phones to go missing and then be sold for some quick cash. But not today. Not for Rukero and Menzi.

Rukero Rijamekee left his phone in a taxi a few weeks ago while going home from work. He accepted that like many situations, when losing a phone, it would be gone forever so went to renew his simcard.

Ten days later he got a call from from Menzi Solomon Shange, the taxi driver that found his phone in the car! He called to say that he still had his phone and wanted to return it.

Menzi had traced Rukero from the text messages on the phone between and had got in contact with Rukero’s girlfriend.

He called her, told her the story and got his number.

“Imagine my pleasant surprise! He actually came to my work to give me my phone back.”

I immediately asked him why he chose to return the phone because he could have easily sold it. His answer humbled me.

“I’m known for returning lost properties. From wallets with cash to phones. It is important to me to uphold an honest reputation.”

Rukero was blown away! This taxi driver’s reputation is more important to him than quick cash! The thankful South African took to Facebook to share the story, to show how something so simple could mean so much.