Car guards' R1,4m ($ 189 445) gift
14 January 2010
TWO car guards at the Table Mountain cableway station are now the proud drivers of a luxury car valued at R1.4 million - handed to them by a businessman who asked that they use it to perform good deeds because of a dream he'd had.
It's not clear whether the donor's grand gesture is part of a publicity campaign for his business but there is no branding on the car.
The Cape Argus has learnt that he is still the registered owner of the vehicle.
The extraordinary gift has piqued the interest of visitors to the mountain, and led to the two men being stopped several times by police officers who believed they must have stolen the gleaming black Audi R8.
But each time they have been released because police have approached the businessman who has confirmed the duo's bizarre story.
The man has asked the car guards and police not to identify him.
Fabrice Munganga-Mugala, 25, and Desire Shima, 25, are both from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They say they were working at Table Mountain's cableway parking lot a week ago when they were approached by the businessman.
"We were a group of four and he started speaking to us. He said a dream told him to come to the mountain," Shima said.
He asked who of the group was licensed to drive. Munganga-Mugala and Shima said they had licences.
The man said he would fetch a car from his home, bring it to the mountain and the pair could keep it.
"We didn't think he was serious - but then he came back," Shima said.
The guards, who live in Milnerton, were handed the car keys, registration papers and an invoice. It had been bought by the businessman in December and was fully paid for.
"The car doesn't belong to anyone, it belongs to the mountain.
"He gave it to us to show that if you can help others, you must give without wanting anything in return," said Shima, a third-year Information Technology student.
The Audi R8, which retails from R1,4m without any extras, has attracted a great deal of attention.
One tourist asked the Cape Argus if the car belonged to a celebrity.
Another man asked Munganga-Mugala if he could use it for his wedding day.
The duo have cut a slit in the bonnet for people to drop off messages or slip in donations. Around the slit are the words: "A better future for all." The engine is in the back of the car.
The duo felt it was necessary to create the slit so that they could spread the donor's message.
They are unsure about what to put on personalised licence plates, but they want it to reflect a message of hope and goodwill.
The two say that after their shifts at the cableway, they buy food and drive around the city to distribute it to homeless and needy people.
"Because of the gift we have received, we want to give to others. He has taught us that we must give what we can.
"He has also shown us how the rich should, and can, help the poor," Munganga-Mugala said.
Police confirmed that they were aware of the bizarre situation.
