Kindness at its finest! After Leigh Stefanski had her ID and Driver’s poached, an unsung hero named Rowena went out of their way to reunite the documents with her.
Cape Town, South Africa (19 May 2025) — There’s a stomach-dropping sensation that happens when you realise your ID isn’t in your wallet anymore. Now, consider your ID and driver’s licence are both missing in action. In fact, you don’t even have a clue where your wallet is! Few things can cure the realisation that your ID and driver’s were poached along with your wallet, but kindness is at the top of the list.
Recently, Leigh Stefanski told the story of how kindness prevailed at its finest in a situation like this, all without her knowing.
As Leigh shares, her partner had woken up to a Facebook message from someone he didn’t know. The message revealed that said person thought they were in possession of Leigh’s ID and driver’s licence, a vital document duo that Leigh didn’t even know had gone on the run.
“After marching off to get my wallet and looking in every plausible place, I succumbed to the realisation that my wallet was indeed lifted out of my handbag last night.”
Cue an unsung hero named Rowena Hamit, who works for SAPS.
While Leigh was none the wiser regarding her lost documents, Rowena had been on a mission, keeping Leigh’s found documents safe and tracking their person down.
An unnamed colleague of hers had spotted the discarded ID and driver’s licence near local flower stalls and thankfully took them to work (and to Rowena). Rowena’s shift ended early in the morning. Yet, despite how tired we’re sure she was, she still made the effort to leave the documents with a Parliament Control Officer where they’d be safe for collection. And, of course, going above and beyond to reach out to Leigh through her partner.
“Rowena was an absolute gift in my life [that day],” says Leigh. “Not just for the hours and headaches that she saved me in replacing my documents, but for the reminder that there are so many people who are good, and just trying to do right in this world. I am humbled and so deeply grateful.”
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