By Shaun Smillie
To Leonie Marais, her violin was the child she never had.
But on Thursday the unthinkable happened: she was robbed at gunpoint and her violin was taken from her.
"I pleaded with them. I told them 'Please take my car, this is how I make my living'. They just told me 'Shoosh', and took the violin," Marais said.
Marais is a music teacher. She runs The Violin Academy in Johannesburg and plays her violin at least once a day.
Since Thursday, Marais and her husband, Michael Hankinson, the conductor of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, have searched pawnshops and music stores. Their search yielded nothing.
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Marais is so desperate to get her violin back that she is offering a reward of R5 000.
"Every violin is absolutely unique and this violin was my child, as I don't have any children," she said.
The instrument was made by South African violin maker Brian Lisus and is marked on the inside "Brian Lisus SA 1988". Also on the inside is engraved the violin's name, "Mechaieh".
Marais was visiting a friend in Randburg on Thursday when the robbery occurred. Also taken was her handbag, cellphone, and a violin bow and case. It is the second violin Marais has lost through theft.
"My greatest fear is that my violin will be used for braai wood or they have left it in the rain," sobbed Marais.
If anyone has information regarding the violin they can phone Marais on 011-883-1304.
ssm@star.co.za
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This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on January 11, 2005
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