Betty’s Bay - The pupil who “stole” a school bus to make sure he and his fellow matriculants were on time for their exam has become an overnight hero.
Since the story broke on Monday Le-Aan Adonis, 20, says he’s been approached for interviews, and even has his own hashtag on social media.
The worried matriculant decided to take matters into his own hands when their bus driver failed to show up.
He got behind the wheel of the idling vehicle, but just a few hundred metres from Hawston Secondary School, a shocked traffic cop pulled him over.
Donovan Hanekom, owner of Hanekom’s Transport, says the driver was late because of car trouble.
People in Adonis’ hometown of Betty’s Bay are so impressed with him that they now want to raise funds for the R5000 fine he received for driving the bus without a licence.
Nicolin Carelse says Adonis is his hero, and appealed to people to help him pay the hefty fine.
In a Facebook post which was liked by 199 people and shared by 74 more, he wrote: “Die man is my held! As daar mense is wat hom sal help om te betaal inbox my asb! #FineMustFall”
Nicolin says he admires his old rugby buddy for taking the lead.
“I don’t think he did it to show off,” he said. “He’s serious about finishing matric and probably just wanted to help the other kids because otherwise they would have just gone home and missed the exam,” says Nicolin.
REWRITE
Adonis says he didn’t realise the implications of his actions.
“I just thought I would have to rewrite the subject if we were late,” he said.
Meanwhile, the bus driver who was late and his colleague who left the bus in the pupils’ care are to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday.
Hanekom also undertook to contribute towards Adonis’ fines.
Meanwhile, former Western Cape police commissioner, Lennit Max, who is an advocate, said he would represent Le-Aan at the school’s disciplinary hearing.
He says: “The story touched me because I had to leave school after Standard 6 and worked as a farm labourer and later on the railways because I didn’t have the privilege of completing matric.”
Daily Voice
E-mail your opinion to [email protected], with Motoring in the subject line, and we will consider it for publication, or use our Twitter and Facebook pages to comment on our stories.