By Esther Lewis
Two car guards working at Cape Town's Table Mountain Cableway's lower station are now the proud drivers of a high-performance sports car that, new, would cost R1.95-million.
The V10 version of Audi's R8 supercar was handed over to them by a businessman who asked that they use it to perform good deeds because of a dream he'd had.
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THE MYSTERY AUDI: This is the Audi R8 V10 "donated" by a mystery Cape Town businessman to two car guards "to help the needy".
It's not clear whether the donor's grand gesture was part of a publicity campaign for his business but the car bears no branding and is still the registered owner of the vehicle.
The extraordinary gift, which apparently belongs to a trust, has piqued the interest of visitors to the mountain and the two men have been stopped several times by police who thought they must have stolen the gleaming black Audi R8.
Each time they were released because the businessman, a Capetonian who only bought the car in the city at Christmas, confirmed their bizarre story. He asked the car guards not to identify him.
Fabrice Munganga-Mugala, 25, and Desire Shima, 25, are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They say they were working at Table Mountain's Cableway car park a week ago when they were approached by the businessman.
Shima said: "We were a group of four and he started speaking to us. He said a dream told him to come to the mountain."
He asked who in the group was licensed to drive and Munganga-Mugala and Shima said they were. The man said he would collect 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's key, 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'" Shima, a third-year information technology student, added. "He gave it to us to show that, if you can help others, you must give without wanting anything in return."
The Audi R8 V10, which retails from R1.95-million, has attracted a great deal of attention. One tourist asked the Cape Argus if the car belonged to a celebrity.
Another 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 in messages or 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 want it to reflect a message of hope and goodwill. When their car-park shift ends they drive the car around the city to buy food and distribute it to the homeless and needy.
"Because of the gift we have received, we want to give to others. He has taught us that we must give what we can," Munganga-Mugala said. "He has also shown us how the rich should, and can, help the poor."
Police confirmed that they were aware of the bizarre situation.
Note:
R1.95-million, at 10 percent interest, would yield R16 250 a month - now that would really help the needy.