Law Enforcement officers rescue family on R300

Joheley Titus, Lentegeur

On Christmas Day, 25 December 2025. My mom, Maureen Cloete, aged 76, left to visit her sister in Delft with a driver and two children, 11 and 11 months old. While on the R300, their tyre burst, and they were left stranded.

Thankfully, help arrived immediately. Regional Inspector Nicky Heynes, along with officers Rageema Van Der Schyff, Chad Papier, and Lincoln Faulmann from the Philippi escort unit, came to their rescue.

I am so grateful that my mom and the children were safe and unharmed.

In a place where you often hear frightening stories about the R300, I just want to say thank you to these constables. They are truly our modern-day superheroes.

We are so glad for their swift response and want to make sure their bravery is recognised.

Law Enforcement Officer Chad Papier responds:

By the time I got to the R300, I saw a white Hyundai Atios with a tyre burst. An elderly lady was outside the car, very distressed, with her grandchildren and the driver.

As the first responder, I felt motivated to act quickly because any delay could have put them at serious risk. The R300 is busy, the weather was hot and humid, and there’s always the risk of crime, so we knew we had to react fast to keep them safe.

On busy highways, I rely on situational awareness, training, and teamwork. Helping people doesn’t mean ignoring danger—we manage it, keeping them calm and off the road while giving practical assistance. During the holidays, that responsibility feels even greater.

It brought me great joy to help them safely reach their destination. As a team, we are thankful to assist the elderly, and knowing we contributed to their happiness, especially helping her visit her sister with Alzheimer’s, brought real satisfaction to our hearts as public servants.