The Western Cape community of Helderberg gathered together on Thursday to honour a local hero who bravely intervened in an attempted attack on two children in a shopping centre this week, saving them both.
Andries Monare, a security guard at Waterstone Village Shopping Centre in Somerset West, was honoured by the mall’s Centre Management, customers, tenants, and the community and presented with the Excellence in Service Award for Outstanding Performance and Dedication.
The community donated gifts to Monare to thank him for his bravery and vigilant reactions after he prevented a serious incident from taking place when a perpetrator allegedly tried to stab a child in the chest with a knife.
“The guard noticed the accused approaching the child and took him down with force before he could stab [the child],” the mall said in a statement that was posted on Facebook. “We are just thankful that no harm was caused to the child and we keep the parents in our prayers.”
A smiling Monare can be seen receiving his award surrounded by gifts as he poses with children and other members of the community. In true super hero fashion, he is also seen standing proudly in a makeshift cape.
The accused will appear in court again on January 23 2019, the mall reports.