To fully understand this story, I have to explain to you how we Cops sometimes operated here in Johannesburg, also the wrong and or naughty things we did, and I also have to explain to you, what our Charge Office Sergeant experienced that morning: When I was still in the Uniform Branch, my best friend, Hansie Kleynhans, one day marched two tramps into my office with a few smiling Cops following them. He explained to me that these two tramps are the two Schoeman brothers and a nuisance to the public and a disgrace to the white population and human beings. Hansie therefore asked me to trail these two Hobos and sentence them with the death penalty. I then replied: “Guilty as charged, and how do you two want to die?” The one called Boet started to cry, but Jan went on his knees and begged me for forgiveness and asked for another chance. Hansie shouted with the other Cops supporting him: “No mercy, you have had to many chances!” Jan grabbed his chin with his misformed right hand, looked me in the eyes and said: “Please Sir, have a heart and let us go, we promise not to be in your area any longer!” “ He is lying! He is Lying!”: The accusers shouted…. I was afraid our superiors will hear the commotion and post us on penitentiary patrols and I therefore gave the final verdict: "You have ten minutes to be off this property…!”: It took them nearly twenty minutes to do so, because of all the methylated spirits they drank, and therefore their joints did not function properly anymore.
Late that night, when I could not sleep, I could still hear the two tramps shouting: “Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Sir” I then wondered, as I stared at the white ceiling, if God will ever help people like these two tramps. They haven’t bathed for the last six months, they smelt disgusting and if you would strike a match, they would explode from inside outwards, because of the spirits they were drinking. “ Lord Jesus,” I prayed that night, “Forgive me my bad behavior today and I ask You that You will look after Boet and Jan Schoeman, protect them, provide for them and above all save their precious souls”
Although I did not see the two tramps for the next three or five years, God honored my prayer, even for a rotten tramp because, - just wait and hear what happened that specific morning: The night shift patrol van picked up a very neglected tramp, which was stone drunk and unfortunately forgot about him in the back of the patrol van, when they had to help with two hi-jacking complaints. When Police uniforms are sending to the Station from the Quarter Master, they arrive in one massive cane basket, which are padded out in the inside. This cane basked stays in the parade room for a few weeks before it is sent back to Pretoria. At 05:00 that morning the Section Sergeant were reminded about the tramp in the back of the patrol van and because he was passed out, they “placed” him in the cane basket and unfortunately forgot about him, when they went off duty. At 09:45 the morning shift, Sergeant Soutie, heard a noise in the parade room, which one can clearly see from the Charge Office. He saw no person in and around the Charge Office. Whilst he was writing in the Police OB-Register, he suddenly saw that for some unknown reason there was something wrong with the cane basket, because it was making a noise and the lid moved upwards very slowly bit by bit, although there was no person near it. For you to understand better, let me explain if from the Hobo’s viewpoint: He was lying in the gutter, totally drunk and because he could not get up, the rain water was running over him and this is where the Cops picked him up, wondering if this is his last night as he is going to drown here tonight. Next thing the Hobo realized was that he must be in the realm of death, because it was dark, quiet and he could feel nice soft material around him. He then pushed at the coffin’s lid and to his surprise it gave way. Then he slowly lifted the cane basket’s lid and stood up in amazement. Sergeant Larry Peterson saw this lid lifting up slowly and the next moment a sort of human being standing up and glaring at him. Sergeant Soutie ran up the stairs and this is where he informed me about the Ghost in the parade room. I accompanied Soutie to the parade room and found this ghost still standing in the big cane basket. He looked terrible, in actual fact, it looked like his skin was decomposing or starting to rot. But then I recognized this tramp. I said to this Hobo: “ Hallo Mr. Jan Schoeman, and how are you?” He was so surprised to hear somebody mentioning his name and surname that he fell right out of this basket. We then carried him to the Cells and forced him to have a shower and made sure that he washed his clothes. You wont believe when I tell you how awful the he smelt… While he sat in the sun I went to buy him something to eat… After his meal, (the first he had in weeks) he told me that his brother Boet hand drowned while lying drunk in a gutter when it was raining. Later that same day, I took him to my office, and Jan begged me for help. He told me that he would like to go back to Rehab and if I could possibly take him there. I told him that I was not sure where this place was, but I would see what I could do for him. I continued with my normal duties and the tramp refused to leave my office. When I had a chance, I told him about the love of Jesus for us sinners, and the goodness of God. I battled to find a vehicle and only late afternoon the Uniform Branch lent me a marked Police vehicle. I prayed in the car and asked Jesus to guide us through the Holy Spirit to this Rehabilitation Center, because I did not know where exactly it was situated. This tramp was as excited as a little boy with a new toy, because he was on his way back to Rehab. On the Highway I explained to Jan the way of salvation and asked him if he would pray and ask Jesus to change his life. I then earnestly prayed for him and said to him he can now talk to Jesus and ask him for forgiveness. This tramp went on his knees in the passenger seat and from his inner being he begged the Almighty God to please forgive him and he thanked God for Jesus and invited him as Savior in to his life…. I wish you could have heard his prayer… I cried so much, because in the spirit I saw Jesus dying two thousand years ago, also for this rotten tramp her in my Police car…. A problem arose; I could not stop crying, because with my natural eyes I saw a hobo getting born again, yes. From darkness into His marvelous light and I could hear the Angels rejoicing in Heaven, because of on sinner coming to repentance. Luke 15:7-10 Then I prayed and asked the Father to please put Angels around my car, because if the public saw me crying so much, they might think that this person is keeping me up with a firearm or something and is therefore keeping me as a hostage,…….. My story is now getting too long…. But let me finish by telling you that I booked him into Rehab and gave the Superintendent my last cash and asked him to look after this man, because he is special to Jesus. I wish we had time so that I could tell you more… One weekend while I was the Detective on call, Jan gave me a surprise visit and bought me a present, wrapped up in and old cardboard box. I cherish it to this day, because he artistically made Calvary out of old tree roots as a present for me. My family and myself went to visit him, and he came to visit us in my Police Flat over weekends. I tell you what, let us watch this on video one day in Heaven…. |
