“True SA Hero”: Cape Town Man Shows How a Retired Police Officer Used His Garden To Inspire Mzansi

• A Cape Town content creator shared the heartwarming story of Yuan Scott, a retired policeman from Heidelberg
• Instead of getting angry about theft from his garden, the former officer realised there were hungry people in his community and decided to help
• The inspiring story gained over 19,000 reactions as South Africans praised the retired policeman's ubuntu spirit

A Cape Town content creator has touched hearts across South Africa by sharing the incredible story of a retired police officer who turned a simple theft into an act of community service.

Facebook user @Cool Story Bru, known for highlighting amazing stories of ordinary South Africans, posted the heartwarming tale in early August 2025.

The story centres around Yuan Scott, a retired policeman from Heidelberg who discovered that someone had stolen a cauliflower from his backyard vegetable garden. Rather than responding with anger or installing security cameras, Mr Scott did something completely unexpected that has inspired thousands of people across the country.

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After the cauliflower incident, the former officer sat down and thought about why someone would steal a single vegetable. He realised that there must be hungry and desperate people in his neighbourhood who couldn't afford fresh food. This moment of understanding changed everything for Mr Scott and his community.

The retired policeman decided to convert the entire pavement in front of his house into a thriving vegetable garden. He planted beans, tomatoes, eggplants, and beetroots, creating a space where anyone in the area could collect fresh vegetables they needed without any cost or conditions attached.

Mr Scott's response demonstrates the true spirit of ubuntu. His vegetable garden has become more than just a source of free food; it's a symbol of hope and kindness that shows how one person can make a real difference.

The story touched South Africans who are facing tough economic times. Many families are struggling to put food on the table, making Mr Scott's generous gesture even more meaningful. His simple act of turning a negative situation into something positive has inspired others to think about how they, too, can help their communities.

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South Africans react with praise

@John_Duncan_Thomson commented:

"Imagine if the whole nation did that."

@Craig_Stephens worried:

"The hungry person won't take just 1 of each veg... He will take everything he can."

@Alan_Carl_Norris joked:

"And taxes on the vegetables from the ANC."

@Shireen_Andrews noted:

"It's crazy because if the government did this... But they won't feed the hungry."

@Shapeshifter_Anunnaki warned:

"Wait until municipality comes and say he can't use the outside yard to plant food 🤣🤣🤣 We have really stupid laws in SA."

@Bonginkosi_Baba_KaLethisipho_Bonga praised:

"He didn't tag Trump, Musk and other US officials but came up with a solution filled with Ubuntu."

Unemployment affecting South Africans

According to the South African government, the country faces serious challenges with unemployment and food security. Statistics South Africa reported that the official unemployment rate was 32.1% in the third quarter of 2024, with 8 million people unemployed.

The youth unemployment rate remains high at 45.5%, meaning millions of South Africans struggle to afford basic necessities like fresh food.

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Watch the Facebook clip below:

3 Other stories about food

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman who stirred up debate by claiming South Africans have been eating Weet-Bix wrong for years, insisting it should be eaten with water and sugar instead of milk.
• South Africans rated Shoprite's new fast food outlet as better than KFC in a viral TikTok post, with a satisfied customer's review exciting many people who agreed the establishment served tasty food.
• A shopper won R29,000 worth of groceries in Spar's viral trolley dash challenge, racing through aisles to grab as many items as possible before time ran out.

Source: Briefly News