Aikona Gogo – Vodacom icon Michael de Pinna shares smash ‘n grab nightmare

South African actor Michael de Pinna became a local icon through his brilliant portrayal of a leopard-skin bikini panty clad buffoon in a series of adverts for mobile network Vodacom. A couple months back we discovered there's a lot to his repertoire when attending his one man show at our local Foxwood theatre. This talented, well-travelled South African enjoys the double edged sword of fame (which is not all wine and roses – watch the video below). But even being instantly recognisable is no shield against crime. This month Michael became another statistic of his country's out-of-control crime wave. He agreed to let us republish his thoughts on the experience. Read them below. – Alec Hogg .By Michael de Pinna*.It is 5AM. Can't sleep.Last night after a lovely day I was smashed and grabbed at the Atholl Oaklands off ramp. My bag with everything in it. My cards, my ID, my money, gift cards that I was saving and had been given and important documents on my seat. My life was in that bag and on that seat. It was 7PM and dark. I have tinted windows in my Audi. I saw the face pressed up close against my passenger window. As it dawned on me that the face which was a mans was a little too close it was too late! I had my glasses on the seat too. Mr Magoo was a sitting target. Me!Like lightning the crash followed and my window shattered as it was hit with great force. I was sitting at the robots as the lights were red, and I instinctively put my foot down. If there had been someone coming across the road like a car, I would have been killed and they could have been – there wasn't. Glass all over me, my car with a ding in the side of it, my bag gone, my phone gone. Alone in the car and bleeding from the shattered glass.This year I have been taken to task. A hip replacement, poor health, a terrible fall, a back operation, possible paralysis and having to learn to walk again which I am still battling with, a decision to sell my house due to bad health, and walking issues, a bad experience from an Estate Agent at SEEF ESTATES, as I tried to buy a new home, and something that I intend to fight with the whole force of my "Yebo Gogo being" and now this.What am I left with?I'll tell you!A sense of being tested, wariness, and my complacency jerked into the now. My trust violated, and suspicion and fear. The Mr nice guy with the thought that it only happens to "other people" gone. A sense of desolation and anger brewing in me. Today I do not have the compassion of Nelson Mandela towards his fellow humans. Maybe it will come. Maybe it won't?A small incident I know in the greater scheme of things but my incident, my reality and the reality which must be happening to others. Why did I not put my small bag in the boot? It was under my seat but I had taken it out to get a tissue. Idiot. Follow the rules. Be like everyone else.I am sensitive, not many people know that, I care about others and have always tried to live a considerate life.What will happen now? Will I turn myself into Charles Bronson, become a vigilante, be like a lot of my friends. Hate? distrust?Leave South Africa, or will I just brush it off, smile and learn to take more care? Will I buy a gun, put up a larger gate and not travel far at night. Who knows?If I could drive my car over the person who robbed me four hundred times I would. The same man I probably wind my window down at the same robots and tithe to with whatever I have, and something that I have always done.What will I do now? Who am I? How will I react? I'll tell you.Nothing will change. In time I will forget and continue on my path. Someday something or someone will get me I am sure. My friends will get more love and consideration now from me.Live each day – carpe diem!After all who am I in the greater scheme of things. I am just like you – trying my best.Now the boring bureaucracy of trying to deal with everything that needs to replaced in addition to packing up my house of fourteen years and beginning in a new home which still has to be found.2015 is surely my year of change.Just let go Michael.That's all you can do.Breathe…That's all we all can do.God bless you all!Just an angry upset man trying to make sense of today.Michael de Pinna is a South African actor and entertainer. Click here to read the comments from his Facebook friends; read more about him on his website by clicking here.

Aikona Gogo – Vodacom icon Michael de Pinna shares smash ‘n grab nightmare

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