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Stranded in Potchefstroom – A Dead Battery Dilemma
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Mr Jumpstart to the Rescue: When Your Battery Dies in Potch
The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly on the parking lot outside Checkers in Potchefstroom as Sarah turned the key in her Toyota Corolla’s ignition.
Nothing.
Not even the familiar whir of the engine attempting to turn over—just an ominous silence that every driver dreads.
“Come on, not today,” she muttered, trying again with the same result. The dashboard remained dark, confirming her worst suspicions. After three years of faithful service, her car battery had finally given up the ghost.
Sarah sat back in her seat, weighing her options. She was supposed to pick up her daughter from netball practice at Hoërskool Gimnasium in twenty minutes, and her phone was showing only 15% battery life—barely enough for a few crucial calls. The irony wasn’t lost on her that both batteries in her life had decided to fail simultaneously.
She stepped out of the car and looked around the busy shopping centre. The familiar sights of Potchefstroom surrounded her: students from North-West University walking past with their backpacks, taxis loaded with commuters heading home, and the ever-present hum of small-town life. But right now, all she needed was someone who could help with a dead battery.
First, she tried calling her husband, but it went straight to voicemail—he was probably still in meetings at his office near the Mooi River. Her sister lived in Klerksdorp, too far to be of immediate help. As her phone’s battery ticked down to 12%, Sarah realized she needed to act fast.
Walking toward the shopping centre, she approached a friendly-looking man loading groceries into his bakkie. “Excuse me,” she said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but my car battery is completely dead. Do you perhaps have jumper cables?”
The man, wearing a Leopards rugby jersey, shook his head sympathetically. “Sorry, my dear, I don’t have cables with me today. But there’s a Midas Auto at the Shell garage just down on Lombard Street—they should be able to help you.”
Sarah thanked him and checked her phone: 9% battery remaining. She quickly searched for local battery services and found Mr Jumpstart, hoping they were still available at 4:30 PM.
“Hello, Mr Jumpstart, this is David speaking,” came the cheerful voice.
“Hi, please help me. I’m stranded at Checkers with a completely dead battery. Can someone come out to jump-start my car, or do I need to tow it in?”
“Where exactly are you, ma’am?”
“The Checkers on Lombard Street, near the university.”
“We can help. I can come over with my mobile service unit, and if you need a battery replacement, I carry them in my car. What kind of car is it?”
“It’s a 2021 Toyota Corolla.”
“Perfect, I have the right battery for that. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. Is your car in a safe spot?”
Relief flooded through Sarah. “Yes, it’s in the main parking area. Thank you so much.”
As she waited, an elderly woman approached her. “Everything alright, my child?” she asked in Afrikaans, her kind eyes showing genuine concern.
Sarah explained her situation, and the woman immediately offered her phone. “Use mine to call your daughter’s school. These things happen to all of us.”
The kindness of strangers in Potchefstroom never ceased to amaze Sarah. She gratefully called the school and explained she’d be late for pickup, then tried her husband again—this time reaching him.
“Battery problems?” he asked. “Did you try Mr Jumpstart? They helped my colleague last month.”
“Already sorted,” Sarah smiled. “David from Mr Jumpstart is coming out now.”
True to his word, David from Mr Jumpstart arrived in his car equipped with all the tools needed. After testing the battery with his diagnostic equipment, he confirmed what Sarah suspected: the battery was completely dead and needed replacement.
“It happens,” David said as he efficiently removed the old battery. “Especially with this heat we’ve been having. Your battery lasted well—most only make it two to three years in our climate.”
Within thirty minutes, Sarah’s car was purring again with a brand-new battery. As she paid the bill, she felt grateful not just for the quick service, but for the reminder of how helpful people could be during unexpected troubles.
Driving to pick up her daughter, Sarah made a mental note to keep jumper cables in her car and to charge her phone more regularly. But more importantly, she reflected on how a dead battery had reminded her of something very much alive: the spirit of community that makes small towns like Potchefstroom special.
Her daughter climbed into the car, chattering about netball practice. “Mom, why are you so late?”
Sarah smiled as she pulled out of the school parking lot. “Just had a little adventure, sweetheart. Sometimes when things break down, you discover how many people are willing to help.”
As they drove home through the familiar streets of Potchefstroom, Sarah’s car ran smoothly with its new battery, and her phone was plugged into the charger. Some days, she thought, even when things go wrong, they end up going right.