By the time she walked back out onto the street in a daze, not only had Xavier Buphoto lent her R5000 cash, interest-free, but he had promised to help her with a university loan. He had told her that he liked to give back where he could. And indeed, he was born and bred in the same township and worshipped at the same church as her Nana — what a coincidence!

“Don’t bother with NSFAS,” he told her, when she had told him about the scholarship she had been counting on, and how she would now try to apply. “I could tell you things about them that would turn your blood cold.” He widened his eyes. “And don’t believe they will pay for registration. Oh no! And you’ll have to pay back the money with interest. The number of students I have met who have dropped out in huge debt and are struggling to get jobs…” He clicked his tongue as if he were distressed. “No, we have a much better option. Low interest and you can pay it back when you earn a good salary…And what’s more, I can help you apply right here and now. You don’t have a thing to worry about,” he said, smiling when he had copied and scanned all her documents, including her June exam certificate. Bongi felt a surge of relief. Now she didn’t even have to go anywhere else.

Then her phone rang.

“It’s my Nana,” she looked up quickly at Xavier, “I’m sorry I have to answer it.”

Nana could hardly speak over the phone she was coughing so much. She needed Bongi home as soon as she could get there.

“What is it?” Xavier sounded concerned.

Bongi was close to tears again. “I need to get home for my granny. I’m so worried about her. How long will it take to apply?”

“Don’t you worry about that.” Xavier reached over and squeezed her hand. “That won’t be a problem. I have all your details, and I will make the application for you. I’ll WhatsApp you the password from the University you will need to access your data after the application is in. Then it’s all good to go, and you just return with that final certificate, and we’ll sort out the money. Now here is the cash I promised,” he counted out the notes, “and now you can buy your Nana the medicine she needs to get her back on her feet.”

Xavier escorted her to the door. “You can pay it back when you come back to apply for the loan. All I need for insurance is for you to leave your ID with me. ”

“I understand,” Bongi said quickly. “You have been so kind. I don’t know how I can thank you.” She hesitated a second before handing over her ID. She had to get back to Nana.

“Just get your Nana well and get through your exams.”

That night, when Nana had finally fallen asleep after Bongi had given her the medicine she had finally been able to buy, Bongi lay on her bed exhausted. She fell asleep.

The following months were a blur of caring for her Nana and writing exams. She didn’t even have time for her best friend, Andiswa, who kept trying to get her to come to study groups. But Bongi had chores to do and never had time.

***

The day they got their Matric results, Nana was up and about and her old self. Bongi had got a weekend job and was earning money to pay back her loan.

The day she got her results, she also got a WhatsApp from Xavier Buphoto reminding her to come into the office as soon as she could, with a list of all the documents she needed to bring with her. She was all set to apply for that next loan, which he assured her she would get in time for registration.

She set off for EezyLoans! with her Matric certificate and her heart in her throat. Her future was full of hope again.

Tell us: do you trust Xavier from EezyLoans!? Why/why not?