Homeless are almost public enemy No 1

Homeless person Danny Oosthuizen will be writing a daily column for the duration of #TheDignityProject. Read the ninth entry in Danny’s Diary ...

The Cape Argus has launched a new collaborative editorial initiative called #TheDignityProject – a 15-part daily series about the homeless people of Cape Town. Homeless person Danny Oosthuizen will be writing a daily column for the duration of the project. Read the ninth entry in Danny’s Diary below ...

Cape Town - During my life I have made some spectacular choices and some life-destroying ones.

Mea culpa (through my fault).

But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up on the streets.

Yet I ended up being homeless. I live on the streets. And I am not the only one… Wherever I can find a safe spot, I sleep.

Sometimes in St George’s Mall, at times the Company’s Garden. Sometimes in front of a church.

In summer it is easier, but, come winter, it is not easy to stay dry.

There is unfortunately not enough space in the shelters for all of us. And if one does not have a steady income you can’t stay if you can’t pay.

They have a winter programme where they allow people to sleep on the floor.

(If I was a dog found on the street I would have had a safe space to sleep by now… )

To live on the streets is a completely different world to what I was used to. One has to grow up fast and be street wise. But I think the worst for me was how it became the homeless against the “rest” of society. We are almost public enemy No 1.

And that I find really sad.

We try to find work. There are places where one can work for four hours a day earning R50.

Some park cars, some do odd jobs.

I do recycling. And yes, I “mine” your dustbins to find recyclables I can sell.

Sometimes I find clothing or toiletries that I can use.

It is easier for both of us if I rather go through your waste than ring your doorbell, yeah?

Because we look and smell funny. You see, to do our laundry is very difficult.

Especially to find a place to hang it up so it can dry. We get into trouble if we hang it in public.

It looks ugly in your neighbourhood.

Shower facilities are also very limited. Hot water a luxury.

And we have no storage space. We hide our belongings in drains and other places.

To find drinking water after hours is also hard. One must walk very far to get some.

And it is a pity that most of the shops and restaurants refuse to help us out.

Sometimes it is not what they say to us but how they say it. (If I was a doggy found on the street I would have had a safe space to sleep by now…)

* To engage with Danny, e-mail him at masekind321@gmail.com.

Cape Argus