Development, not dependency.
Development, not dependency.
THE WAY WE SEE IT
Stories of homeless individuals in their own words
Personal testimonies gives us an idea of the complexity of homelessness and the diverse and unique needs of homeless individuals. Videos produced by our partner Erica Williamson.
Simba
Simba spends most of his time at Sunset Beach, Sea Point. He tells us about his upbringing in Zimbabwe, how he made the move to Johannesburg and eventually settled in Cape Town. He currently cleans the beach in Sea Point.
“I work with rock art on the beach, I am a Rock Star!”
Mohammed
Mohammed and Simba are responsible for the majority of rock sculptures on Sunset Beach in Sea Point. He sleeps next to the toilets at the parking lot. He is originally from Muizenberg and has a history of drug use and living in a reformatory as a child in this area. He moved to Sea Point for a change of scenery and to be surrounded with positive role models and more uplifting surroundings.
“I don’t aim for drugs anymore, I aim for Jesus.”
Angie
Angie is based in front of the Spar in Observatory, Cape Town. She is an informal car guard and speaks about how she ended up on the streets and how she got clean from drugs.
“You can make a change in your life.”
Matt
Matt is originally from Johannesburg and worked in the firefighting equipment industry. He moved to Cape Town for an interview that did not materialise. He has been homeless since Covid started. You may find Matt on the corner of Varneys Road and Main Road in Green Point, Cape Town. He is looking for a job.
“Not every homeless person is bad.”
Nicole
Nicole speaks of her struggles during her upbringing in Cape Town, how she ended up on the streets and of her 4 children who are in foster care. Nicole can be found at Nina Manzi Monday and Tuesday mornings at Youth Solutions in Salt River.
“If you want to lose everything, go to the street.”