Duo appeals for help for Baba Zondi
"This is a human being and we ask people if there is anything they can do to help."
WHILE many are caught up with plans for the festive season and filling wish lists, all Justine du Preez and her father Anold want for Christmas is for the community to help Baba Zondi get admitted into an institution. Baba Zondi is an elderly man who sleeps in a huge plastic cover on the corner of JB Marks (Chelmsford) Road and Che Guevara (Moore) Road. According to Justine he has been there for many years.
“We gave him the huge plastic cover. He does have blankets but says he can’t use them when it rains as they don’t dry. He is scared of speaking to people as many times they cause trouble with him. He says the community does give him food but not every day. He does seem to have a slight mental problem as he walks up and down the road. This is a human being. we are asking people if there is anything they can do to help,” she said.
The Berea Mail visited Baba Zondi with Arnold on Friday and found him dripping wet from the previous night’s rain.
“I am from KwaMaphumulo area in the iLembe District of KwaZulu-Natal. I came here looking for a job. Although I do not have any close relatives nearby, there is a young lady relative, she is now married and stays in Kwa-Mashu,” said Baba Zondi,
“We are appealing to the community to help him get into an institution before Christmas. When it rains he sleeps in a plastic bag. We feed him but is heartbreaking to see another human being living like this while other people go on with their lives as if its normal. Motorist at the robots just look at him and pretend he is not there, this is a human being, he is a father to someone,” said Arnold.
ALSO READ: Council approves new strategy to deal with Durban’s homeless
Earlier this year, eThekwini Municipality announced it would take a holistic approach to assist those living on the street to reduce begging, drug abuse and crime in the City. This came after the tabling of a report at a meeting of council on 26 April.
The report outlined the adoption of the Social Developmental Strategy and the implementation of recommendations emanating from an in-depth homeless study conducted in the City. These recommendations included drop-in centres, shelters as well as policy development to address the social ills across the city.
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