Desperate survival at “The Tents”
Homeless people living in "The Tents", behind the Boksburg Wrestling Club, have described their lives as harsh, as they have to hustle every day to survive.
There about 20 people living at the location, which is near a dumping site, in about seven tents they call home.
Sharing their stories with the Advertiser, some of the homeless said they have lived there for seven years, through the rainy and summer seasons, in the small tents.
One resident’s wife recently gave birth and said life is hard on the streets, but they have accepted their situation.
Various circumstances forced them to live on the streets. All of the homeless living there are unemployed, surviving only by doing odd jobs.
One of the tent dwellers, Beverly Gilland, said sometimes they go to sleep on empty stomachs.
“There were church people who would come here and give us food, but they no longer come and if we didn’t hustle in the morning to have food for the night then we will sleep on empty stomachs,” she said.
One of the challenges they face is that thugs steal their belongings when they are out trying to earn money or find food.
A resident said: “I remember one time when I was cooking outside, I went inside my tent to take something and when I went back outside the pot was missing. It really pains me because they steal the little bit we have.”
Watch Video:
Recently, two of the tents burnt down with everything inside.
The residents say it is not safe to live like this, but they have no other place to stay.
Mario Arens (67) has been living at “The Tents” for about two years. He used to work for the SA Defence Force.
Samuel Alta, who has been staying there for three years, makes a living by cleaning streets and shops around Boksburg.
He said that everyone who stays at “The Tents” are like family and protect one another.
Another resident said: “We want to clean the place because it’s not healthy living in dirt like this. We try and clean the place but because we don’t have the tools it doesn’t make a difference.”
The dwellers at “The Tents” also complained that that they don’t have running water and toilets.
“Even if we can have one tap where we can share and a chemical toilet to use, we will be very happy,” one resident said.
Currently they have to dig a hole in the ground to use as a toilet.
Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos said: “I do know about a few tents erected next to the wrestling club in Boksburg North. None of these people have lodged a formal complaint to council with regards to ablution facilities.
“The current economic situation in the country in general and Ekurhuleni in particular is the main contributor to homelessness. Destitute people are moving closer to the localities of NGOs which provide them with food parcels on a daily basis. However, I will bring the issue to the attention of the relevant department at the metro.”
Nuhveet Rottcher, from the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad (CMR), said their social workers are aware that there is a newborn baby living there as they were alerted by community members.
“We are closely working with the residents and also rendering our services to them.”
Boksburg Child Welfare has offered to provide bread, milk and baby supplies to the residents.
The homeless are appealing to the public to help them by donating cleaning tools so they can clean the yard, containers with locks to help store their belongings, food and blankets, and pallets to build a shelter.
If you can help in any way, contact Amanda Coetzee, founding director of Kuselo Child and Youth Care Services, on 072 512 7227.
