I read an article on The Gaurdian.com about beggars recently and it said “Don’t demonise beggars. It won’t solve the problem of homelessness” and I must say that I totally agree with this.
Driving around in our area we come across a number of beggars whether they are standing at traffic lights or at shopping centres. And yes it has become a big problem and I do feel sorry for them, but I can’t help each and every beggar that I see as life for a medium class person has already become tough.
In the article it also said that people do not choose to end up on the streets. Only by treating them as human beings can we help to prevent it. The thing for most South Africans is that some of the people on the streets do not want to work or take job opportunities as living on the streets and begging, brings in more money for them. Strange, I know.
But somehow I still feel bad for them and wish that I could do more.
I think we should stop focusing on other things and start looking at our unemployment percentage and do something about it.
Daleen Coetzee – New Redruth
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