Cape Town’s impoverished share the real state of the nation

It was President Jacob Zuma’s 10th, and constitutionally mandated, final state of the nation address (Sona) as ANC president on Thursday night in parliament.

Yet the Sona is just more words in a long line of words from which nothing ever comes, said impoverished Lauren Friedericks, who spends her life on the streets of Cape Town.

“Let me go and speak, give me a platform, I’ll tell them what the state of the nation is really like,” Friedericks said.

Thursday night, in a side road off Roeland Street which leads to the Houses of Parliament, was one of her safest in months because of the security bubble.

However, that’s not what’s worrying her. It’s the recent suggestion by correctional services to the parliamentary portfolio committee on justice that parolees should be given SA Social Security Agency grants.

The idea was reportedly slapped down by members of parliament.

However, the rumour is rife on the streets the suggestion has been implemented.

“There are other things that could be done with that money,” Friedericks said.

“Besides us [the homeless], that money is for old people and children. They can’t give it to convicts.”

For another woman, who did not want to be named, the business of the day was business, or rather, the lack of it.

Inside the ring of steel thrown up around the parliamentary precinct, all she could do was watch potential trade walk up and down the opposite side of the street.

Still, she said, it was a golden opportunity to market her loan business to the many police members standing guard.

As for Sona, it was of little concern to her, other than it meant an early day when business was closed at 2pm.

In time, parliament – and Cape Town – will return to normal, and Friedericks will again have to find a safe place to spend each night.

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