Tony Gomes’ real story
BOSKRUIN – Tony Gomes tells Randburg Sun his life story and how he ended up being on the streets.
Tony Gomes, a homeless man who begs outside of Boskruin Villiage has recently caused a stir when he was beaten by a security guard for calling him a ‘monkey’.
Gomes said that he had been living on the streets since he was 16 years-old. “My father was a very violent man and he was always angry. He used to hit me and my brothers with a sjambok or sometimes it would be electrical cables, whatever he could find to beat us,” Gomes said. He added that he spent time in the army as was the required conscription at the time.
He pointed out that during his two-year tenure in the army he was forced to do many things that he was against and this left him conflicted. “I was forced to do ugly things by the then government, and I will never forget those days I spent fighting in Angola,” he lamented.
Gomes admits that he only completed school until Grade 9 and that he had previously tried going to rehab but that did not help him.
“I used to have a wife and I have one son who lives in Cape Town with his family,” Gomes added.
He said that he had been begging outside Boskruin Villiage for a long time and that mostly the residents helped to feed and clothe him. “It’s tough out here on the streets but I am thankful for the help that residents around here give me,” he said.
