POLOKWANE – The first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is to make sure everything is taken care of at the house they share with their grandmothers.
At their age, one might think they came home late because they were out with friends, but this is not the case. They work until 21:00 after which they have to make their way home as there is no taxis or public transport that late at night.
When Molope completed his matric a few years back he hoped to become a paramedic to help save lives, instead he now has to beg others to help him save his own.
Sefara’s dream of being a travel agent is still something he holds on to. Even though he now shows people where to park their cars instead of showing them where to go and stay on holiday. A holiday he and Molope will most likely never be able to enjoy themselves.
“We make around R100 on a good day, unfortunately most days we make far less. We cannot afford to spend the money we make in the wind, rain and excruciating sun on transport as we know there are more important expenses,” Sefara says.
He adds that even though they are aware of the dangers involved with hitchhiking, it is the only way they can ensure their grandmothers use their pension grants for their own needs.
“Yes, I would love to be with my friends and doing things that other young men my age do, but my work takes up most of my time. Travelling to work and looking after my grandmother takes up the rest. I still love her dearly, but I do not have a lot of time for myself,” Sefara explains.
Molope says looking after his grandmother is not hard on him as he has been raised to take care of his elders. “I am not a criminal and even if I have to work here all night and beg people to look after their vehicles, I would do so gladly. The one thing I would never consider is stealing, I was not brought up that way,” Molope proudly states.
The two young men have made Hans van Rensburg Street between Jorissen and Grobler their “office” for the past few months, sharing some buns or bread between them for food which amounts to around R3 each, R3 they can hardly afford. This and a two-litre bottle of water is all that keep them going during the day.
The two men excuse themselves from the interview with Review as they run towards oncoming cars. They need to get back to work as every car they miss may just be the R3 they need to pay their share of the dry bread that most of the motorists would not even give a second look.
