Bitter cold hits homeless elderly man hard
Winter set in on Wednesday, June 3, and this poor man has felt the full brunt of the freezing weather.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – An elderly homeless man is still living in squalor in the backyard of an abandoned house, at 6 Rapson Lane, Kibler Park, which allegedly belongs to the Department of Public Works.
The vagrants occupying the house built a shack for Peter Zwane with plastic sheeting, although his shanty living quarters do very little to shield him from the freezing cold or direct sunlight.
Winter temperatures are dropping and this man has felt the full brunt of the freezing weather.
On June 3, an article was published on the front page of the CHRONICLE, requesting good Samaritans to provide assistance to the elderly, disorientated man, who is living in terrible conditions.
Community activist Sue Lubbe stepped in to try to get much needed assistance for Peter.
“I have reached out to organisations with which I work, that will be taking him blankets, food and clothing,” said Lubbe who is still trying to get homeless Peter into a home.
A request for residence was sent to Resthaven Home, but they were not able to provide accommodation for Peter on a farm they use to house the destitute.
The farmer has requested that they limit the people to those who are already there. The reason given was that the farmer has lost a lot of his belongings and is not keen to take on any more guests.
Calls have come into the newsroom enquiring about Peter and whether he still needs help, although no substantial assistance has come from the community.
The sad story of Peter was brought to the attention of the newspaper by concerned domestic worker, Matilda Mnduzukwana, in the hope of getting help for this man.
Mnduzukwana is still appealing to the community to help the impoverished man this winter.
