If people want to use us for a project, pay us properly

AFTER the blessing of much-needed rain, there was a jolly atmosphere in The Company’s Garden. The squirrels were out chasing each other up and down the trees much to the delight of little children feeding them nuts.

To me the most beautiful sound in the world is laughter. Children laughing and playing, feeding pigeons and ducks.

This is one park in the city where we homeless effortlessly engage with visitors on a daily basis.

Some of us build friendships with our regulars. Even their dogs recognise us, jumping on us, tail a-wagging, wanting to play with a ball.

But when one opens the newspaper, the reality of the state of our children presents a different picture.

Stacey Adams, only six, was killed and buried in a yard in Mitchells Plain allegedly by someone well known to her.

What bothers me most, is that some parents still leave children alone or with somebody else. And most of the time, it is men who are responsible for the murders.

We homeless have a strict rule regarding kids. No strange man is to be trusted and if personal questions are asked, never give your true identity.

They also know that a man who wants to give you clothing, sweets, etc if you take a ride in this car, is bad news and should not to be trusted.

Sadly, we had some foreigners who want to take nude pictures of some of the guys on the street for a little fee.

How insulting. Utter disrespect towards us.

This type of behaviour can cause volatile reactions towards these sickos. They are filling in an application form to be hurt.

Another irritation is students that come over here, in need of people to tell their stories, at times with pictures to be taken, but they want it all for free, while back home they make a little fortune for themselves.

Some think they are clever. They give you R40 and with that a piece of paper to say full and final payment. And it is always for the so-called funders to see.

And did I tell you I am stupid? Well, I must be to believe all this junk.

Nobody out there is doing anything for free. There is always some sort of an incentive. But to exploit some of us to your benefit is not just and, lately, the guys on the streets have wised up.

If people want to use us for a project, then pay us for our time. We also want to move up and out of the gutters. But a voucher for R60 after almost a whole day of engagement is, and will never be, fair towards us.

People and companies love the homeless to do surveys, etc. But they hate to pay us. Beggars can’t be choosers some say.

These words are poison to our ears. Even beggars have cellphones they need to charge. And it costs money.