Life on the street comes to end at last
WHAT struck Jedidjah Rotter about Sia (also known as Mengameli) was how articulate he was. It didn’t match his homeless appearance, she says. “You can tell he is living on the street. His clothes are dirty and his face is haggard from cold nights exposed to the elements.” He wore two different shoes. “But when he opens his mouth, it’s as if I’m speaking with a university student,” she wrote. “He’s buying five cigarettes from the street vendor I’m chatting to just opposite the Hobart Grove Centre in Bryanston.”
He tells her his real name is Mengameli, which means President in isiZulu. He came to Joburg from Durban with big dreams and business ideas. He is an analytical thinker, who has envisioned three keys to economic development.
The first is his dream for low-cost housing: not shacks, but small rooms in quality high-rise apartment buildings, sponsored in part by big business. He reveals how he has drawn up plans for a “Hu-copter”, a car-helicopter hybrid for urban areas. When Rotter asked him who is going to build it, he said: “I wanted to introduce the concept to Resolution Circle Technology, an innovation company.” She Googles later to discover the firm, which exists, is a tech incubator, specifically targeted for early-stage tech start-ups, which design, prototype and commercialise any form of technology.
Sia also tells her about his ideas for virtual reality or augmented-reality sports, where an avatar is created for big sports stars. “Again this will be sponsored by big business and it will have its own DStv channel.” I’m completely baffled by his intelligence, dreams and ideas.
I ask him how far he got in school. “Grade 11. My parents both died. I was the eldest, I couldn’t stay in school. I’m 25. I didn’t realise it would be this difficult to break into the business world. I would love to work for a tech company.”
Since Rotter posted Sia’s story, she was inundated with offers to help. “Many wanted to get in touch with Sia, but since he did not have a phone and no home, this proved difficult.
“Thankfully he went for a meal at Bryanston Bible Church and was spotted there by a friend (on a Monday night). I told him of the overwhelming response to his story and asked if he could meet at the church the following day at noon so he could use a phone or computer and contact those who had shown an interest in him.
“When Sia walked in on Tuesday afternoon, expecting to use a phone, there were six people waiting to speak to him.” She explains how a staffer at Curve Bank hired him on the spot, telling a stunned Sia. “You have just spent your last night on the street.”
He took Sia home, bought him a suit, shoes, clothes and a cellphone.
“He has been hired as an intern and will get to use his amazing mind to the full. Resolution Circle is also in contact with Sia and Fred (from Curve Bank) and is looking at helping him finish his schooling.
“Sia is back in touch with his family in Durban who have been very worried about him.” – Sheree Bega