Santa has little meaning for the homeless
IT DOES not matter how good they have been all year long, East London’s homeless do not feel the Christmas spirit when Santa comes to town.
Many people look forward to this time of the year because of bonuses, leave, spending time with family and getting some much needed rest – but for the homeless, Christmas is just another day on the streets.
Gift Bakajana, who is originally from Ndabakazi, said life had got in the way of the plans he had for his future. While he did not want to discuss his plans, he said finding himself living on the streets of East London was tough.
“I used to have a family and we cared for one another but now I find myself sleeping in bushes. I sleep near the East London harbour but that is not ideal.”
Bakajana, who receives an old age social grant, said he was so battered by life that he found himself borrowing money from a loan shark.
“She [loan shark] kept my social grant card and has never returned it since. She does not give me all my money. Even now I have been begging her to give me money for weeks and she has not done so.”
“l do remain hopeful.”
Young Siyamthanda Ntabebeni of Bhisho Park said it was difficult to find work but this year, he was determined to go home for Christmas.
“Here we end up getting drunk all day and we wash people’s cars but we do not look forward to anything constructive. Christmas Day is just another day for us. This really is no way to live.
“My family knows I am in East London but they just do not know the quality of life I live,” he said.
Enkosi Thembani said he dropped out of high school in Needs Camp because he did not have support.
“I did not have access to a library or to the internet and that makes it hard to get ahead,” Thembani said.
Neville de Lange said “people do not care about other people” and that Christmas was worse than other days of the year.
“I sleep on the streets and I don’t look forward to Christmas because it is quiet,” he said.
De Lange said while his family was in East London, they were not interested in a relationship with him.
“If I were to go home now my family would not welcome me.”
So even if they watch out and do not cry or pout, when Santa comes to town he’ll have no chimney to slide down to reach East London’s homeless folks. — siyab@dispatch.co.za