Taking ubuntu into one’s heart . . . and home

Rebecca Phathakge takes in the homeless and sick in the spirit of Africa’s caring philosophy

FOR years, Lerato and Mahlatse Phathakge didn’t have much say when their mother brought home strangers and put them up in their rooms — they just had to get used to it.

But instead of being angered by it, the two are inspired by the work their mother, Rebecca, has been doing for the past two decades — taking vulnerable, sick and homeless people into their home in Tembisa, northeast of Johannesburg.

Rebecca, 56, said she had lost track of how many people she had taken care of since she brought the first person home. She has not had a stable job or income for the past 10 years, yet with the help of piece-work and the little money raised by Lerato through odd jobs, and from her son Jimmy, they have been able to keep up their work, while extending the house.

“It was much harder then. We had a much smaller house,” she said.

Mahlatse, 14, added: “When the house was smaller, we’d go sleep in our mother’s room and the other people would sleep in our beds.”

Rebecca said her determination to help people and give shelter to those who needed it was formed in part through her attempts to base her life on the principle of ubuntu, as well as her own upbringing. “I didn’t get the necessary love from my parents, and it’s the same with the people I help. They don’t get the love they need from their families,” she said.

“I want to give it to them.” HELPING HAND: Rebecca Phathakge, above right, with two of the people she looks after — Johanna Bruce from Belgium, left, and Alka Smit from Kempton Park. Left, Rebecca’s daughter Lerato and grandson Thato Makwena support Bruce. Bruce and Smit do not know how to get in touch with their families. If you can help, please call Rebecca. See box below for information

Rebecca was raised on a farm near Bloemfontein in the Free State and said she didn’t always see her mother as she was busy working in the owner’s home.

“She hardly ever saw us. We got food and clothes from the owner of the house.”

Rebecca moved to Johannesburg in 1985 to look for work and soon started feeling sorry for the homeless people on the streets. She would give them food, but it was only in the ’90s that she started bringing people home to look after them.

“I do it because of ubuntu. I give them food, I give them clothes, I take them to the clinic if they are sick, and they stay here until they find their feet or their families find them.”

Rebecca doesn’t have any training to take care of people, nor does she receive any money for the work she does.

“I don’t ask other people for help. People look at you funny when you bring these people here and take care of them,” she said. “I don’t get anything for this work. The government doesn’t help, no one helps.”

Rebecca doesn’t discriminate when it comes to taking care of people. “Izak van der Merwe, he’s been staying here for more than 10 years,” she said. “He keeps himself busy and helped me to raise my children, especially Mahlatse.”

Rebecca said she and her daughters had not had any problems with the people she had taken in over the years, and that the people were grateful.

Mahlatse said her mother inspired her to be a better person. “At first it was traumatising when I was younger and all these sick people would come here, but you get used to it.

“I’ve learnt a lot from my mother. I’ve learnt how to treat people and how to work with people. It’s inspiring.”

Mahlatse and Lerato help their mother prepare food and clean those who cannot look after themselves. “It’s my mother’s job, but now it’s our job as well. I help out whenever I’m not at school,” Mahlatse said.

Lerato agreed: “This is how we grew up. My mom would bring all these people here and I would learn to speak to them.

“The legacy will have to live on. It has grown in me, even if she’s not here any more, the legacy of what she does here must live on.”

Lerato said it was difficult to estimate how many people had lived with the Phathakge family since their mother brought home the first person. “Some stay for a few days, some stay for a few weeks, some for years. Some find a job and move on, or their family will find them.”

They don’t get the love they need from their families. I want to give it to them