Homeless man reveals how he survives on top of Table Mountain
· The South African
A homeless man who has lived on Cape Town’s Table Mountain for nearly a decade has shared his experience on how he survives the harsh natural elements.
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The man is one of over 14 000 individuals who live on the streets in the city.
HOMELESS MAN SHARES EXPERIENCE LIVING ON TABLE MOUNTAIN
Speaking to Cape Talk, a homeless man who identified himself only as “Vincent” shared his experience about living on Table Mountain for nearly a decade.
The man revealed he became displaced after losing his job and his ability to pay rent.
Vincent – who once worked as a lecturer and script writer – revealed that he lived in the open veld, without a tent. He slept on bedding and a plastic, waterproof sheet.
Vincent sourced food through public donations. He was adamant that he was not addicted to substances.
“If I have food, then I stay on the mountain, and I read. If not, I go into town and try to get money to buy food”, he said.
Because of not having a fixed address, Vincent could not apply for a library card or register to vote.
He said: “Homelessness is a poverty issue, which is largely an unemployment issue….the city is at war with the homeless”
Vincent added that living outdoors had taken a toll on his mental health.
He added: “If you’re not insane when you land on the street, it will drive you insane if you are there long enough”.
CAPE TOWN: HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE ON THE STREETS?
According to figures released by the Western Cape government, over 14 000 homeless people are living in Cape Town.
This was attributed to circumstances such as job losses, eviction, better opportunities, and most commonly, trauma.
However, Shadrick Valayadum, CEO of Cape Town’s The Haven Night Shelter, claims that “not all homeless people are addicts, and not all addicts are homeless”.
Acknowledging World Homeless Day in October, he said: “ We cannot criminalise them; they all have their challenges. Some have made bad decisions, some have just been dealt a very bad hand, and that has landed them on the street”.