The Cape Argus has launched a new collaborative editorial initiative called #TheDignityProject – a 15-part daily series about the homeless people of Cape Town. Homeless person Danny Oosthuizen will be writing a daily column for the duration of the project. Read the tenth entry in Danny’s Diary below ...
Cape Town - Every morning I wake up to the sound of birds. The air carries a crisp cold misty breeze. I hear the call from the mosque…
Good morning Cape Town…
Most of us will be going in the same direction – coffee! (R1 at the Service Dining Rooms) I pass the street vendors pushing trollies to set up shop for the day.
A drunk man talking to his imaginary friend. The CCID – Central City Improvement District – patrolling the block.
As I come around the corner, a toothless wanderer in “peeing position” says: “Jy outjie! Gie da ’n rand.”
As I move from one side of the city to the other, the smell of roasted coffee beans hangs in the air.
Food Lover’s Market must be baking fresh bread. A smell so homely.
The roads filling up with the morning traffic. The taxi gaatjie shouts: “Sea Point… Sea Point… Green Point… driver ry! Die boere agter ons!”
Say what you want, but once inside these Quantums I feel safe. And very entertained.
Where else can one have a Formula 1 urban experience?
For me the unsung heroes of this city must be the cleaners.
Late at night, when we are in la-la land, they keep our streets and pavements in tip-top condition.
And almost like magic, we return in the morning to washed-down pavements, empty bins and cleanly swept streets.
I pass Truth Coffee in Buitenkant Street and I walk faster.
The people here are all so trendy and I just know I must be a sight for sore eyes!
In this outfit I will get cremated beans in my cup!
In case you did not know, we have foreign homeless people in our city too.
And if one takes the time to get to know them, you will be amazed how much we can learn from our different cultures.
Many are skilled or qualified, but can’t find jobs here.
They have such a journey getting here and then they still have to deal with the dark cloud of xenophobia.
I think the beauty, the energy and success of our city is because of this diversity.
I brushed up on my French by speaking to the Congolese car guards, but then people think: “Die whitey koep weer drugs!”
I love this city. The vibrant people.
* To engage with Danny, e-mail him on [email protected].
Cape Argus