The  inner city of Joburg  is flooded with high rates of homeless people , while over the years the government has devised many ways as an attempt to combat the problem of people living on the streets in the city . However the status of the city being a place of endless opportunities attracts many to flood to Joburg in pursuit of finding their big break.

Mzansi Corner spoke to a police official during a patrol they were having in the streets of Joburg , in an attempt to get the police sentiments regarding the issue of people who sleep in the streets ,under bridges, passages and deserted buildings. He alluded that while some of the homeless collect recyclable waste during the day as means of hustling to  have something to eat at the end of the day ,others hustle through pick pocketing, stealing and robbing people to satisfy their “drug habits”

Many come to the city of gold, the city of lights  and to the well of living opportunities to make a living for themselves however not all get to taste nor see the gold as their fate vanishes into thin air, as they encountered by a sad reality of how much of a jungle the streets of Joburg it is not easy as it is shown on television dramas .

Ma Seven Picture By: Phumzile Mavimbela

Though opportunities are there, but the high rate of rural urban migration makes the city a competitive arena where one has to do what they have to do to get by. The inner city  of Johannesburg is not called a Central Business District (CBD) by default this where sweat meets hard work from people selling on the streets ,to some washing cars ,others braiding hair by the pavement and many any other small business initiativse you can think off.

Rural Urban Migration Picture by: Mail & Guardian

Siyabonga (not his real name ) who came to Joburg at an early age of 12 years old , he’s been leaving in the streets for close to 8 years now. He explains that he did not chose these conditions ,”I did not choose this life ,it choose me”  after loosing he’s parents he ran to the city because of unbearable conditions he did not want to get much into at home . He came to Joburg hoping to make something out of his life upon arriving in the city of gold he got over whelmed by the number of people who came to the city because of similar reasons but failed to find their big breaks “this place is to big ,it can swallow you ”  his first day did not offer him much hope as for the first time he had to sleep under the Mandela bridge. What kept him sane was that he was not alone there were many like him who took him in and became his new family .

 

What can one do when  the golden walls become grey? because of despair and unbearable living conditions of feeding from bins and having people judge you without knowing you, never mind your circumstances. Upon discovering that life in Joburg is not easy as it seems. The question is  why is hard for people to go back home ? this is a question that many who pass homeless people sleeping on pavements ask themselves . Ma Seven explains that when he weighs the situation he left back home and his current life , he can choose this life over that one any given time of the day .

Though it is not easy to cope he explains that drugs have become a coping mechanism  and the spirit of brotherhood keeps them together. “I wake up 5 to collect plastics and anything made out of plastic from the bins around ,normally by 5pm my bag will be full” says Ma Seven . In saying this he was trying to explain that not all of them engage in criminal activities .

Joburg is prominent for its reputation of drugs, hijacking,human trafficking and many other criminal activities, these problems or issues are not arbitrary  however they stem from underlying issues mainly deriving from unemployment. It would be unjustifiable to pressure the government to create more job opportunities  in the city noting that this would lead to a constant increase in urbanization and over population  leaving the city in a worse state than it is already in. A more viable solution Would be to increase more skill development programs in rural areas and areas in the semi periphery of the city , let other areas of the country be just as developed and resourced as Johannesburg . Let there be a construction of more shelters and homes for those facing abuse in urban areas and towns near by. Creating a place where Joburg is not only the hub of innovation or opportunities but the entire MZANSI!!