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Taking a leisurely stroll on Clovelly Beach, a couple shares a smile while another tosses a ball for their excited dog to fetch.
The ocean seems calm as two kayaks pass by and laughter echoes in the distance.
Just over the dunes, under the Clovelly bridge, Mariana Osman from Ocean View crawls from her makeshift home.
Osman has been homeless for the past two months.
“I just thank God that I wake up in the morning,” she says while making herself comfortable on a log.
“It’s really tough at home, my mom is old so sometimes I stand at the car park for some money and send any small change I receive home. There is no income at home.”
The 34-year-old says they had fallen onto hard times and there was no food at home or money for electricity and rent.
“I’ve been sleeping on the streets for the past two months but I usually live with my mom. There’s no food and electricity at home and there’s rent to pay there.
“But I don’t go knocking on people’s doors for food, I usually go to the parking lot at Fish Hoek Beach to watch the cars as a car guard.
“Today I didn’t get anything but maybe tomorrow I will get something. I understand if I don’t get money today, if I do get some tomorrow then I must appreciate it. I sleep under the bridge because if I sleep anywhere else, they break down my hokkie.”
The young woman is one of several people who share the space under the bridge.
“My cousin stays here with me and he is the only one who looks after me.”
On the opposite end of the beach lives John Delcarme with his wife, children and their dog.
“I have spent most of my life on the streets of Fish Hoek. I’m the leader of my own pack, everyone respects everyone here,” he says.
Delcarme says while he is aware of the Mi-change vouchers to be redeemed at U-turn Homeless Ministries for a plate of food or amenities, they simply could not assist people with their real needs.
“I have nothing against U-turn but they can’t really help us with our needs.
“We can’t help that we are homeless because of our circumstances. For some people, it’s the environment and the community where they grew up.”
Delcarme adds, for many living on the streets, they are there because they have no other choice.
“I was born here and I’ve been on the streets for more than 20 years. U-turn can’t help us with our needs. They can only help with food but you (the homeless) can’t pay for food that is given for free, donated from others.”
He disagrees with the Mi-change voucher system.
“Where does it come from that the homeless must pay for a plate of food?
“Everyone appreciates a warm meal. Come out and talk to us and be with us. Hear the people’s needs and how their circumstances make them come to the street.
“It might be the lack of family. It could be the environment within the community or they don’t want to end up in gangsterism. Bread is already up to R21 and fish oil is expensive.
“Start building a night shelter in Fish Hoek, find solutions. There is money, the City gives money. We humbly request people of Fish Hoek Valley to start coming out.
“Come to the beach, come sit and talk with us around the fire and hear the stories of why we are homeless.”
