Heartbroken hobo

The couple could often be seen at the corner of O’Reilly Merry Street and Fourteenth Avenue, at the Northmead Square, where they used to live.

Martie was dating a car guard until Piet stole her away.

She was married very young, but her husband drank a lot and was verbally abusive, which led to their divorce.

During her marriage Martie became very isolated from her family.

By the time the divorce was finalised she had no way of contacting her sisters and so found herself destitute.

Pietrus attended Belvedere School until Grade Eight.

Without a matric certificate he found it very hard to find a job.

When asked how he managed to woo Martie, he said: “Oh sweet talk; it’s easy to talk to a woman.”

They were in love for nine years, until Pietrus started to notice how aggressive Martie became when she drank.

Eventually aggression turned to violence and she hit him and scratched his face on more than one

occasion.

Pietrus was tired of the violence and sent Martie away, to go and live in Sasolburg.

Looking back, Pietrus said: “She was a good woman, but a bad woman.”

He is doing very well for himself now, with new, clean clothes and a place to stay with his friend.

“I’m clean; much better off without the woman,” he said.

Although Pietrus is coping without Martie he misses her and is planning a trip to Sasolburg soon, to get his “wifey” back.