Shelter residents evicted – A journalist’s journey with the heartbroken

As journalists we get to hear the most intimate details of people’s stories. We get to know our community – not only who they are but how they live and how they are affected by others.

I have always tried that whatever I write should not hurt, but help. That is not always possible …

The first time I got involved with the Grace House Upliftment Centre (it had a different name then), was in 2018 when I started with the News. I was shocked by the number of people in our town who needed help. The organisation in charge of the centre was asking for help as they could not afford the shelter any more. Eventually another organisation took over.

I sat and listened to all the plans that were made to revive the shelter, to use it for good and not only as a roof over the heads of the homeless. Soon they too could not keep up.

One specific day I watched as the people who had shared their stories and deepest heartbreak with me for the past few years were thrown out onto the streets of Krugersdorp.

I remember when I first met the residents one family told me that this was just to get them on their feet again. Another family was picked up along the highway. The elderly shared their stories of how they braved the sun to make money as car guards.

As I stood there I saw parents with small babies, children who are busy with exams, elderly who have nowhere else to go. One woman said, “I can’t cry anymore, I am done crying”. These people are now destitute.

When I left them today I sat in my car and a silent tear rolled down my cheek. I wondered what had happened to all those people who always wanted to help. Where were they today when children sat on the sidewalk crying?

I received phone call after phone call of people saying, “Natasha, did you see what was happening at Grace House?” Yes I saw, I have been seeing it for the past three years. I have written story after story. I tried to fight this, I tried to help.

But they are not the only ones. Lockdown has increased the number of people battling to survive or to take care of their families. Our shelters are full, our safe houses for children are full. There is nowhere to go for these people or anyone else who needs help.

We tend to feel this does not affect us, but it does. These people are our community, they are our people. All I want to ask today is that we are a little more tolerant, that we try to help where we can, when we can.

I was told once that the average family is three months away from living on the street. Something I think many realised when the lockdown came.

As I drove away today I felt helpless. Be kind Krugersdorp, our people need us.

*The above article is the journalist’s first-hand experience through the years.