20 Days in their shoes: Man shines light on the homeless and forgotten
After 20 days on the streets, Randy Christian ends his eye-opening homelessness campaign more determined than ever to make a difference.
After spending 20 days living on the streets, Randy Christian has completed his bold campaign to better understand the daily struggles of homeless people.
The initiative was born from two driving forces: A deep personal desire to grasp the emotional and physical toll of homelessness, and frustration over the Rand West City Municipality’s failure to repurpose a vandalised, abandoned IEC building for use by his organisation, the Myburgh Foundation. Randy believes the building could be a lifeline for vulnerable individuals in the area.
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“I knew it would be difficult and dangerous, but I also knew it would be temporary – and that made it easier to commit,” Randy said.
To prepare, he altered his diet and began endurance training. Spiritually, he turned inward, strengthening his relationship with God.
“I’ve always been someone who finishes what he starts,” he explained, “and that mindset helped carry me through.”
He packed only the bare essentials: Two sets of clothes, a Bible, hygiene items, some money, a cellphone with a charger, and a backpack.
“At first, the days felt long and empty. You wake up, grab tea from a vendor at the taxi rank, then roam the streets asking for R5, just enough to buy food later. But the real stress began after sunset,” he recalled.
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That’s when danger crept in.
“At night, people try to gain your trust so they can rob you. Fortunately, I wasn’t seen as an easy target and was mostly left alone.”
With no fixed shelter, Randy moved from town to town each night. He slept outside the Hillbrow Police Station on his first night, then behind an electrical box in Melrose on the second, and later at taxi ranks.
During the day, he collected scrap for money – a common income source for the homeless.
More than the hunger, Randy said the hardest parts were going days without bathing or brushing his teeth, and the struggle to find someone willing to let him charge his phone.
He noticed a striking shift on day two.
“Once I no longer looked clean, people treated me differently. It’s heartbreaking how quickly society turns away based on appearance or status. I was lucky – mine was a temporary situation. But for many, it’s not.
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“I found that no matter someone’s background – wealthy or working-class – most people treat the homeless without dignity. It’s as if you stop being human.”
Emotionally, the experience took its toll. Randy now better understands why some homeless individuals turn to drugs or alcohol.
“The loneliness is overwhelming. You start to realise that substance abuse may often be a coping mechanism.”
Returning home was a relief, but the memory of those still on the streets weighs heavily.
“Those faces stay with me, especially the mothers and children. It’s a harsh reality we can’t ignore.”
He challenges the widely held belief that homelessness is a choice.
“It’s not. People adapt to the hand they’ve been dealt. Whether they’re begging, recycling, or using substances, they’re surviving the only way they can.”
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Now more determined than ever, Randy and the Myburgh Foundation are committed to establishing a safe haven for the homeless.
“I will knock on every door in Rand West City until this dream becomes a reality,” he vowed.
To support or learn more about the project, contact the Myburgh Foundation at 062 591 2268 or email myburgh.est@gmail.com.
