Unpacking SA's homeless crisis | A personal story of recovery and resilience
Homelessness is something that is universal, and no one dreams of living on the streets.
Bradwin Goodwin* 43, originally from Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats, grew up with a childhood filled with amazing memories, and while they may not have been rich, he never lacked anything.
Growing up, Goodwin was exposed to many different things, such as gangsters, drugs, alcohol, and prostitution at a young age.
“It was the norm growing up in Lavender Hill. But this never made us treat anyone differently,” he said.
Goodwin explained he comes from a God-fearing home, but he soon fell into the clutches of gangs as he got older.
“I started realising that we were poor. And so did the gangs. They used money, clothes, and shoes to entice me, and initially, this did not work. However, in my matric year, things were tough at home, and my mother was ill and unemployed. I was told all I had to do was just take a package to a shop before school and collect it after school. It was easy and it was easy money,” Goodwin said.
This soon became second nature, and he was one of the top drug peddlers.
Godwin, who got an opportunity to study further, saw no future in hitting the books when he could pay for his mother’s medication and his sibling’s schooling, and more.
“I started taking bigger risks for more money. I soon got into trouble with police and once I went to prison my life started spiralling. I lost my mother, my siblings were taken away and when I got out of prison I was addicted to drugs and had nowhere to go,” he said.
He started hanging around drug dens, but could not stay too long because he had no money.
Goodwin said he was soon homeless.
“I was living on the streets. I was dirty, I was someone everyone repulsed. I started living under the bridge in Strand Street near the Castle of Good Hope. This was not how I thought my life would turn out. I continued using drugs and started with alcohol so I do not feel the cold at night. I was ashamed of who I am and felt even smaller when people treated me like I was less than,” he explained.
Goodwin said time went by so quickly on the streets, and before long, 10 years had gone by.
“The only highlight was when people came around Christmas and Easter time to share food with us. Before winter, the City would also give out blankets and hygiene packs. Not everyone was always nice. It was one of the few days we looked forward to,” he said.
“On the street, those who sleep within two or three metres of you are automatically your family. We have seen many things, things that could have killed us, but to many we are invisible, and we prefer it that way. Otherwise, we’d have to hear of the filth and germs we are,” Goodwin said sadly.
He explains he had a dream of his siblings, who he hadn’t seen in years and from there, he believes the Lord spoke to him and he managed to turn his life around.
“I had the dream of my younger sister walking across the stage as she was graduating from university. But, as loud as I shouted, she did not hear me, or see me. I was invisible because I was homeless. Something about that dream shifted me,” Goodwin explains.
He reached out to a woman who fed the homeless along the bus terminus and she told him about this rehabilitation centre in Eerste River. She offered to take him there. He managed to get R200, of which he collected scrap and recyclable materials.
Goodwin said from there, his life changed.
“I went to this place called the Ark. I was introduced to the Lord again. I found my centre. I found me and who I was supposed to be. I cleaned myself up and once I left the centre I got a job with a friend outside Cape Town. This meant so much because I could rebuild my life again,” he explained.
Goodwin is now a travel guide for tourists visiting the West Coast area.
He has been clean for 12 years and is married with two children.
While he is yet to reconnect with his siblings, he had dedicated his life to making others smile.
I also volunteer at a local orphanage home to ensure young children have a positive role model growing up.
I need to do this, not for me, but for the future generations.
* Name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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