Nompi, 52 - Beggar

“I’m from KZN. I grew up in the village there. When I was 11, I had to leave my mother behind to come live here in the city with my father. I was nervous, but excited. I wanted a better life. But I had to leave school after only two years. My father couldn’t afford to pay for me to go anymore.

I stayed at home, cooking and cleaning for him. After some time I did get a job as a tea lady in an office. It was at a carpet factory. The job was good, and I worked hard.

I fell pregnant very young while I was working there. I was so scared during this time. My boyfriend, my daughter’s father, abandoned me. The bosses at the factory were good to me though. I was able to return to work after maternity leave. I had another child during my time working there. It was with a different man. This man, my partner, he supported me best he could, but he wasn’t around much. I was raising my two children mostly on my own. The other ladies in the township had to look after my children while I worked.

I lost my job. I can’t say exactly why. But I began relying on piece-jobs like hand-washing clothes and ironing here in the township. Covid came in 2020. My partner, he died from the virus. He was my only person I was close to.

I had no income. I had no savings and no support. What got me through those dark days was the church. The church opened its hands to me. They gave me food parcels with rice, tinned fish, and some vegetables. Sometimes it feels like they were the only ones who saw me.

I started to beg at the robots. I stand here every day, hoping for some money, or food, or anything to help me and my children. I live in my mkhuku in the township. There’s no electricity. I can’t afford it. I get a R370 grant from the government every month, which helps me. But every day I’m struggling. I’m old now. My feet hurt. I struggle to stand all day at the robots. But I have no choice. My children need to eat.

I cry every day. I don’t have anyone. People have forgotten me. People don’t look at you like you are another human. I don’t know what they are thinking. Some don’t even look at you, like you aren’t even there. It’s nice when people greet me by my name: ‘Hello, Nompi.’ That makes me feel good. It helps me stay positive.

I’m very lonely, but I will choose to show kindness to others, even though I don’t have friends and I don’t see much kindness. On Sundays I walk to church—any church—and I pray for others and myself. I visit schools and clinics to offer prayer. I find those in pain and try to lift them. Jesus is my only friend, but in truth, I am friend to many. I am a friend by praying for them.

If I could have finished school, I would have been a doctor. I love to help people. I can help them with their sickness and pray for them at the same time. I can give them love and prayer. I can hold them even while no one is holding me. That is my faith. That is what Jesus is about, and this is how I must live my life, even when I am struggling myself.”