We all walk through or past these pavements going in to our different directions, doing whatever we want. Have you ever taken the time to look at the person next to you, behind you or in front of you? This very place that you are walking is their home.
...is another man's home:
There was a hail storm a few minutes ago in Johannesburg CBD and the streets; the pavement is flooded with water. There is water flowing in every direction and Noord Street is filled with people that were already homeless, now they do not have a place to sleep. No matter how hard heartened one might be, you can't help be moved by them. They don't have a place to sleep tonight because their place is “flooded” so to speak. They already face a challenge of no food, no water to drink or bath now it's no place to sleep. A place that they called home; (even though it's just a pavement) has been taken away and even though the Methodist church tries to shelter some it cannot cater for all. This is both men and women sleeping in the outside, in winter and now in storms. Most of them stay there not by choice but by circumstances and situations that force them to live in such poor state. Our Government needs to do something, the municipality has to see this and act on it. I am tired of seeing politicians work their minds off towards or during elections to get votes and then neglect their communities. Walk down the street of Noord and you will see the sad and pathetic way people are living there.
…is another man's death bed:
Just a couple of days ago a man was found dead by the pavement along end Street in Johannesburg. He was dead for a couple of hours and nobody cared to call the police or an ambulance. Do we live in times where each man looks after themselves, who cares about the next? Are we so selfish that a man would fall in the street and die; that very same pavement that you walk in every minute and every second of every day, do you ever think if something bad happens to me now who would care? Do you care enough for your brother or sister to find out if they are sleeping or dead? You passed a homeless person in the morning and you assumed that they were sleeping or you didn't even care to look at them. Yes, you can't save the whole world but that one person that walks next to you might be in need of you.
We have people creating non governmental organizations everyday for what? Publicity? There are people that need their help out there. Not every organization has to deal with HIV and AIDS for their agenda to start such an organization.
The Spirit of Ubuntu just doesn't start and end with the people that you know. Everyone is your neighbor; how about lending a hand when you can and stop being so selfish. What are you doing for your community, don't just look at someone else to clean up your area. Wake up and do something.
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