There are many voices that tend to be marginalised in the South African media landscape, and featuring pretty high up on that list would be the voice of the homeless.

The Cape Argus, in conjunction with IOL, have launched a new initiative called #TheDignityProject. This will take the form of a 15-part daily series about the lives of the homeless in Cape Town.

At the forefront of that is a chap called Danny, who has written his first ‘Danny’s Diary’ entry, Below is how it begins:

Not so long ago I lived in Green Point (The Rockwell) and earned good money. I was wearing labels and ate out at some of the best restaurants in town. I had a very comfy life. Then life took a turn…

When living on the streets is your only option, it comes as a shock. You are exposed to things you would never have dreamed of. But, I had the time to learn so much about myself and how strong I am.

You also learn how society can choose to turn a blind eye and how some people go out of their way to help.

Living on the streets can be harsh at times. Not to mention dangerous. But in general we do the best we can with what we have. Honestly, I started using meth (tik). It kept me awake at night. Also, I could go for days without a meal as it suppresses your appetite. I went from a size 32 to a size 28 in four days. It was not a solution to the problem, so I stopped.

You can read Danny’s first entry in full HERE.

[source:iol]

[imagesource:futurecapetown]