​He said, “Sometimes when you are jobless, it is difficult to stay with a family, because they always blame you for everything, even when something as little as sugar is finished, you will always get blamed for finishing it.”
Phako, who was happy to be vaccinated on the day, was giving his testimony during an event to mark World Homeless Day commemoration at Manger Care Centre in Benoni, Ekurhuleni last Friday. This year’s the day was observed under the theme ‘Locals act locally on a global day’.

He said those kinds of utterances drove him to move out at home to the streets. But mercy came to his rescue after he was taken to the Manger Care Centre in 2018, which is a shelter that takes care of homeless and destitute people.

Registered as an NPO since 1986, the Manger Care Centre has strived to create an environment to positively uplift and empower the vulnerable through its various initiatives, such as soup kitchen, textile, skills development in carpentry, upholstery, and agricultural projects.

“Our country has a big problem of joblessness. Some of the people who are here, are unemployed and we end up using drugs. Some of us are growing older, which will make it more difficult to find a job,” said Phako.

He was however happy and proud of the work they do daily at the centre, which will help him and other residents to become self-reliant after they exit the shelter.

Speaking to beneficiaries and key stakeholders, Special Needs and Services to Families, Director, Khanyisile Mathebula said, “We are happy that this commemoration will promote the collaboration of multi-stakeholders, especially with the local government, in delivering effective and efficient services to displaced families.”

“I want to say that as Social Development, we really care about people that are affected by homelessness. Previously we were not actively involved, but our counterparts from the local government empowered us with a lot of knowledge and information,” Mathebula added.

The World Homeless Day was a result of discussions between aid workers around the world, all of whom were helping the homeless in their own countries. The inaugural World Homeless Day was marked on the 10 October 2010.