The brutal effects of the #lockdown hit closer to home today. I’m so sad, I’m holding back my tears.

As I was approaching home, I saw my barber on the side of the road, I quickly stopped to greet him. He was relieved to see me & seemed in distress b4 he did. [THREAD]

He said to me “my brother, I need your help. I have nothing, I’ve not been working since the lockdown.” As I was about to send him money through cash send, he said to me he doesn’t even have a phone anymore, he had to sell it to buy food. I felt so sad.

I did what I could to help him. And offered to help him further at the end of the month. As a foreign national, he can’t access government social welfare or social relief. This one situation, made me appreciate all efforts going into fighting this lockdown and seeing its demise.

Livelihoods of so many people have been compromised by the arbitrary decisions of this government. My barber is just one of many people across South Africa who last got a decent income at the end of February. They’ve got no food and are living everyday in desperation and hope.

I urge everyone to please checkup on your domestic helper, your barber, the manicure lady, the garden helper & all those who do menial jobs. These people are the ones hit the hardest during this lockdown. Please help them in any way possible. Whether they’re locals or foreigners.