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Not many street kids are girls. I have noticed one or two around Ghandi Square. Probably because there is something girls could exchange for money or food from men.
Those girls who therefore become street kids are not prepared to sell their bodies or because of health reasons cannot.
Working the streets as a street kid must also be incredibly dangerous and difficult for girls.
Working the streets as a street kid must also be incredibly dangerous and difficult for girls.
I came out of Spar in Ghandi Square some two weeks ago and was confronted by a girl.
"Can you help me, I need pads" she asked.
My hands were full of bags of groceries.
"I would like to help you," I said, "but I just came out of the shop, what must I do with all the bags?
"Can you help me, I need pads" she asked.
My hands were full of bags of groceries.
"I would like to help you," I said, "but I just came out of the shop, what must I do with all the bags?
You should have asked me before I went in."
I continued walking.
"You don't want to help me!" she insisted.
"No, I want to but I am carrying all these bags to my flat," I replied.
I continued walking.
"You don't want to help me!" she insisted.
"No, I want to but I am carrying all these bags to my flat," I replied.
I stopped at one of the concrete surfaces put the bags down and took out my purse and shook out all the cash I had, which was only about R3. I could see that she was upset.
"Sorry, that is all I have," I said and picked up my bags and continued walking.
"Sorry, that is all I have," I said and picked up my bags and continued walking.
Her plight troubled me all week long.
This morning I walked to Spar in Ghandi Square to go and stock up on essentials. I looked every where for the frail child who needed pads. I could not see her anywhere.
This morning I walked to Spar in Ghandi Square to go and stock up on essentials. I looked every where for the frail child who needed pads. I could not see her anywhere.
So I did my shopping, bought a tin of fish and bread for a young boy who asked me to. I left with my hands full of shopping bags.
Lo and behold the girl child popped up again, and asked for pads.
"I was looking for you this morning,"
Lo and behold the girl child popped up again, and asked for pads.
"I was looking for you this morning,"
I said, flabbergasted, "why did you not ask me before I went in?"
"I did not see you," She explained, "the securities chase us from the entrance!"
"What to do now?" I thought.
"Ok, walk with me so that I can put down my parcels at my place," I suggested.
"I did not see you," She explained, "the securities chase us from the entrance!"
"What to do now?" I thought.
"Ok, walk with me so that I can put down my parcels at my place," I suggested.
"OK, I will walk with you," She agreed.
"Yoh, it is cold these days!" she ventured.
"Yes it is," I responded. Where do you stay?" I asked.
" In Yeoville with my grandmother, " she answered, "I am from Lesotho, when my parents died we came this side."
"Yoh, it is cold these days!" she ventured.
"Yes it is," I responded. Where do you stay?" I asked.
" In Yeoville with my grandmother, " she answered, "I am from Lesotho, when my parents died we came this side."
We reached my building in Loveday Street.
"Wait here," I instructed, "I am just going to put the bags down, I will be back in a minute." I could see in her eyes that she was uncertain whether to believe me or not.
I took the lift up, unlocked my flat, put the bags in the kitchen,
"Wait here," I instructed, "I am just going to put the bags down, I will be back in a minute." I could see in her eyes that she was uncertain whether to believe me or not.
I took the lift up, unlocked my flat, put the bags in the kitchen,
washed my hands and went down stairs. I found her in the street where I left her. I could see that she was relieved to see me.
"What do you need besides pads," I asked.
"I need washing soap... Some mealie meal and tins, you know beans, " She volunteered.
"What do you need besides pads," I asked.
"I need washing soap... Some mealie meal and tins, you know beans, " She volunteered.
I walked around the corner to Woolworths.
"Wait here, the security will chase you." I went into the shop took a trolley and bought washing powder, mealie meal, four tins of pilchards, four tons of baked beans, long life milk, sugar and a tin of ricoffy.
"Wait here, the security will chase you." I went into the shop took a trolley and bought washing powder, mealie meal, four tins of pilchards, four tons of baked beans, long life milk, sugar and a tin of ricoffy.
I left the shop and handed her the plastic bags.
" What is your name? " I asked.
" My name is Augustina," she answered.
"I am David," I said, "pleased to meet you."
"Thank you, God bless!" She responded and turned around walking away quickly.
" What is your name? " I asked.
" My name is Augustina," she answered.
"I am David," I said, "pleased to meet you."
"Thank you, God bless!" She responded and turned around walking away quickly.
The development of a country is measured by the care it takes of its children. We have a very long way to go.
