Jill Wilkenson, Strandfontein
Writes in response to “Shelter for homeless during lockdown” (Plainsman, April 1).
Beggars don’t get to choose
Get on the bus
You’ve got nowhere to stay
Just so unsightly
Always in the way
Get on the bus, your new home awaits
A spacious sports field on the coast of False Bay
You’ll sleep under cover of a marquee
Just grab your stuff now, you don’t have a say
Get on the bus and be on your way
Welcome to Strandfontein
(mid-way between Muizenberg and Mitchell’s Plain)
No need to worry, the locals don’t mind.
We’ve thanked them already, aren’t we kind?
The look of the sports field may give you a clue, they’re used to begging, just like you.
Notice the grass, dry and brown
No clubhouse for youth to let their hair down
No lockers, no stadium
Just a big empty field
They’ve begged for a revamp, for the place to be healed
Instead we ignore them and give them a camp
They’ve begged us for reasons,
For their voice to be heard
All their requests fall on deaf ears.
We decided for them like we decided for you.
So stop your whining now – beggars don’t get to choose!