Homed after 29 years on George's streets

Life on the streets is ruthless.

- Jacqueline Herbst

Locked in a constant struggle for survival in a dog-eat-dog world that favours those who are callous enough to do what it takes to succeed, the destitute routinely prey on one another to get their hands on basic necessities.

"People attack and rob each other for food and clothes. It's the same as GBV [gender-based violence] where one tries to be dominant over another," said Deon Frans (37), who was recently reintegrated into society after 29 years on the streets of George.

Originally from Lawaaikamp, Frans never knew his father, so when his mother died when he was just eight years old, he was left to his own devices. He subsequently started running with a crew of friends. One thing led to another, and before long he was homeless and hooked on drugs.

Cheap and widely available, dagga, Mandrax and tik became entrenched in Frans' daily survival strategy, but turned out to be the ball and chain that kept him from rising above vagrancy.

Theft to survive