A homeless family says although they fear the Coronavirus, they refused to stay at the City of Cape Town’s “concentration camp” in Strandfontein.
The couple and their two children, aged one and three, are living in a make-shift tent on a veldjie in Mitchells Plain.
Angelo Adonis, 43, claims he was disowned by his family three years ago due to his drug habit and was forced to build a tent on the field along Cornflour Road in Lentegeur.
He says he kicked his drug habit nearly three years ago when he became a father.
He now lives with his girlfriend, Andrea Leason, 21, and their two children in the tent made out of heavy-duty plastic.
TENT: Angelo Adonis, Andrea Leason, 21, and kids in Mitchells Plain
Angelo refused to go to the Strandfontein temporary shelter, where about 1500 homeless people were staying during the Covid-19 lockdown, and says he’d rather take his chances on the street.
On Thursday Mayco Member for Community Services and Health Zahid Badroodien said that no more people will be taken in at the controversial site and that it will be closed by 20 May.
Angelo and Andre's tent is only 2x2 metres, and they live off handouts and bathe using a bucket in the tent.
The couple wears masks and say they are mindful of protecting themselves and their kids against the Coronavirus.
“I am living here for three years and that was due to my drug life,” says Angelo.
“I have left that way of life and the friends I had then when I became a father.
“My family disowned me due to my drug habit, but I am a different person now.
“I had a smaller tent before and made a bigger one when my children were born.”
TENT: Angelo Adonis
Angelo says the tent protects them against the wind and rain, but he fears the cold winter weather on the way.
“It does not rain inside here. We manage for now with the blankets,” he says.
“But we will be worse off if we must go to that Vietnam set-up they have there in Strandfontein.
“We will not go there. We get food from the community and at the community centre and we wear our masks.”
TOUGH: Angelo, 43, says his family disowned him
Andrea lived with her mother in Blikkiesdorp during her pregnancy and came to live with Angelo when their youngest child was born.
Angelo says he knows conditions are not ideal for his family: “I know this is not a good place for my children, but I will not take them to Blikkiesdorp, there is crime there also.”
A community worker, who asked not to be identified, confirmed she often feeds the family.
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za