Runaways entertain motorists to earn money.
CHILDREN, who survive by begging from passersby, are ditching the conventional street corners of Mthatha for a more daring approach – miming.
Residents and motorists have witnessed this new phenomenon of children, some as young as 10, covering their bodies with a white substance and turning themselves in mimes.
The beggars can now be seen on the city’s busiest roads such as Nelson Mandela Drive and York Road, striking “robotic” poses while clutching a can to collect money from motorists.
The new phenomenon has confounded both residents and motorists, who look on in amusement.
However, their act on Mthatha’s streets is not without risk as the young beggars stand on the white lines separating lanes as cars whizz past at high speed.
The children draw curious stares from passing motorists, who sometimes throw a few coins their way. However, many are furious, saying the young mimes are putting their lives and those of drivers at risk.
“These children are just playing with their lives,” said one irate motorist at an intersection on Nelson Mandela Drive where some young beggars were putting on a show near the Mthatha Plaza.
“Someone needs to remove them before something bad happens to them.”
Another motorist, Lukholo Ndabeni, put the blame squarely on the shoulders of authorities at King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipality.
“My fear is that one day someone might be killed if this is not addressed very soon,” he added.
Approached by the Daily Dispatch yesterday, some of the youngsters said they had turned to begging after being left homeless when their parents died.
Some, who could not be named because they are underage, said they had run away from home because of abusive parents.
“I was living with my grandmother in Mqanduli but because she beat me all the time, I decided to run away from home,” said a 10-year-old boy.
He said he had come to Mthatha earlier this year to get help from social workers but had ended up living on the streets.
Two other boys, aged 12 and 14, claimed they lived in a children’s home in Ncambedlana but begged for money to buy clothes.
Others said they had dropped out of school or run away from home because they wanted to be independent.
“I saw my friends doing this thing and I decided I wanted to join them,” said a 13-year-old boy, who claimed to be from Tyumbu.
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea said what the young beggars were doing was illegal and risky.
“We urge motorists to stop giving them money,” he said.
KSD municipality could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print yesterday. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Miming child beggars a danger on Mthatha streets
CHILDREN, who survive by begging from passersby, are ditching the conventional street corners of Mthatha for a more daring approach – miming.
Residents and motorists have witnessed this new phenomenon of children, some as young as 10, covering their bodies with a white substance and turning themselves in mimes.
The beggars can now be seen on the city’s busiest roads such as Nelson Mandela Drive and York Road, striking “robotic” poses while clutching a can to collect money from motorists.
The new phenomenon has confounded both residents and motorists, who look on in amusement.
However, their act on Mthatha’s streets is not without risk as the young beggars stand on the white lines separating lanes as cars whizz past at high speed.
The children draw curious stares from passing motorists, who sometimes throw a few coins their way. However, many are furious, saying the young mimes are putting their lives and those of drivers at risk.
“These children are just playing with their lives,” said one irate motorist at an intersection on Nelson Mandela Drive where some young beggars were putting on a show near the Mthatha Plaza.
“Someone needs to remove them before something bad happens to them.”
Another motorist, Lukholo Ndabeni, put the blame squarely on the shoulders of authorities at King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipality.
“My fear is that one day someone might be killed if this is not addressed very soon,” he added.
Approached by the Daily Dispatch yesterday, some of the youngsters said they had turned to begging after being left homeless when their parents died.
Some, who could not be named because they are underage, said they had run away from home because of abusive parents.
“I was living with my grandmother in Mqanduli but because she beat me all the time, I decided to run away from home,” said a 10-year-old boy.
He said he had come to Mthatha earlier this year to get help from social workers but had ended up living on the streets.
Two other boys, aged 12 and 14, claimed they lived in a children’s home in Ncambedlana but begged for money to buy clothes.
Others said they had dropped out of school or run away from home because they wanted to be independent.
“I saw my friends doing this thing and I decided I wanted to join them,” said a 13-year-old boy, who claimed to be from Tyumbu.
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea said what the young beggars were doing was illegal and risky.
“We urge motorists to stop giving them money,” he said.
KSD municipality could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print yesterday. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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