AN ELDERLY homeless East London couple’s bakkie doubles as a bedroom after they were evicted from their rented apartment.
Pensioners Danie Conradie and wife, Lucy, said they were evicted in December last year when they could no longer afford to pay rent. They have since turned their Nissan bakkie into a home and every evening park near a garage on Amalinda Main Road where they sleep with their two dogs and a budgie.
The Saturday Dispatch spent time with the Conradies this week to witness how they made ends meet. The couple, who are both in their late 60’s, said they were originally from the Transvaal. Danie, a carpenter by profession, said they moved to East London a few years ago with the hope of finding a better life.
“I came here to find work and I managed to do so but I soon lost the job when I got injured on duty, leaving my right arm slightly paralysed,” he said.
“Our old-age pension grant is the only income we have which amounts to R2600 for the both of us and there are no cheap places to rent.” Fitted at the back of the bakkie is a mattress, blankets, a gas stove, a pot, the budgie’s cage and their two dogs. On each window is a wooden rod which holds up lace curtains.
“We all sleep in here, except for my wife who sleeps in front,” Danie said.
Lucy, who suffers from arthritis, said she was unable to sleep in the back of the bakkie because being crammed up put a strain on her body. The Conradies said none of their family members cared about them.
“They have all deserted us,” said Lucy, who started crying. “All we want is a safe place to stay. I have even forgotten how it feels to sleep in a warm bed.”
On pay day when they receive their grant, the Conradies have to make sure they fill-up their bakkie with petrol, buy enough non-perishable food and fill the gas bottle to sustain them until the next pay day.
“We don’t want to beg, instead I drive around during the day looking for any kind of carpentry jobs I can get,” said Danie. After driving around, the couple retreat to their parking spot where they eat and sleep. The Conradies said the staff at the garage have been generous in allowing them to get water and use the toilet.
“We get water to cook from the toilets and we also bath in the toilet,” Danie said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Bakkie is EL couple’s home
Pensioners Danie Conradie and wife, Lucy, said they were evicted in December last year when they could no longer afford to pay rent. They have since turned their Nissan bakkie into a home and every evening park near a garage on Amalinda Main Road where they sleep with their two dogs and a budgie.
The Saturday Dispatch spent time with the Conradies this week to witness how they made ends meet. The couple, who are both in their late 60’s, said they were originally from the Transvaal. Danie, a carpenter by profession, said they moved to East London a few years ago with the hope of finding a better life.
“I came here to find work and I managed to do so but I soon lost the job when I got injured on duty, leaving my right arm slightly paralysed,” he said.
“Our old-age pension grant is the only income we have which amounts to R2600 for the both of us and there are no cheap places to rent.” Fitted at the back of the bakkie is a mattress, blankets, a gas stove, a pot, the budgie’s cage and their two dogs. On each window is a wooden rod which holds up lace curtains.
“We all sleep in here, except for my wife who sleeps in front,” Danie said.
Lucy, who suffers from arthritis, said she was unable to sleep in the back of the bakkie because being crammed up put a strain on her body. The Conradies said none of their family members cared about them.
“They have all deserted us,” said Lucy, who started crying. “All we want is a safe place to stay. I have even forgotten how it feels to sleep in a warm bed.”
On pay day when they receive their grant, the Conradies have to make sure they fill-up their bakkie with petrol, buy enough non-perishable food and fill the gas bottle to sustain them until the next pay day.
“We don’t want to beg, instead I drive around during the day looking for any kind of carpentry jobs I can get,” said Danie. After driving around, the couple retreat to their parking spot where they eat and sleep. The Conradies said the staff at the garage have been generous in allowing them to get water and use the toilet.
“We get water to cook from the toilets and we also bath in the toilet,” Danie said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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