In every corner of every city all around the world, there is a group of people we label - hobos, tramps, homeless - here in Cape Town, anyone who lives off the pickings of the street is called a 'Bergie'. This is a derivative of an Afrikaans word, Berg, which means mountain.
Now the mountain that is referred to is Table Mountain, that flat topped edifice associated around the world with our city. The original homeless inhabitants used to live on the slopes of the mountain, finding caves and rock shelters, hence the name.
Of course, they no longer live on the mountain, instead taking shelter in doorways. There are a number of houses that have been turned into hostels for overnight stays, but not that many take advantage of them except when it gets really cold or when the rain comes pouring down. They are fiercely independent and very rarely beg.
This gentleman is a resident of the
Camps Bay area, a quiet, well mannered person who, for reasons unknown to us, lives on the streets. He had no trouble with having his picture taken, asking for nothing in return. Someone had given him a piece of fried fish for his lunch.
I have included a
google map of Camps Bay if you feel like gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean!
