Understanding homelessness: Insights from Bonga Sithole's journey.
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Bonga Sithole, a man who gained fame after a video of him speaking the Queen's English while homeless went viral in South Africa is back in the spotlight and he shared his thoughts on homelessness and his personal experiences, sparking a renewed conversation about societal perceptions of those living on the streets.
In a revealing interview with The Real Network, Sithole shed light on a multifaceted issue which make some people to resort to street dwelling. He said one primary factor is physical abuse, which he describes as a significant catalyst pushing individuals away from their homes.
He made an example of a parent 'disciplining' a child through corporal punishment while saying psychologically damaging things.
"You're worthless, you're stupid...When the child sits back and thinks of the matter, the parent's hurtful words become like a broken record. It's not the pain of the cane in the buttocks that will be ringing out in the memory. It's your words," Sithole said.
According to him, this might lead to the youngster leaving the abusive home for the unknown of the streets.
Sithole claimed that he stayed on the streets for over 18 years after his father, who owned taxis was gunned down. The smooth talker allegedly ran away from home after fearing that he might be the next target of the hitmen.
Talking about drugs, he said he realised he was using them because he was suffering psychologically.
"It was just a coping mechanism to try and numb the void that I was feeling. The inner man was suffering," he said. "When you are a street dweller one of the things you suffer from is rejection on a regular basis."
Sithole argued that psychological abuse is worse than physical. "Once society continually tells you you're worthless, you start accepting it. You being to neglect yourself because you don't feel worthy or like you belong. You become an outcast and the scum of society."
IOL
