Marlon van Rooyen was once a gangster. He then worked for the City of Cape Town, before being fired. This is his story, in his own words.
What is your name, age and birthplace?
My name is Marlon van Rooyen, 50 years old. Birthplace: Ocean View.
Can you tell me a bit about your life before you experienced homelessness and what a normal day looked like then?
At first I was a gangster. So I changed my life and got a job by the council, City of Cape Town. I worked ten years there. So by the tenth year they sacked me for stealing and then I begin to smoke drugs. That's why I'm homeless. Because my mother don't allow me anymore to sleep in the house.
What led you to where you are now and were there particular moments that changed the direction of your life?
Drugs and ... change the direction... Ja now I sleep here and there by friends if you don’t have something for them to smoke you must sleep outside. That's the way life goes. I don’t have other place to sleep. Just drug friends.
What do you wish people understood better about being homeless?
I would like the people to know you can change in life and be a better person. They must respect you as you are, like a human. Like they are. Because we wasn't born like this. Everyone makes mistakes in life. That's why you can change in life. Be a better person. But you must make it. They can't make it. You must make it on your own, take that step.
What helps you get through difficult days and where do you find strength or support?
By my friends. I got support from my friends because they like a family. They always listen to what I have to say and they motivate me when If I got problems. How to change. Talk about the problems and motivate you and try to help you to be a better person and so on.
I want to work, be a better person. Change my life. Be better for my kids.
If you could change one thing about how society responds to homelessness, what would it be?
To love each and everyone. Homeless or not homeless. We are one. We all got one father. It's God. You must remember that. We all have one blood. It's red. We all have the same blood. Because we got one father.
Where would you like to be now if you could?
I want to work, be a better person. Change my life. Be better for my kids. Because I got four boys. Three are still small. I don’t want them to end up like me. I want them to get a better life.
