Canaan Mdletshe
For the past 11 years, 33-year-old David Molate has been sleeping in the bush near Blythedale Beach in KwaDukuza on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
His home is a shelter made of beach shrubbery. He begs at a local shopping centre, eats leftovers from beach-goers and bathes in the sea.
He lives there because he cannot find a job or a proper home.
He said he was once a normal, healthy and capable human being.
"I used to live in Spankop village, in Hammanskraal, outside Tshwane, but I was forced to leave home in 1997 by my uncle and other elders," he said.
They told him to leave because he was bewitched.
He said his dream for a prosperous future was shattered after he failed to finish his course in business studies due to ill-health.
"I could not concentrate in class and everything was falling apart.
"My family decided I seek refuge elsewhere," said Molate.
Molate said he came to KwaZulu-Natal with only a few clothes and a bag.
At first he tried to live with his uncle in Durban, but this did not work out.
"I had no one else to live with so I started squatting in different shacks around Durban."
Molate said he wanted to further his studies, and he's clinging to his dream.
"As a young boy, I dreamt of becoming a businessman and I still believe I can achieve that."
For now, Molate tries to survive life out in the open.
Life in the bush in place of boyhood dreams
Canaan Mdletshe
For the past 11 years, 33-year-old David Molate has been sleeping in the bush near Blythedale Beach in KwaDukuza on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
His home is a shelter made of beach shrubbery. He begs at a local shopping centre, eats leftovers from beach-goers and bathes in the sea.
He lives there because he cannot find a job or a proper home.
He said he was once a normal, healthy and capable human being.
"I used to live in Spankop village, in Hammanskraal, outside Tshwane, but I was forced to leave home in 1997 by my uncle and other elders," he said.
They told him to leave because he was bewitched.
He said his dream for a prosperous future was shattered after he failed to finish his course in business studies due to ill-health.
"I could not concentrate in class and everything was falling apart.
"My family decided I seek refuge elsewhere," said Molate.
Molate said he came to KwaZulu-Natal with only a few clothes and a bag.
At first he tried to live with his uncle in Durban, but this did not work out.
"I had no one else to live with so I started squatting in different shacks around Durban."
Molate said he wanted to further his studies, and he's clinging to his dream.
"As a young boy, I dreamt of becoming a businessman and I still believe I can achieve that."
For now, Molate tries to survive life out in the open.