Sally- February 2006

This morning, I was having a working coffee with a colleague at eVida Cafe in Greenside, and was thinking about the money, burning a hole in my wallet, from our DOM meeting. Across the road, a woman sat on an old crate, a towel wrapped around her waist, and selling single cigrarettes, knick-knacks in plastic bags and little sweets.

She seemed to be doing okay - there arelots of constuction workers in the area, stopping to buy singles and sweet. I went across the road and introduced myself, told her about DOM … but she didn’t speak English, only a little Afrikaans. So a client – a construction worker from across the road who came to buy a cigarette – helped out. Her name is Monica Kgaphola, she has four kids – none of whom are employed. She lives in Greenside but came from the Northern Province about 8 years ago. She makes money by setting up shop near construction sites. She looks to be about in her fourties.

She was a bit shocked – kept asking me “Mahala??”while counted the money…. Asked me again, then asked me if Im from the church. I said no, that we just want to help people. Felt really really good to walk away from her, and i had a grin on my face for the rest of the day :-)

Next meeting is Friday the 31, and Renee is the giver!