Cape Town– Life on the street is all about survival, finding shelter, staying safe, and figuring out where your next meal will come from, all while trying to hold on to your dignity in a world that often looks the other way.
No one knows this better than 65-year-old, Jimmy Frans, because for over 15 years this was his reality on the streets of Camps Bay.
Frans used to collect tins to make a living.
He stayed at shelters multiple times, but his struggle with alcohol kept leading him back to the streets.
He regards winter months without food and shelter as his toughest times.
“During winter when it started raining and you don’t know where to sleep, that was the hardest of times,” he explained.
Holding on to faith
But being a believer, he held on to hope that someday his fate would change.
“I always stayed positive and I always prayed and asked God for strength to carry me through.”
Jimmy’s prayers were answered in April last year when he met Ryan Rudy, operations director for ignisive, a Camps Bay based organisation which aims to reintegrate people living on the streets in Camps Bay into society.
Rudy encouraged Frans to seek assistance, he accepted the offer and was placed at The Haven Night Shelter in Napier Street, Green Point.
Transformation
Since then, Frans has courageously taken daily steps to transform his life.
He said he agreed to the offer because he was ready to leave behind the constant hardship and hunger.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision to make because I knew if I go to a shelter, then I would get a job. I didn’t feel like sleeping outside anymore. One day you have, the next day you don’t have anything to eat.”
Frans still remembers his first night in the shelter.
“It was a good feeling. The first thing I did was take a nice warm shower and that first night sleeping on a bed was nice.”
New beginning
Soon after, Frans joined the ignisive Community Steward and Reintegration Project, where he worked as part of the field operations team, which is supported by the Camps Bay City Improvement District (CB CID).
He learned new landscaping skills and helped maintain Camps Bay’s greenbelts and common areas — the same community where he once searched bins for cans.
Frans also received support to overcome challenges with alcohol and later moved into second-phase shelter living at Moira Henderson Haven in Woodstock.
His commitment didn’t go unnoticed, and he was promoted to team leader in the Field Operations Project.
In March this year, he was offered a permanent job as a landscaper by a local business.
Frans believes meeting Rudy was a divine intervention.
“It was only God who sent Ryan. Everything changed, I got a job and a shelter.”
He encourages others to seek assistance and take any opportunity to rebuild their lives.
First, you need to beat your substance abuse and then you must change your life. Only then can you move forward. I love gardening. I am happy with my new job.”
Dream come true
In celebration of his 65th birthday last month (August) Frans, a passionate rugby supporter, got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Springboks take on the Wallabies at Cape Town Stadium.
This was thanks to the CB CID who wanted to make his birthday extra special. A day Frans will carry with him for years to come.
“I was so happy when I heard I got a ticket to go and see the Springboks play live. I only see them on TV. It was dream come true. And I will remember it for the rest of my life,” he explained.
Fiona Fiona Bosch, reintegration manager at ignisive, said: “Jimmy is doing amazingly. He used to collect tins for a living. Seeing where he was and where he is now is a real transformation.”
She said Frans’ journey was not easy, but he was determined to leave his old life behind.
“It took him some time to get out of his habits, at the beginning when he started working, he used to still search in bins to collect tins. He used to tell us, ‘It’s hard because that was my bread and butter.’”
Andrew Tulloch, ignisive operations manager, said his bond with Jimmy started over their love for rugby.
“I had the privilege of watching Jimmy grow. He has gone from strength to strength. He is such a hard worker and a humble person. I was privileged to go with him to the Springbok game and seeing him enjoy the opportunity to watch the game.”
Tulloch said Frans’ story is proof of what is possible when communities, businesses, organisations, and government entities form collaborations.
“Our organisation is all about responsible giving. We teach our clients to take accountability for their lives and to take responsibility for making the necessary changes. We are there only to guide and support and encourage along the way.”
Tulloch said Frans is an inspiration to many.
“Jimmy has made the necessary changes to better his life. I hope that he has the opportunity to realise more of his dreams. I am pushing for him to see a Stormers game, he hasn’t seen them play yet.
“He would always tell me stories of going to Newlands Stadium when he was young.”
Fueled by hope, prayer, and determination, Frans now wakes up to a life he truly looks forward to.
“I want to thank everyone who helped and inspired me. They all played a big role in my life,” he concludes.
