Garth My Mate

Growing up in tough times, my mom struggled (mostly) to put us through school, and she did her best, being like Mother Teresa. We also grew up in the now-Communicare flats in Wynberg, where I met Garth. It must have been between the ages of 9 and 12, young, without a worry in the world, and feeling like the world was at my feet.

I always remembered Garth as an amazing sportsman, probably 4 or 5 years older than me. I looked up to him, probably because I recall his fast bowling, his quick running, and his unbelievable tennis skills. I remember he went to Normies, and that he was mischievous.

As life happens to us all, I think we moved away years later, and one day, many years back, I learned Garth was living on the streets.

In between those years, he had become addicted to substance abuse, lost his parents, jobs, friends, and his grounding, which is so easy to do nowadays. For some people, life becomes unmanageable due to things that happen – some of us overcome, and some of us struggle to manage.

Garth, admittedly, was the latter, with little or sometimes no support.

I had to find this guy and do something to give back. The days spent at the junior school, between cricket net sessions, sprints on the athletic track, tennis on the courts, or jumping the wall and spending the day at the pool – we spent way too many fun times together for me to ignore this.

I found Garth. Those who shop at Park and Shop in Meadowridge will notice him. He helps out where he can there, and takes whatever assistance he can.

I thought long and hard, and finally figured it out.