White beggars in South Africa earn R50 to R500 a day

[Lyt]

Maybe because his need is greater than yours. A person must be in a pretty crappy place if standing at a robot all day is his/her only shot at a source of income. The fact that you are in a car at that robot means you're about a billion times better off than he is.

Strong misinterpretation there. Work = food , no work = no food. Even if you have to clean streets its still a job, instead of taking the easy way out and begging.

When I was down in cpt , there was a 10-14 year old colored boy who was watching cars and directing them in/out of the parking area. That guy did a pretty good job of it ( compared to many others ) , and every cent of my tip to him was damn well deserved. So don't give me this only shot of income bs, if you try hard you will find another way to make money.

[HavocXphere]

Maybe because his need is greater than yours.

Right so I'll intentionally screw up at work, then my need increases and therefore I am more deserving of handouts.

The whole entitlement & needs based mentality is good for getting that fuzzy warm feeling but for actually improving a society its entirely counterproductive.

[Roomys]

I stopped at a robot in durbs the one day, this was about 5 years ago. i gave this oke R5 ( i always had about 50 bucks in R5 coins ) and i asked him if he would like a day job doing our filing and some office maintenance, he asked what he would get paid, i said around R1500 a month. He laughed and said he made more than that sitting at the robots all day. i offered the oke a job where he could improve his skills and possibly his way of life etc and R1500 isnt alot i know but it really made me wonder wether i should give or not. i decided that if i was going to give it would be to a charity organisation for kids or animals that made a difference in the end.

[Ike_009]

I believe there are much better ways one can give back to the community over emotional blackmail.

In the past 4 years we've raised 2 puppies to go into kennels with the SA guide dogs. This last weekend Lexus finished his training and joined a girl in Stellies. We are now busy with a 9 month black lab named breeze.

I don't think anybody said don't give back to those in need but I believe that supporting beggars is the worst way. Its a trade built on attacking heartstrings and oscar worthy acting and the last place I will ever place time or money.

[Graal]

Those guys begging at the robots are freakin annoying. I have much more respect for a guy doing a shitty job like garbage collection or watching cars or whatever than for a beggar. Why on earth would I give my hard earned money to a guy that does absolutely fokkol in contrast to tipping somebody who actually works for his food.

I agree with this. A lot of people beg simply because they actually make a lot of money that way.It's also a lot easier to beg than to go to work each day. Look at what it says again. These guys make up to R500 a day. That's way above the breadline. And all these blind beggars at robots being led around by their 'helpers?' Why doesn't the goddamned helped go find a job to support the blind friend. It's interesting to see if you scatter a few coins on the ground how quickly a miracle occurs and this 'blind' beggar can see again to run after the coins.

I'm sorry, but no. I don't have a lot of respect for beggars. There are a lot of things you can try to make money to sustain yourself with. Before a person can be helped he must first show that he is willing to help himself.

Ironically, I was talking to a beggar in Stellenbosch who has been in the same spot, begging day after day for four years now and I asked him why he doesn't go looking for a job. His response was that begging was easier. I was dumbfounded by the fact that he was so unashamed of what he was doing that he'd freely admit to it like that. Even more ironically, these beggars spend their days begging and then rob hapless students at night.

I have even less respect for people who enable this by actually giving beggars money. All you're doing is making the problem worse.

[TBlaar]

With 4 times more people in SA than there are jobs, some people do not have the "honor" to do even kak jobs like rubbish collection. They have to revert to begging..

Then in other cases, you get the guys who beg because they make good money...

[MalicE]

Those guys begging at the robots are freakin annoying. I have much more respect for a guy doing a shitty job like garbage collection or watching cars or whatever than for a beggar. Why on earth would I give my hard earned money to a guy that does absolutely fokkol in contrast to tipping somebody who actually works for his food.

agreed!

I was at Danskraal one night (don't ask) and there was 'n guy whose only job was to mop up piss every five minutes. I gave him my last R10. perhaps because I was a little drunk and emotional, but mainly because that oke was doing the shittiest job while still smiling instead of catching a tan at a robot.

[MalicE]

With 4 times more people in SA than there are jobs, some people do not have the "honor" to do even kak jobs like rubbish collection. They have to revert to begging..

Then in other cases, you get the guys who beg because they make good money...

I know a couple of people that offered those corner collectors jobs which they turned down because they "make more money begging"

[TBlaar]

I know a couple of people that offered those corner collectors jobs which they turned down because they "make more money begging"

I also heard of this...

I would also not leave my job in IT for less money in a job that does not leech my soul...

[Graal]

With 4 times more people in SA than there are jobs, some people do not have the "honor" to do even kak jobs like rubbish collection. They have to revert to begging..

Bullshit. What's stopping them going around houses and asking if they can work in the gardens or something like that? The last three people we had working in our garden left because it was 'too much work for too little pay.' They basically got paid R150 a day, once a week, to mow the lawn, clear out some beddings and from time to time sweep out the driveway or garage or maybe paint a wall or plant something in the garden.

The majority of people who beg do so because they are too lazy to take the initiative and take responsibility for their own welfare.