I Can Go Home, but It's Hard For Me to Go Home (I Didn't Have Trouble Here Before)

Doreen Tofar smiles as her friend Charlie Jacobs lies on their mattress. Doreen and Charles live together in the bushes near Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg. Referring to a hard life back with her sister and mother, Tofar says, "I can go home, but it's hard for me to go home."

Charles pauses for a moment from parking cars at the Sunrise beach flea market. Charles, one of the original car guards at the lot, has been employed here since 1984. Each Sunday he earns tips by directing and watching over cars from about 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Sitting beneath the shade of a tree in Muizenberg Park, Doreen cries as she recounts stories of her married life. Her husband Karim, who died in 1999, required her to work work selling wine for him rain or shine; if not, she would be beaten.



Ibrahim, a local gardner for the City of Muizenberg takes a break in the shade of a tree in Muizenberg Park to share a laugh with Charles and Doreen.



Doreen pours herself a fresh glass of Lion's Head wine. Doreen and Charles often share a five liter bag of wine with their friends in Muizenberg Park.



From her spot in the shade in Muizenberg Park, Doreen lights a cigarette as the pigeons go about their business. Tofar appreciates the pigeons, and enjoys taking time out of her day to share her bread with them.



Sitting down in Muizenberg Park, Charles winds his clock to the proper time. He checks the clock a couple times each day, as he likes to keep it five minutes ahead of the proper time.



As the day is coming to a close, Doreen follows Charles as they make their way back to their home in the bushes near Sunrise Beach. Charles has lived in these bushes since 1981, and Doreen joined him in 2001.



Karl Green threatens Charles and Doreen as he reveals a knife concealed in his jeans. Green soon after proceeded to stab Charles Jacobs with the knife. Jacobs, though not seriously injured, proceeded to arrange for an ambulance to transport himself to a hospital in the area.



Charles and Doreen sit in the grass at the top of Muizenberg park as Charles waits for an ambulance to transport him to the hospital. Jacobs, who was moments before stabbed by Karl Green, is considering pressing charges against Green. Charles was also contemplating moving in with his sister in Wynberg. He stated, "I didn't have trouble here before...From '81 I didn't have trouble." Doreen however, believes Charles will eventually come back to the streets. She says, "One of these days he will come home (back to the streets). He will come, no matter what."

All Photographs Copyright Tim Dyk, 2007.