How Ignisive is transforming lives on Mandela Day in Camps Bay

Collaboration, hope and freedom were key for Ignisive, an NGO aiming to help people who live on the street change their lives, and Camps Bay property businesses to help give a hand up on Nelson Mandela Day, on Friday, July 18. 

One property company distributed toiletry packs and the another hosted a padel tournament to help raise funds on the international day, symbolising the former president's 67 years of public service dedicated to fighting for human rights, social justice, and equality.

The gifts were given to people, on the Ignisive programme, who were no longer on the streets and had either been moved into shelter placement or been reunited with their family. 

Ignisive board member Anthony Lottering said collaboration was key to helping and supporting people living on the streets to be reunited with their loved ones and become self-sufficient. 

He included the government's social services, law enforcement, SAPS and civil society in working together to connect and empower people living on the streets to want to get back home. 

"Different approaches, from different groups or people are needed to help the different people we find on the streets," he said. 

Mandalee Amanda Peter, 43, from Delft, who lived in the bushes of Maiden's Cove, Camps Bay, said it was the way Ignisive staff approached her that helped motivate her to detox from drugs, be employed, move into a shack with her girlfriend and rebuild her life. 

She said hope and freedom, which Mr Mandela fought for, were what she was most grateful for and that it was necessary to help her take care of herself.

Ms Peter lived on the streets for about 17 years and for the last four years, in Camps Bay, where  Ignisive staff had tried to coax her off the streets. 

"I was naughty. I did not want to be told what to do," she said. 

She had just started with Ignisive when her sister spotted her sweeping the streets in Camps Bay.

"I was embarrassed. I was intoxicated. I was dirty. I was thin. She hugged me, she said she thought I was dead and that I was the only family she had," Ms Peter recalled. 

She joined the Ignisive programme in February last year, when she heard that someone was looking for workers but Ms Peter did not have an identity document (ID). 

"It was like God was speaking to me. I went and told the man that I did not have an ID. He then wanted to know where do I live. I told him with her girlfriend, whom he knew, and he said, 'Oh, no, she (the girlfriend) will not come clean', " she said. 

Her girlfriend was notorious on the streets of Camps Bay as a drug dealer. 

Ms Peter then said that they would both join the programme. 

They have not looked back. 

With Ignisive they have the option of returning home or going to a shelter, which Ms Peter refused. They completed a Matrix programme, a drug rehabilitation treatment administered over the course of a structured, 16-week period. She is a year and three months clean. 

"I learned that sacrifice is part of change, must be willing to learn, accept and make amends, and most importantly to forgive yourself," she said. 

Ms Peter said when intoxicated everything was a blur, time passes by. 

"Tasting reality is bittersweet. You are behind and life has passed you by," she said. 

"I'm not going to lie. I was naughty at some point. I now see the sacrifices people make and I've just been taking things," she said.

When Ms Peter started the programme she would sweep the streets, pick weeds out of gutters, pick up litter.

"Now I see the greenbelt is cleaner. There is a lot herbs and medicinal plants growing in the area. I feel bad that I used to contribute to breaking down things in the area," she said. 

She joined the programme with seven other people, which has increased to 40 people.

Ms Peter now works for a cleaning company in Camps Bay. 

Ms Peter would like to become a motivational speaker, which she already does, and complete her matric in the next three years. When she encounters someone living on the streets and breaks down their shack she speaks to them, "from the heart". 

"I tell that it won't be easy. But it will be worth it. I tell them that it is 50/50. Ignisive does their part but they also need to bring their side, of wanting to change," she said. 

Ignisive operations manager Andrew Tulloch said people moving from the streets back home had to go through a lot of trauma. 

"You have to come to terms with that. To own that then to have to forgive, and to forgive yourself. "Then have resilience to persevere and push through," he said. 

He said by nature people have struggles and challenges they have to overcome and survive.

"Linking it to Mandela Day, Amanda has had to walk out free from the shackles that were holding her back in life," he said. 

Property company managing director Nick Taylor thanked Ignisive for the opportunity to show their appreciation to community stewards - participants on the integration project, who take care of the area, street parking, greenbelts, clean and maintained.

"It was a delight for all of us seeing the smiles on their faces, and we're a loyal supporter of Ignisive and the immense efforts which the team undertake every single day," he said. 

Property company manager Trish Parsons said they partnered with Ignisive because of their work in the community, to keep Camps Bay clean and safe. 

"They keep watch out for what's going on in our area for our vehicles, when it is busy with tourist season. They are the eyes and ears of Camps Bay," she said. 

"They play a role in keeping the values of properties values where they are and we benefit from that because we help people buy and sell properties in Camps Bay. So, we just feel that it's really important that we give back to the community that we benefit from. We really love these guys," she said.

Ms Parsons said it was a pleasure to arrive at work with their friendly faces and willingness to help.

"We know they've got our backs and we just wanted to give something back to them," she said.