Storms turn into miracle for homeless Cape Town man

Striking up a friendship in the howling wind led to an outpouring of care that will change the life of a disabled, homeless man. 

This followed days of stormy weather, uprooted trees, and flooded streets that transformed parts of the Western Cape into scenes of chaos between 5 and 12 May, to the extent that the government has declared a national disaster. 

The storms led to flooding, road closures, and damage to infrastructure in several areas, with emergency crews responding to incidents as officials urged residents to remain cautious amid ongoing warnings. 

According to Charlotte Powell, Disaster Risk Management spokesperson for the City of Cape Town, 83 184 people living in more than 21 000 dwellings have been affected, with 10 confirmed deaths. 

However, none of this stopped videographer and social media personality Chad Nathan, otherwise known as Ginger with a GoPro, from going for a run along the Sea Point promenade on 12 May. He chose to brave the weather, run, and video along the promenade to show people the effect of the storms. 

“I thought it would be beautiful to be on the promenade all by myself,” Nathan told the SA Jewish Report. 

“There’s not a soul in sight, a little bit of rain. I’m taking a few videos to show people I’m braving the storm. The sea is so rough. It’s coming, it’s blowing all the foam over, and I’m just capturing some content. I’m also hating the run because I’m now getting really cold,” he said. 

About four kilometres into his run, he decided to turn back, and while he was doing so, he saw a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair on his own. He went up to him and asked the man, Sidney Miller, if he wanted to be pushed to shelter. On the way to the Sea Point pool bus stop, where Miller sleeps, about four kilometres from where they started, the pair struck up a friendship. 

Miller told Nathan that five years ago, he had been knocked over by a car in Sea Point, leaving him disabled. Since then, he’s been destitute and homeless as he’s never received anything from the Road Accident Fund. One of his legs was amputated and he had just received news that he would have to have the other leg amputated on 21 May. 

Nathan took Miller to get a coffee and croissant in a quiet Sea Point and he bought him some food. Nathan asked for Milller’s phone number, but he said he didn’t have one. Everything he owns, he explained, fitted into his wheelchair. 

“He told me he sleeps at the bus station. And I just said, ‘Let me see what I can do to help.’ He said he needed a new wheelchair, clothes, and a bag. That’s all he asked for. Didn’t even ask for money,” he said. 

Nathan immediately took to social media to post a plea for help for Miller, to get him what he needed. He then put his phone down and went to meet a friend for lunch. 

When he later opened his phone, the video had 50 000 views in maybe five to six minutes. 

“I calculated the donations and about R25 000 had already come in,” he said. “That’s when I knew we had a viral video about to blow up and a lot of money about to come in. I then had to drive somewhere for another couple of hours. When I came home, R70 000 had been raised.” 

He decided to write Miller a note and go surprise him with all the money that was his. By the time Nathan left his home, he had raised R115 000. 

Nathan spent about an hour searching the promenade for Miller, asking homeless people where he was. Eventually, someone pointed him in the right direction, and when Miller finally saw him, he looked shocked, having already been recognised on the streets from the video without realising how much attention and support was coming his way. 

“He said to me, ‘You found me.’ And he just knew I had something to give him. We went down to the Sea Point pools, where it was a bit quieter. I asked him if he wanted the thousand rand or the mystery gift. He opted for the mystery gift. He told me he doesn’t know how to read. So I read him the letter. He broke down in tears when I had told him we had raised R115 000.” 

At the time of going to press, R400 000 had been donated for Miller. 

“Sidney started handing out hundred rand notes to his friends. And we tried to get him into a shelter, but all the shelters were full. So, he said, ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m just going to be where I normally am, at the bus stop. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ 

“It’s amazing to see how the whole community came together to help someone and show that someone is seen and heard. You know, Sidney had tried to take his own life a couple of times. It’s amazing to see what you can do for someone when you show them they are not invisible,” Nathan said. 

His goal is to make Miller’s life easier while longer-term plans are put in place, including finding financial guidance, securing sponsorships for a new wheelchair, and arranging comfortable care for him ahead of another amputation. 

While most Jewish community members in the Western Cape were fortunately spared major damage, they may have witnessed apocalyptic scenes brought on by the recent storms. Johnny Amoils, who has lived in Plettenberg Bay for about 20 years, said the storm that struck the coastal town from 5 to 7 May, washing away beaches and tearing down trees, was the worst he’s ever seen. 

Michael Allschwang, who has been living in Plett for 15 months, explained that people in the Greater Plettenberg Bay Jewish community had been affected. 

“We had massive winds, and we had lots of rain. We did have leaking in the shul, but unbelievably, there was absolutely no damage at all to any of the sacred books or the Torahs or anything. It was quite miraculous,” he said. 

He explained that the Robberg and Hobie beaches were severely damaged, leaving little beach visible. And what is left is filled with debris from the storm. 

“The wind took out the stairs completely, so there are no walkways to get to the beach,” he said. 

Despite days-long power outages and damage to beaches, homes, and roads in Plettenberg Bay, the community came together to help with clean-up efforts. Allschwang said residents, including children, volunteered to clean beaches and support those affected, while a member of the shul launched a relief fund that received major support from the local Jewish community. 

In George, restaurant owner Michael Said said strong winds on 11 May caused more damage than the rain, with roofs blown off, trees uprooted, and informal homes damaged. Much of the city lost power for a day, forcing many businesses to close, though his restaurant, The Fat Fish, remained open and busy. He said he was grateful his staff were safe.