A 28-year-old homeless man by the name of Rhino Bulo, is showing the world that anyone can be a community hero and further, that it does not take excessive funds but rather a kind heart and a little initiative.
Rhino moved from the Krugersdorp in the West Rand of Johannesburg to the Mother City a few years ago. It was in that part of our country that he learned about construction skills and techniques, as Atlantic Sun conveys, that would later aid him in his community upliftment endeavour.
Now after a woman who was bringing him food and water in Moullie point slipped and fell on a slope leading to the beach, Rhino became inspired to build a staircase to fix the problem.
“I decided that I should build steps for her, for the residents, to make it easier to walk down,” he expresses.
He began building his stairway to Moullie point in April.
“When I worked at the construction company I saw how they built, no one taught me how to do this, but I am good at working with my hands, and I am taking my time to build these steps as I do not want to make a mistake, I want it to be perfect, building something like this takes time,” he said.
“The rocks are from the beach; I collect them and bring them here. I bought cement with the money that the residents give me, so to save up money also takes time, but the foundation is strong because I used this building cement. I have to use good materials for these steps.”
On top of building the staircase, Rhino also cleans the beach when he can, and fills up pot-hole-like eyesores in the parking lot.
“Mr Bulo has a spade, a tape measure and a square to build the steps. A security guard keeps his tools safe at night as he sleeps on the streets of Green Point,” as Atlantic Sun notes. If Rhino’s story isn’t a pure indicator of how not all heroes wear or can even afford capes, then we don’t know what is.
Rhino is currently looking for a job, and he has one of the best skillsets, not only of the hands, but of the heart.
Picture: Instagram/ @allynfraser