“I have a name” is an incredible photo series showcasing everyday South Africans in the most phenomenal way. Proudly South African… one story at a time.

Meet Aprocarne. At age 92… yes that is not a typo… he claims to have been born in 1925 – he is homeless for longer than he can remember and slept on the street infront our complex last night.

Originally from Egypt, he moved to South Africa with his parents when he was a little boy – his mom was shot.

He grew up in Everton and worked as a construction labourer.

It was very difficult to understand him since he doesn’t have many teeth left in his mouth, but he proudly showed me a manual on Domestic workers rights which he had very carefully decorated the inside of with neat script.

I bought him some lunch and went home to get him a pair of shoes and warm socks since he was completely barefooted.

He doesn’t have any family.

Since the original post Aprocarne has had huge amounts of support & has even had an offer for a place to stay.

Aprocarne 1


“I Have A Name” is a space where an anonymous photographer (we’ll call her J) is taking photos of everyday South Africans to showcase their incredible stories.

How do we bridge the great South African divides? Black vs white, young vs old, rich vs poor, men vs women? The divides that keep us from making eye contact with the beggar standing on the street corner, or the stranger in the lift.

CS Lewis said, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously – no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.”

Come with me on a journey…the stories and names behind the faces of everyday South Africans living their life in your neighbourhood, on your streets.

I think you will discover that we have a lot in common.

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About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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