Street performer dreams of becoming circus performer
East Rand-born Thabang Motau is a street performer, who juggles, unicycles and does human pyramids for a living.
You will sometimes find him on the corner of Rondebult and Ravenswood roads, dressed in a costume performing for motorists.
At the age of 18 years old, many young people are in class at either high school or university.
This was not the case for 22-year-old Motau, who was forced to leave school four years ago in Grade 11, to take care of his family.
“My father was very ill and died, and my mother was very sick; there was no provider at home, so I had to become the bread-winner,” says Motau.
Motau says his mother lost her job because of her illness, and due to this he was unable to focus at school as he was always worried about their situation and how they would survive if his mother were to die.
Motau has two older sisters, but he is the sole provider in his home.
“I always wanted to be in the circus, and taught myself how to juggle from watching my friend who used to work in the circus,” says Motau.
Motau’s friend travels around Gauteng with him performing at various busy street light intersections.
As a child he used to be involved in tumbling and would love to also become an acrobat.
Although being a street performer doesn’t pay much, Motau says in a good month he could take home R2 200.
He says however, that the metro are always telling him to get off the streets, as he might become a victim of a hit-and-run.
Other challenges he faces include going home after a long day of performing with no money to show for it.
“We’re used to it though, we know that you win some, you lose some, and I’m strong, I won’t give up, I will do it until I reach my goal,” says Motau.
His dream is to go back to school to complete his matric, and then study towards becoming a circus performer.
