Bergie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bergie is a term used for a subsection of homeless people in Cape Town, South Africa. The word originates from the Afrikaans berg meaning "mountain" - the term originally referred to the homeless people who sheltered in the forests of the slopes of Table Mountain. Nowadays, however they are more commonly found in the city (particularly the Company Gardens and the harbour) where shelter and food are more readily available. Most of them speak Afrikaans mixed with a few English terms.
They often make money by acting as informal car guards in the city centre or close to the popular beaches of Cape Town, relying on tips they receive to get by.
Their lifestyle was portrayed in the movie Boesman and Lena by Athol Fugard as well as in a film entitled Pavement Aristocrats by Francois Verster, which chronicles their lives.
Bergie can also be used as a derogatory term in South Africa, as in "You stupid bergie!"
Pronunctiation: The G in bergie is hard.
