A Mitchells Plain musician has taken to busking on the bus to make a living.
The young dad says Level 1 of lockdown hasn't brought him any luck as he has no gigs booked, and so he’s had to resort to singing on public transport.
Vezz, a 26-year-old father of one from Tafelsig, says like everyone else he has been hit hard by the pandemic, but wasn't as lucky as some performers who have returned to the stage.
“I had a few shows on social media, but they weren’t really that big,” he says.
Two weeks ago he came upon the idea of busking on taxis and buses, and a video a commuter took of him singing on a bus hit 10 000 views yesterday.
Vezz wakes up early to catch a bus or taxi to Century City, Bellville or Cape Town CBD.
“People are enjoying the music and the entertainment.
“I travel with a small music box and I ask the drivers if I can sing in their vehicles,” he says.
“People often look surprised. I sang in the Merrydale bus on Friday and the entire bus sang along and that made me feel so fantastic.
“I walk with a little tip bottle and thank God people aren't stingy.”
Vezz says on Saturday the bus driver asked him to stop singing.
“He said his ears are tired, but the commuters immediately jumped down his throat and told him they want me to entertain them.”
Vezz sings jazz, ballads, gospel and R&B. He earns over R100 a day and up to R250 on a good day.
“The reason I'm doing this is because I don't have work and I try to provide for myself and my family.
“I feel proud because it's an honest living and if people hate it they just have to put in their earphones.”
Bus commuter Zakeera Esack says she loves the free entertainment: “I love his voice. He’s outspoken and really entertaining on the bus, we like to listen to him sing.”