For Wernhill's one-man band, music is ministry and survival

Windhoek musician Leon van Niekerk (57) has been playing a variety of instruments at Wernhill Park for over four years, filling the mall's entrance with familiar, uplifting soundtracks.

Van Niekerk plays the guitar, keyboard, drums, accordion, harmonica and piano. Behind the instruments is a man whose life has been shaped by hardship, faith and survival.

Homeless, he currently lives at the NG church shelter and comes to the mall every day. He describes his daily music sessions at the mall as his "ministry", a way of giving back, even as he continues to rely on the kindness of others to get by.

"The equipment is not mine," he said, explaining that he fetches the instruments from Cash Crusaders, where he then plays outside the store.

He added that he receives no money from Cash Crusaders – the instruments are simply loaned to him. Van Niekerk has no stable income, relying instead on passers-by who enjoy his music.

"The average amount I make is around N$200 to N$300 a day. Sometimes less than N$200, sometimes more than N$300."

Van Niekerk's partnership with Cash Crusaders began after he lost all his equipment during Covid-19, selling it off as a way to survive at the time. "I ran totally out of money because I was not allowed to make music anywhere, and I sold everything – my heart was bleeding."

He reached out to Cash Crusaders, who immediately agreed to step in and help.

Van Niekerk recalls facing challenges along the way, including being chased out of the mall by police. "Once the police came and tried to get me out of there," he said.

But that has since changed.

"These days they are also donating to me," he said. "The police even buy my music now; they bring a stick for me, and I put 21 gospel songs on it for N$100."

‘God is good’

Born in South Africa, Van Niekerk later moved to Namibia, where he attended Windhoek High School.

His life was marked by uncertainty, he said, having grown up without knowing his biological parents. It was not until he was 20 that he met his birth mother. "Who my real father is, I still don't know, and I'm 57 years old now."

He has siblings he is not in contact with, as they did not grow up together. Van Niekerk also has a son, who is now married, and a grandson he visits on Sundays.

Van Niekerk's love for music started at age 11, when he would watch his stepfather play. "From there, I taught myself the rest of the instruments," he said.

Money is a daily struggle, Van Niekerk said, but he remains hopeful. "The difficulties that I face are just financial struggles," he said, "but God is still good to me and looking after me."

He added that he is staying at the shelter until he can afford a flat. The shelter, for a daily N$40 fee, offers coffee in the morning, food in the evening, and a shower and beds.

"I'm staying in the container with seven beds inside and a shower," he said. "It's a very small space, but I still thank the Lord it's an overnight shelter for the homeless."