PHILANI Dladla, arguably the world’s most famous "homeless" bookworm, is not to be trifled with when it comes to his knowledge of books. It ranges from Wuthering Heights and A Tale of Two Cities, to biographies on Richard Branson and Warren Buffett. Mention a fictional character, or a business or political personality, and he’s off, trotting out facts and figures.He regularly reads Forbes Magazine, has started a foundation for underprivileged kids, plans to set up a nonprofit organisation that will see some of them funded for university, and gives motivational talks to corporates. A couple of years back, "I was the only homeless man I knew with a Twitter account and a Facebook page," he says.Just more than a year ago, he was invited by TEDx Talks, a nonprofit organisation devoted to "ideas worth spreading", to talk about his life.His is no sleek success story. After spending hours with him at his pavement "mobile bookstore" on the street alongside Greenside’s Doppio Zero, the impres...
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