Page 117 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years
P. 117

 A NEW ErA
Wilma Johannes, Anisa Hendriks – SFLO Strydenburg Future Leaders Organisation (SFLO). Jan Kersai, Booi Baartman, Anisa Hendriks. Administrator, Roelf Jantjies- SFLO Chairperson,
Ronnal Matjan – SFLO Project manager.
RONALD MATjAN HAD A WELL PAYING jOB AS A PAPER TECHNICIAN IN GAUTENG. THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE BROUGHT HIM BACK HOME TO RURAL STRYDENBERG SO THAT HE COULD HAVE SUPPORT TAKING CARE OF HIS TWO SONS. IT WAS BACK IN HIS HOMETOWN THAT RONALD DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR INSPIRING YOUTH THROUGH THE STRYDENBURG FUTURE LEADERS ORGANISATION (SFLO).
I was born in Strydenburg, a rural area with not a lot to offer. We face high unemployment, crime, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and HIV. Most families’ income is based on social grants. During my childhood, I had to leave Strydenburg as our school only went until Grade 8. I completed my schooling in Port Elizabeth. After matriculating I joined Sappi Fine Paper, studying papermaking technology through the research centre of CSIR in Pretoria. In 1998 Sappi promoted me and also transferred me to Sappi Fine Papers Extra Mill in Springs, Gauteng. The position was well paid, permanent and had some very good employment benefits, it allowed me to settle in Gauteng and purchase a house. I married Renchia and two boys were born from that marriage. In June 2008 tragedy hit our family when my wife passed away. I now became father, mother and friend to my two boys. This was a difficult period in my life as it was never planned for. My work required a lot of my time and little was left for the demanding development of my two boys. The challenges that were put on me made me do a lot of introspection. I decided that to give my boys the greatest love and respectful upbringing I would have to move back to Strydenburg. I took an early retirement package from my workplace, packed up and moved back to Strydenburg. I had never thought I would return to stay let alone raise my children in a place with no resources.
On my arrival in Strydenburg I heard of a visit by the Minister of Social Development as part of the election campaign. Everyone in Strydenburg was talking about the event since our community hardly gets visits by any such high dignitaries. There was a huge white tent, with podium, air conditioning, lots of black ministerial cars, security and huge trucks with Gauteng equipment. Ah what an event! As busy as I was, I managed to secure a front seat. This was purely a beginning of a new era in my life. Minister Bathabile Dlamini
ronAld MAtJAn
RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years
115
YOUTH

























































































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