Page 120 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

YOUTH
A LIFE OF CArE
Rosey Beukes, Administrator Touws River Touws River Advice Office. Desmond Bezuidenhoudt, coordinator with a client. Advice Office.
desMond bezuidenhout
DESMOND BEzUIDENHOUT USED HIS SKILL AS A TRADE UNION SHOP STEWARD TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF FARMWORKERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN TOUWSRIVIER
I was born in Ravensmead in Cape Town. At the age of 5 years old, we lost our house because the woman who looked after us left the stove on after she made us porridge. We moved to Touwsrivier because my mother’s parents lived there. The town is located between the mountains and it has a warm and friendly community. In the town there are no jobs and the youth need to seek work outside the town. There are the Extended Public Works Programmes (EPWP) and Community Work Programmes (CWP) where people apply for work.
When I was 21 years old I was married in Ceres where I stayed with my wife’s parents. I then started working at the Good Hope Fruit factory as a general worker. Later, I was elected to be the shop steward at work. The organiser of the trade union which I was part of, asked me if I would like to serve on their management team. At a general meeting, I was elected as Vice President of the Union and once you were part of management, you would automatically become part of the national executive committee (NEC) of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) As a result of this, I have had training on different labour laws and workers’ rights at the University of the Western Cape and also at Ditsela Workers Education Institute. Because my mother became sick, I had to move back to Touwsrivier.
COSATU gave each member an NEC jacket and I wore it often. Because the community saw me in that jacket, they asked me to apply for a position at the Advice Office. I applied for a position but there was a large list of criteria you had to satisfy before you could be selected. My background in labour counted in my favour and I was one of ten people who were shortlisted. The ten people were then invited for interviews where a panel would give you marks. My background in labour and the certificates I received were a good indication that I knew what I was doing and I was very happy to be appointed as a field worker.
118
RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years