The agriculture sector has an ugly track record when it comes to human rights violations. As the country makes plans to commemorate Human Rights Day on Tuesday, 21 March, four former farmworkers and farm dwellers share their inspiring stories of triumph and success in the world of farming.
Mzansi’s farming fields are heavy with stories of unsung heroes overcoming obstacles despite life’s challenges.
Growing up on a farm
Award-winning third-generation farmworker Audrey September recalls tough days growing up on the farm property her parents and grandparents worked on.
She remembers watching her grandparents work on a farm in the scorching sun and in the rain for a salary below the living wage. This injustice made her realise that she not only wanted to change her own life, but also the lives of other farmworkers for the better.
Today, she is a junior manager at Uitkyk grape farm outside Paarl, and in 2021 she was crowned Best Agriculture Worker at the Western Cape’s Prestige Agri Awards. September is the first woman to win this prestigious award.
“I started off as a general worker and climbed up the ranks, I had many dreams, but little belief in myself, however through hard work, dedication and vision I got where I am today, it was not easy but worth it.”
Understanding the dynamics of growing up on a farm, September told Food For Mzansi that one of her personal goals is to motivate others who might have low self-esteem.
“Waking up and smelling that fresh air and seeing your parents giving their all and the passion they brought into their work, motivated me and led me believe that I can still make something out of being a farmer’s child,” she said.
No access to water
For an award-winning dairy farmer Nompe Zim, growing on a Free State farm was both an advantage and a curse.
“I grew up on a farm where there was no water at all, we had to fetch water from the river. Drinking water we had to cook or go buy water in town.”
“The universe forces you to mature at a very young age, whether you are a toddler or a teenager, but you are forced to be independent when you grow up on the farms,” she said.
Zim said black women in the farming sector are marginalised and she would like to see more equality.
“There is still a perception of that she is a woman and a young person in farming. While when it comes to our white counterparts they believe that they are entitled to being in farming.”
Then there is the issue of access to basic needs Zim said. “Many young people in the farming community cannot access schools because of the ailing infrastructure and it [is] becoming a norm which leads to kids working on the farms and end up being a child labourer.”
Freedom of movement
Louisa Bezuidenhout who farms with livestock in Upington in the Northern Cape, recalls dark days in her life when as children they could not move around freely. She also admits growing up on a farm made her develop a thick skin at a very young age.
“There were challenges while growing up on the farm. From masculine challenges to the inability to move freely on the farm, and this was a sign of the times being born pre-1994.”
Bezuidenhout said although she ended up venturing into farming, it was solely her decision and was not influenced by her upbringing.
“What kept me going and motivated me, was that it was a learning curve for me and training at the same time. Life is tough, however you can make a lot out of it,” she said.
‘My upbringing defined me’
Minky Kgopa from North West also grew up on a farm. Today she is a commercial sunflower farmer, crediting her upbringing for her success.
“I grew up on a farm called Bossies and the career path I took was influenced by growing up on the farm.
“I was taught to be aware of my surroundings from a young age, even, the simple things like sounds around me, flowering patterns, and what each rainfall meant. Having conversations about interdependence of an ecosystem trained my mind to process and solve challenges,” she said.
Being surrounded by nature is what Kgopa adores the most. Ask her and she’ll tell you that she would not would not trade farming for anything in the world.
READ NEXT: Human Rights: ‘Uphold dignity of farmworkers’
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
