Watching her grandparents work on a farm in the scorching sun and in the rain, made Audrey September realise that she not only wanted to change her own life, but also the lives of other farmworkers for the better. And she is well on her way to doing just that after being crowned Best Agriculture Worker at the Western Cape’s Prestige Agri Awards in 2021 and travelling abroad.
September is a junior manager at Uitkyk grape farm outside Paarl in the Western Cape. As part of her prize, she recently toured overseas to witness how Mzansi’s produce was being treated.
“The award I received opened a lot of opportunities for myself as a third-generation farmworker. It opened my eyes to so many things,” she says.
Growing up on a farm, she has spent many years in the farming community which led her to have a better understanding of what farmworkers need. “I grew up on the farm but finished school at Klein Nederburg Secondary in Paarl. My grandparents worked on the farm under scorching sun and rainy days to support the family.
“What inspired me was the fact that they never gave up and worked through the harsh elements, that made me want to learn more about farming and how to change it for the better,” she says.
An eye-opening trip
September says the trip was aimed at exposing them to the full value chain of how agriculture operates and for her it was eye opener. It was also the first time she had left the country.
“We went to the Netherlands and Germany and spent four days in each country. We witnessed how South African exports, mainly the fresh produce that is being shipped to those countries, are of good quality.”
“The hard work that farmworkers do on our farms is highly appreciated in the countries abroad. Above all, I was impressed with the quality of products like grapes and peas,” she explains.
“It was amazing, and I am proud farmworker who had the opportunity to see South African fresh produce being treated with high care.”
Tackling the issues
Despite her achievements, September says advocating for the rights and dignity of farmworkers is her immediate task and she intends to see workers, especially young people, flourishing and changing their lives.
“We have a lot of challenges as farmworkers. I have recently been given the responsibility of leading a forum of farmworkers here in Uitkyk. Some of the issues we are addressing are farmworkers who do not have houses. Who have been working for over 30 years on the farm but do not have benefits.
“It is sad to see a farmworker who has dedicated their lives to farming but when they go on retirement, they must run after social services grants. Some of them extend their time of working beyond retirement age because of having no houses,” she says.
ALSO READ: Third-generation farmworker wins big at agri awards
‘Ask questions and engage’
September explains that the biggest challenge they are facing is the development of farmworkers beyond the everyday life of working on the farm.
“For young people I will from the bottom of my heart, urge them to take up any opportunity that seeks to grow and develop them, and not limit themselves as a child of a farmworker.
“They need to ask questions and engage those who have been in the industry. It is not easy but there needs to be a change in how we do things,” she adds.
When it comes to her own aspirations, September hopes to see herself as a production manager soon.
“I do have dreams of buying myself a small land and start farming. However, that is not my immediate task, but it is in the pipeline and something that I would like to see happening.
“I have passion for agriculture and want to see myself grow and also develop others, and grow together with people whose lives might be changed by that growth,” she shares.
September says she would like to share the knowledge and skills she had gained from her overseas trip with young people who are willing to work the land.
“Agriculture is not about being dirty. There are many opportunities that one can take, and it will be my pleasure to work with young people.”
ALSO:Rural and proud: A muse for farmworkers’ children
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