By Palesa Matlala
• Sibusiso Gcaluza, 45, braais meat for visitors at Second Beach in Port St John’s and can earn more than R1,000 on a good day.
• Farmer Lungisile Manyana from Lusikisiki says seven of his animals are sick with foot and mouth disease and he spent R4,500 on medicine with no help from government.
Sibusiso Gcaluza was desperate for work.
The 45-year-old from Port St John’s had sent out many CVs. Nothing came back. He worried about how he would feed his five family members.
One day he went to Second Beach to clear his head.
That is when he saw his chance.
A man was braaing meat for beachgoers. The queue was long. Some people had to take their meat back to their cars because they were tired of waiting.
Gcaluza walked up to him.
“I was looking for a job for too long without any luck. One day, after sending out my CVs, I decided to go and sit at the beach just to clear my mind. While I was there I saw a man braaing meat for beachgoers. The queue was long and I could see that he was not managing; other people had to take their meat back to their cars,” said Gcaluza.
He told the man about his struggle and his family.
“I spoke with him first about struggling to find a job and that I have five family members that I need to take care of. I told him that I am going to join him and he didn’t have a problem.”
Now beachgoers bring their own meat and Gcaluza braais it for them. He charges from R30 to R300 or more, depending on how much meat they bring.
He does not buy the meat himself, but he is thinking about it because some people believe he sells meat.
On a good day he makes more than R1,000. Most of his customers come in groups and bring meat worth more than R1,000. On a bad day he makes less than R500.
“When it is quiet we understand that people don’t always have money, but with the money I make I am able to buy food for my family. Ever since I started braaing for beachgoers, I stopped stressing about what we will eat. I also pay our insurance policy so that when something happens we don’t become a burden to other people,” said Gcaluza.
In Lusikisiki, farmer Lungisile Manyana faces a different struggle.
Seven of his animals are very sick with foot and mouth disease. One Jersey cow that was giving him milk has stopped and could die at any time.
“Seven livestock are very sick, especially the Jersey that was giving me milk. It has stopped and can die anytime. I have lost a lot of money; just on Wednesday I spent R4500 buying medicine for my livestock,” said Manyana.
He says farmers in his area have not received help.
“For now there is no initiative from government in our area. Farmers who went to a meeting thinking that they would get something to heal their livestock got advice on what medication they can buy for their livestock. We are still waiting; maybe the government will come with something to help us with this because our livestock are dying. It is sad and hurtful to watch even though we are trying to save them,” said Manyana.
Pictured above: People eating meet
Image source: Supplied
