By Buziwe Nocuze
- The Lusikisiki man spent three years looking for a teaching job but could not find one despite having a diploma.
- The 36-year-old herds cattle in Lusikisiki, earns R2,000 a month and uses an extra R370 to buy his family groceries.
A 36-year-old man from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape has a teaching diploma but cannot find work after three years of looking.
He is the only graduate in his family.
“Everyone was happy at home because they thought that I would find a job quickly and we would have a nice life … but things have been very hard, there are no jobs,” he said.
After struggling to find a teaching post, he took a job herding cattle.
“It is painful to have a qualification that is not helping you because I put so much hard work into obtaining it. Instead of being happy about being a graduate, I am stressed and having sleepless nights,” he said.
Some people asked him why he would herd cattle with a diploma.
“Those questions break my heart because everyone knows that we have a high rate of unemployment. The qualification will not put food on the table for me … but for now, I am doing everything in my power to make sure that my family doesn’t go to bed hungry,” he said.
He earns R2,000 a month from cattle herding and adds R370 to buy groceries for his family.
He wakes up early and takes the livestock to the veld by 10:00. When it is very hot, he goes out earlier.
He comes back home between 17:00 and 18:00. Before bringing the animals home, he makes sure they drink water at the river.
“At first, it was not easy, but now I am used to it,” he said.
He is still applying for teaching jobs.
“Giving up is not an option, especially when you already qualify. I will keep pushing,” he said.
Pictured above: A cattle herder.
Image source: Pexels
