I grew up in a farming family in the Zeerust area. In those days we never thought about whether we liked farming or not – it wasn’t a choice. It was just the way we lived. Without farming there was no life. Thinking back on those times, I remember that we were part of a caring community, and we all helped each other. We would bring oxen to help with the ploughing of a neighbour’s field and when it was our time the neighbour would come and do the same for us. We would work together, singing traditional songs. No one was paid for this, it was the way we supported each other. The only thing the owner of the field would supply was food and traditional beer to keep us strong. If I think back, I can still taste the lovely food. Fresh mielies, dinawa beans, morogo, traditional chickens full of flavour. We worked hard. I remember being so tired that I would fall asleep the moment I arrived home. Sometimes I miss some aspects of that way of life, but I don’t want to go back. This side has much more freedom – that side everything is ruled by the chiefs. They are too controlling. I can’t live under those conditions. 

When I left Zeerust, I came this side looking for work and a life without the restrictions of the rural areas. I was a truck driver for the railways for about 10 years. Through all of those years, I always kept a small food garden. At first it was just some spinach and a few tomatoes at home. Later we were granted the right to use the land under the Eskom power lines. They can’t build houses there, so it is available for food production. Food prices have risen so much that it has now become essential to grow my