Shepherd, 65 - Warehouse Worker

“I was born in Zimbabwe, but I grew up in Zambia, where I completed my schooling. I returned to Zimbabwe in 1980 and completed a diploma in teaching. I worked as a teacher for some years. I loved it, but things were bad in Zim. I couldn’t earn enough to support my family. I made the painful decision to leave everything behind and seek work in South Africa. I came here in 1993.

When I first arrived, life was very difficult. I didn’t have a place to stay — at one stage I slept in the bushes under plastic sheets for a few months. Luckily, a friend who lived on his boss’s property took me in and shared food and transport money. We shared a room together. I was happy for the first time. That same friend helped me find work as a gardener for a family in the area — a family who had a big impact on my life. This man and his family gave me a chance. I started in their garden, then he trained me to fix printers and monitors. Later, he even paid for me to complete a diploma in electronics. His wife helped me apply for residency. After five years, I became a permanent resident.

I’ve been working for the same company, an IT parts distributor, for over 40 years. I work in the warehouse as a reverse logistics clerk. After 15 years living in a tiny shack in the township, I finally own my own home. It is my greatest achievement. It was a difficult road, but I wasn’t alone. People in my community helped me build. I’d buy beer and food, and then they would help me build. I built two rooms at my house that I rent to people.

I’m so glad to be out of the township. I was once shot in the arm during a robbery. Crime is the worst part about living there. But where I am now, people are better. We even have community patrols at night to protect each other. I don’t patrol, though, because they say I am too old. I am madala. Life has been difficult recently, but I keep going because of my children. Seeing them succeed gives me strength. I’m sad that I couldn’t carry on working as a teacher, as I always wanted to educate and empower the youth — to help the next generation get the opportunities we never had.

I do miss Zimbabwe. I return once a year to visit family, but South Africa has become home. There’s more opportunity here. More is available. Money has more value. But if things got better back home, I want to retire there and farm animals. That’s how I’d like to end my days.”