WATCH: Tembisa cattle herders love their job
The two herders from Tembisa love their job, but they get little pay and they miss their families in Lesotho.
Birchleigh North and Norkem Park residents are no strangers to livestock.
Early in January, Express wrote an online article about the cows, goats and sheep that graze along Pongola River Drive.
“They are a danger to traffic and pedestrians,” one resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
However, following the article’s publication, many residents came forward to say they love these animals.
“I’ve never had a problem with them,” said Birchleigh North resident Petro Prinsloo. “The animals are well taken care of and it’s no bother to wait for them to cross the road.”
So, Express set out to find these animals and their herders. Once we found them, however, communication was nearly impossible.
Tembisa residents and herders Ntsikoe Shehle (38) and Makubetsa Tomose (27) are originally from Lesotho. Unfortunately, I know little to no Sesotho, and the men don’t understand English.
I spotted a Kempton Express in Ntsikoe’s hands. “That’s me,” I said, pointing at the small picture below my byline. The men only smiled.
Luckily, resident Rehabile-Abuti ‘Agri’ Molefe saw the situation and came to the rescue as translator.
Through Molefe, I was able to learn that Ntsikoe, who is uneducated, came to South Africa in 2013 with the hope to find a job.
“I then invited my cousin Makubetsa to join me three years ago.”
They herd the livestock from 10am until 5pm and then return the animals to their owner. Although they say they do not have food to eat over lunchtimes, they will buy themselves cold drinks.
“If people complain about the animals, we can talk to the owner,” Ntsikoe said, without taking offense.
The men said they love their jobs because they have a passion for animals, but wish it paid more. They both make around R1 800 each month, but have to send money back home to their families in Lesotho.
“Ke hlolohetsoe lelapa la ka (I miss my family),” Ntsikoe said while touching his chest with his fist. The husband and father of two only goes home for Good Friday and Christmas.
The same goes for Makubetsa. He doesn’t have children, but sends money to his extended family. Both men would like to return to Lesotho more often.
To youngsters back home, Ntsikoe and Makubetsa’s advice is to receive an education.
“Stay in school so you don’t have to work jobs like this,” they both agreed.
Although they are not educated, Ntsikoe and Makubetsa are friendly and hardworking men who many members of their community look up to. For that, we can only say kea leboha.
