A bright smile and unfailing determination are all you need
Khumalo had been searching for work ever since his former employer had left him and his team in Mbombela without paying them.
Abandoned by a former employer without pay, food or housing, Msholozi resident Mduduzi Khumalo is now making a difference in the community by working with the Power of 8000.
With a warm smile and a gentle nature, Khumalo (29) spoke to Lowvelder about his struggles and the day he walked up to members of the Power of 8000 to volunteer his time.
From then on, Khumalo has been employed by Power of 8 000 to look after the Ronnie Bester Park in White River as well as doing gardening at some other residents’ homes around town.
He said he had been working in Pretoria for a fibre company last year that then closed down due to the pandemic.
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In mid-2020, he said his life hit rock bottom when he was robbed of all his belongings in Johannesburg, including his ID and his passport.
“Towards the end of October, I met people from the fibre company that had closed earlier that year, and they said they had a job opportunity for me in Mbombela, digging trenches.
“It all went well at the beginning in my first month, but when the trenching ended and we were supposed to receive our salaries, the supervisors disappeared and were nowhere to be found.
“They left me and my other workmates hopeless in Msholozi without food and other basics. We then found out our employers were in Cape Town.”
He said he had looked for work and started helping to sell charcoal, fruit and vegetables near Checkers along the Sabie Road, but the authorities drove them away as his employer did not have a license to sell.
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“One Saturday morning, I was walking into White River when I saw people cleaning the park, so I turned and went to talk to them. I asked for work and was told it’s just a community project where people work voluntarily without pay, and I said I wanted to help.
“I was directed to a man named Rhodes Abell who asked if I was sure I wanted to volunteer even though I was not going to be paid, and I said yes.
“I immediately started working and after we were done, one of the community members, Lisa Gordon-Davis, came and said she was pleased with my work and asked if I could come back and work for Power of 8000 at the park, for pay.”
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Abell said Khumalo had done such fantastic work and that his cheery smile and dedication to the community had been wonderful to see.
“It is a privilege to be working in this beautiful park,” said Khumalo. “I really enjoy it and I am happy I stopped and offered to volunteer, because now I also have paying work.”
Khumalo said he hoped to one day further his education, as he would like to be a teacher one day.
