Celebrating women who make a difference
Rekord is celebrating phenomenal women who are movers and shakers in their communities, workplaces or homes.
In commemoration of women’s month, Rekord is celebrating phenomenal women who are movers and shakers in their communities, workplaces or homes.
Sanet Fagan (49), a mother of two, but known as “a mother to many” in the community, is the managing director of SA Cares for Life.
This charity organisation is known for its generosity at the Plastic View and Cemetery View informal settlements, east of Pretoria.
Fagan also runs an Abba house in the Moot that specialises in caring for babies and houses toddlers in crisis.
A day in the life of Sanet Fagan
Known to many as “Ma” Sanet’s phone never stops ringing with requests for help, advice as well as food.
“Sometimes it is a young mother needing to talk about her pregnancy or her options with her unplanned pregnancy.
“I think they call me ‘Ma’ because they really come to me with everything and at any time. So my day never looks the same because someone might need you at any time.”
Fagan said the children she worked with needed a voice to stand up and defend them and she often spoke on their behalf to people they were not speaking to.
She also helps abused woman and runs skills development programmes that saw women graduating to be seamstresses, teachers and counsellors.
“They need to have someone who can be strong for them. That is my dream. To stand and speak on behalf of the voiceless,” she said.
ALSO READ: Pta organisation helps the needy
What challenges do you face in your job?
“The biggest challenge is to make people see what I see where I walk and work,” she said.
“Also for them to understand the hurt and trauma women and children go through. The fear they sometimes have, just to do a simple task like going to the toilet is for some woman very traumatic.”
Fagan said South Africa’s struggles were about poverty and daily struggles to survive, live and have food on the table.
“So many children live in poverty without the luxury of safety, a family, a house, love and having a destiny,” she said.
“We need to see that all our children deserve to reach their potential, and to do that, they need food, love, family and to be safe.”
She said she wanted people to understand that children were the future of South Africa.
Toughest experience you’ve ever been through?
Seeing children suffer was the toughest part of her job. Fagan has had to brave many situations where children were hurt and traumatised.
“Kids tied up along with dogs, beaten, neglected, babies left in bushes, and sometimes just a little boy asking you if he is allowed to keep the teddy bear you have given him forever. It is tough to see their trauma.”
What is your favourite part of your job?
“Seeing miracles happen,” she said.
“Seeing a child get his forever family or a child who could not identify colours, now enjoying a colouring book.”
Babies are often abandoned and finding them a safe haven, brought joy to Fagan.
“Seeing a woman heal from trauma and rising up again as a healthy person taking her place as a mom … To see a family reunite after tough times.”
What advice do you have for other women?
“Never give up. Never wait for the perfect plan. Get up and do. You don’t need a perfect plan to help someone. Just do it and you will be amazed at how people will pull together,” she said.
“Believe in yourself and use your story of hurt and trauma to inspire others.”
Marlene Venter Kruger (54), a hydrotherapist by profession, is the executive chairperson of the Brooklyn CPF.
This voluntary service aims to ensure the safety of community members by fighting crime.
The mother of two is also a deputy chairperson of sector 3 Brooklyn police station and has served the station as a CPF member for over 15 years as a volunteer.
With years of experience, she also shares her experiences and knowledge in training sessions on “situational awareness” to community members, companies and university students as well as school children.
A day in Marlene’s life
From chasing criminals to organising community meetings, the 54-year-old said she had no daily routine as each day presented different issues
“We laugh or cry together as a team during events.”
Marlene works as the liaison between the community and the SAPS Brooklyn precinct.
“I support the station commander or duty officer, police members and senior metro superintendents with operations during criminal situations, such as drug use or sales, roadblock operations or searches for missing children or the elderly,” she said.
“I create events or meetings to unite the community to become part of their own safety plan in their areas.”
She leads a team that also assists with child rescue operations, trauma support, rehabilitation for victims of crime or rape victims, suicide and domestic violence support as well as active patrolling in the community day and night.
They also help with the rescue of animals in distress or abuse.
What challenges do you often face?
Kruger said one of the biggest challenges was to get the community involved in regular patrols to assist in crime prevention.
“A further challenge is to keep the community involved and motivated, especially when they have to endure verbal abuse and ungratefulness from fellow community members,” she said.
“A lack of funding for patrol lights, radios, vehicle magnets and high-visibility vests, understaffed police stations and lack of police vehicles put further strain on the community safety are other challenges.”
ALSO READ: Brooklyn CPF elects new executive team
Toughest experience you’ve ever been through
“Some of the toughest experiences were most certainly when I had to attend to suicide scenes and situations where children were involved. I still attend to these issues.”
What is your favourite part of your job?
“The successes in fighting crime on a daily basis, I’m on duty 24/7. Getting justice for a victim.”
Kruger was part of a team that helped chase three men who had allegedly robbed a Vodacom store at the Atterbury Value Mart two weeks ago.
After a shootout with law enforcement, one suspect was fatally shot and two were arrested.
What advice do you have for other women?
“We are the mothers of the world. Teach, nurture, be an example.
“It starts with ‘you are responsible for your own safety’. Equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to better prepare you in any conflict situation.”
Her motto is “situational awareness is key. Awareness, preparedness defend”.
If you know of someone in your community who makes a difference in any way or another please send an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or editor@rekord.co.za.
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