Desiree: a people’s person

POLOKWANE – “I wake up positive every morning, because I see that it can go better and I work towards making a difference in someone else’s life, be it big or small,” says Desiree van der Walt of the DA.

Desiree was recently elected as DA federal deputy chairperson, and according to her, being positive in life is very important as being positive brings hope to those who are negative and down due to the circumstances in their lives. Desiree has been involved in politics for 20 years.

All DA Members: I am very proud & grateful to be elected as one of your Federal Deputy Chairpersons on 10 May 2015! pic.twitter.com/QE8Zc5Mucd

— Desiree van der Walt (@Desiree_DALim) May 23, 2015

“Being a woman in politics is not difficult. The DA gives a lot of opportunities for growth to both men and women. It is the individual’s choice whether he or she makes use of these opportunities or not. I am an example of women being given a fair chance to build a career in politics, along with Helen Zille and Patricia de Lille to mention but a few,” she says.

Desiree adds that she enjoys every moment of her work.

“I love working with people and I work at ground level. I want to see the circumstances people are in, so that I can identify what exactly it is that their needs and struggles are, so that I know what must be done to improve their situations. I have a black book that I carry with me everywhere, because people stop me in the street and tell me what their problems are.

“If I cannot help them at that time, I refer the matter to the relevant department and follow up to make sure the problem was addressed. I have worked in communities where people have nothing and seeing their circumstances made me humble and appreciative of what I have.”

Being a politician was not Desiree’s first choice, she always wanted to be a teacher, but could not further her studies after school due to financial difficulties.

“I am the eldest of four children, I have two brothers and a sister. My dad died when we were very young, and my mom believed that it was important for my brothers to further their studies, because they would need good jobs to support their families one day. My dream of becoming a teacher ended there. I worked in a bank for a few years, got married and had two beautiful daughters, who are now aged 32 and 34. I was a housewife for a while, but staying at home was not for me, so I started my own business with a friend. The business did well, but I found another venture and left the business to work for a food manufacturing company. In 1995, I decided to go into politics,” she says.

Although her dream of becoming a teacher did not materialise, she got the opportunity to work with the department of education.

“I am the deputy shadow minister for education and my work is to ensure learners get quality education. I also have to ensure the learners have all the needed study materials and that the environment in which they are taught in is fully facilitated and conducive.”

According to Desiree, there are two things in her career that are very important to her: “making sure people’s needs are taken care of and to never make promises that I cannot keep. I have learnt from Helen Zille that one has to work hard to serve the people and that you must not go into this career path if you do not care for the people. She always said we are here for the people and we must work for the people and not make empty promises”.

She adds that she would be lost without her family’s support.

“My children are very proud of me and support me in everything I do. With my campaign for the position of DA federal deputy chairperson, they were there to support me mentally and physically. My partner, Manny de Gouveia, is amazing and very supportive and I am blessed to have him in my life. He is very supportive, understanding and patient. With my work I travel a lot and I am almost never at home, but he still supports me. So much that there are days that he travels with me.”

Asked to describe herself, she says: “I am an ordinary person who loves walking barefoot and listening to loud music. I am a people’s person.”

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