Hellen Marima of SAVF in Standerton is spreading her wings

Hellen Marima, one of the social workers at the SAVF, is bidding her colleagues farewell, but not leaving the organisation at all.

She will join the SAVF-team in Tzaneen and be near her family in Limpopo.

Her promotion came as a surprise to her, and she is humbled and pleased at the same time for getting recognition in her field of work.

Marima has strong views on parenting, discipline, social structures and the challenges that young people face to stay afloat.

“Parents in some cases can’t afford to give their children everything,” Marima said.

“They are losing control over their children.

“Discipline has weakened.”

Her impoverished background prepared her for dealing with the ills in society and believing in the importance of healthy and sound family structures.

“I sometimes went to school on a glass of water after my mother insisted I should attend classes, no matter what,” she explained.

Marima spent several years in George, far from home and joined the Standerton-office in July 2020.

She is fully aware of the drug problems in South Africa and deeply concerned about the future leaders in the country.

Her father passed away last December and her mother is now in her seventies.

This relocation will allow quality time with her mother in this passage of life.

“She is thrilled and can’t wait to see me,” Marima added.

“I have been happy here, but personal considerations play a role.”

When looking back on her time in town, challenging cases came to mind, but she believes it made one grow mentally stronger.

“I have learnt so much and Hanlie Brits, the other social worker, guided me from time to time.

“It was a good learning curve. I don’t want to disappoint the SAVF in Standerton.”

Marima is a marathon-runner and completed the recent Soweto Marathon in a time of 5:23, which is a bit slow for her.

Altogether 22 000 athletes began the 21km at the FNB Stadium and ran past Vilakazi Street, Baragwanath

Hospital, Orlando Stadium and all the way back to the FNB Stadium,

Marima is training of course for the big one, the Comrades.

She is not running away from Standerton, but running towards a new future.

“I will still serve people as I used to do,” she concluded.

“I am grateful to the SAVF-head office itself for the opportunity in this field.”