Every time I tell my story, I begin with Burgersdorp, my hometown. Then, I get a familiar blank stare. “Burgersdorp?”
Yes, Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape. You won’t find it on any of the major routes in the province, but if you are looking for a point of reference, it is located on the R58, approximately 350 km from East London and 300 km from Bloemfontein. Yes, in the middle of nowhere.
This Afrikaner town, which will celebrate its 180th birthday next year, is the oldest in the northern Eastern Cape. So, rich in heritage.
But for me, Burgersdorp is where my family and heritage are rooted. I, for one, am very grateful that I grew up there. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.
It gave me so much, a fertile ground for nurturing all the important treasures that I have carried throughout my life.
I realised the importance of entrepreneurship in creating the life I wanted. I learnt that the community cares, and you can lean on them when you have a need. I learnt responsibility and how to deal with adversity. I also learnt that the community would be my safe spot in times of adversity. But most of all, I learnt how to be loved and to love.
So, wherever you come from, reflect on your experiences, especially the good and sometimes the bad, knowing that you would not have gained these anywhere else. This place and its people have defined you and the unique contributions you bring to the world.
