My family and I lived in the Sabie Area for almost 30 years, the final few years in Sabie itself. Sabie, a small town in the Drakensburg foothills, in the Sabie River Valley! An area of supreme scenic beauty and tourism, hiking and mountain biking etc., that draws many people to the area.

The municipality cared for the town on a daily basis. No rubbish in sight in the early 90s. In the town centre the Anglican church designed by Sir Herbert Baker was built in 1904.

The whole church was surrounded by a large garden! It was well designed and restored in 1995-9.

Unfortunately by 2000 the scene of tranquillity changed. Instead, there was an air of neglect. Rubbish was clearly evident.

There was little or no interest on the part of the municipality to redress the decay and dirt.

The local timber mill closed, throwing hundreds of, mainly Sabie residents, out of work. I was recently told by a friend, who had lived in Sabie for around 35 years, that things had started to improve. If you are thinking the municipality had at long last shouldered its responsibilities, then you are very wrong.

Five unemployed local men – off their own bat – decided to clean up the town centre. Unasked, unpaid, they took up the daily task of cleaning the area.

Some weeks into their task they were approached by a stranger who asked who employed them. They told him their story of their voluntary decision to clean up Sabie centre and the stranger then asked if they would like to work for Eskom.

I’ll bet they couldn’t believe their ears! These men are now employed by Eskom.

The moral of the tale is clear: honest endeavour, determination and a desire to help the community was justly and handsomely rewarded! I like to think there are a number of unemployed people in Grahamstown who may be similarly motivated, but it’s a long shot.

Will a few “unemployed” in Grahamstown step forward and take the same path? I hope so.

Storyteller