Lesotho cattle herders survive

Making a living … Cattle herders from Lesotho have found a home in the Free State.

Lesotho has been dubbed the ‘tenth province’ of South Africa as many of its residents cross the border to seek better prospects in theFree State.

Some, such as herd boys, survive on the skills they learnt while growing up in Lesotho’s vast rural areas.

These herd boys even have their own language they use to communicate with the bovine in their care.

Even after the herd boys have grown up, they continue to make a living off their skills. Their job is no longer ‘a child’s responsibility’ – it is a fully-fledged job which earns them a steady income every month.
These skills include communicating through a whistle. Different whistle sounds mean different things.

Motseki Rajoelea has been looking after his family’s cattle since he was just a boy. He only attended school up until form C (Grade 10). When life became too tough, he was forced to look for some form of work. He was 17 years old when he left Thabaneng Village in Lesotho. He now works as cattle herder in Botshabelo.

“I have tried to make a living in Lesotho but that did not work. There are few jobs and if you are not educated life is tough everywhere. I came to Botshabelo last year leaving my wife and child behind. Life is better this side as I am working and earn R2 500 per month. This is enough for me to take care of my family back home.”

The money Rajoelea earns each month comes from several employers. He is able to work for more than one person by looking after their livestock at the same time. Each herd’s cattle is marked in a particular way to discourage theft and keep the animals from being mixed up.

Wearing his worn-out blankets with blue overall trouser and gumboots and sitting under the scorching sun, another Mtale Hlao told The Weekly his story.

“I came here in 2003 looking for this job. I have been working since then but it is tough. I have a wife and two children back home in Maseru. Though Maseru is better compared to other places, life for me was never easy.

“I look after cows for five people and I earn R1 500 combined. This is not enough, but better than nothing. Some of the money I get on 15th of the month and some at the end of the month.”
Though Hlao loves his job, he said he does not want to see his son working as a herd boy.

“I am working hard to see my son through school and to provide a better life for him.”

Many South African citizens fear that some of the Lesotho residents who work in the Free State use the porous borders to gain access. But those who The Weekly spoke to said they are in the country legally.

“I have been living here for years and I came here legally. I stay in a homestead made of corrugated iron sheets and stones. I go back home once a month and if need be I increase days on my passport. I understand that this is not my permanent home and I need to protect myself to stay here and that means ensuring that my legal documents are in order,”said Hlao.

The Free State serves as a greener pasture for these shepherds. Their only hope is that they will be able to continue to benefit from the job opportunities here until their children back home can provide for themselves.
“All we are here for is make life easier for our family and give them a little hope for better future. Our prayer is to see our children not living the kind of life we are living now,” added Hlao.