Featuring Fred-Earl Williams ‘In Context’, we get the back story on Weskus Distrik’s Senior Manager: Strategic Services.
What was your first job?
I was appointed on a fixed-term contract as Programme Assistant for the Western Cape Rural Development Programme of the German Society for International Co-operation (GIZ) [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit].
Did you do anything special with your first salary?
Yes. I bought a new VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) for my late father and mother, as they enjoyed watching movies and my dad’s hobby was to record interesting programmes.
Looking back to those early days, what do you wish somebody had told you?
I think it would be not to take oneself too seriously, and that it is okay to fail, as long as you fail forward.
What book had the most profound effect on you? Why?
Khaled Hosseini’s ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. It taught me the value of family, forgiveness, togetherness, humility, and imperfect love.
If you could give hope to South Africans by fixing one thing, what would it be?
My motto is kindness begets kindness. One act of kindness at a time can make a big difference.
Chicken or beef?
Beef – I eat plenty of chicken.
Weskus or West Coast?
Karolus, Karolus van Dwarskersbos, is ‘n Weskusklong van so ses voet ses. Weskus absolutely!
Fred-Earl Williams
Weskus Distrik
Senior Manager: Strategic Services
