In our new “Context” series, we get Alderman Monde Orzymondius Stemele backstory. Monde is Weskus Distrik’s Councillor for Strategic Support and Economic Development.
My First Job
I worked for Anglo American surface mining company-in the production division as plant operator from 1992 – 1997 in Gauteng.
How I Spent My First Salary
I hired a place to rent and began buying essentials, but the following month I opened a NBS savings account that did not last long enough because I used the savings.
In Retrospect, How Should I have Spent it?
Thinking back, I would have saved for longer in investment options and would have re-invested in real estate later. Age was on my side.
A book that made a profound Impact on me and Why?
Goodbye Bafana by James Gregory is the first book that had a profound effect on me. I was discovering Christianity and an emerging version of my country at a youthful age. I was trying to put the entire scenario (of multiple transitions) into perspective for myself. That is, to place myself in a forward-looking mode. While trying to package the past and part ways with it and get myself ready to embrace the future.
Nelson Mandela’s journey and interactions with significant others in the book became handy. A story of resilience, embracing friendship and embracing life with its changes.
One Thing I Would Fix in SA to bring Hope.
As a young person, I used to like the candies called ‘smarties’ not because they are colorful but because of their taste.
I would innovatively invest on nation build programmes and policy shift to ‘encourage and embrace’ – by creating an atmosphere for flourishing of human spirit residing in each of our people.
Because, our strength and true value are in all of us combined in one purpose. That purpose is to create a prosperous nation where each of us can freely realise our potential without deliberate hindrance.
Chicken or Beef – Weskus or West Coast
I am for chicken and would embrace Weskus as I believe that it is embedded on the soul of the people of our region rather than just a geographical space.
