Forces beyond our control determine the conditions of our birth, but with enough ingenuity and a certain amount of audacity, we can rise above our limitations to reach for the brass ring. This is a philosophy that has carried Alfred Matumba through his 65 years of life.
The Admin Assistant at Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) in Region C is retiring from public service after dedicating 45 years of his life to the City of Johannesburg.
Matumba’s journey from humble beginnings to a long and impactful career is nothing short of inspirational.
Growing up on a cattle farm in the village of Dzanani in Makhado, where the only possible shot at life was herding cattle for survival, he faced limited opportunities and challenging circumstances.
However, Matumba seized the chance to join the City council as a security guard at the age of 20, safeguarding municipal infrastructure in Roodepoort in 1978. This was after dropping out of Grade 11 to ease the burden on his single mother, who was struggling to raise him and his six siblings.
He describes this as his induction into manhood.
“I am the last born and the only one who got the chance to go to school. Reaching Grade 11 was a miracle on its own, as the circumstances were extremely challenging in that era, but I soldiered on until the hard decision to drop out to help my mother,” he says.
In retrospect, he feels that the strenuous working conditions he met under apartheid required the highest level of perseverance, a skill he applied not only professionally but also in his personal life.
In 2002, Matumba was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which pushed him to the brink of despair. Twice, he contemplated suicide, but the tragic loss of a colleague to suicide shifted his perspective.
“The doctor had told me I only have 13 years to live, which crippled me because I had a lot at stake, especially my children,” he says.
He decided to confront the disease head-on, seeking a second opinion, undergoing surgery, and receiving radiation therapy.
Matumba’s journey of recovery also rekindled his sense of accomplishment. It took him back to 1991, when he participated in and finished the world’s largest and toughest ultramarathon, also known as the ultimate human race, the Comrades Marathon—a remarkable achievement that showcased his resilience.
The 88km race is run annually between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, cushioned in the lush, hilly landscapes of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
In 2013, Matumba joined the CRUM team, providing administration services. His transition to this role was seamless, as he had previously handled similar tasks and controlled fleets since 1986, after his security job.
While Matumba may not have fully fulfilled his late mother’s aspiration for his education, he has continued her legacy by instilling the value of education in his five children.
“I made it a mission to work hard so that I can afford my children the best shot at life through education, and looking at all of them, I think I have done a decent job of imparting the same wisdom attained from my mother.”
As Matumba passes the baton of public service, he looks forward to enjoying life’s simple pleasures, such as horse betting and cherishing time with his eleven grandchildren.
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Written by Pamela Sibiya
03/10/2023