Alfred Go
Alfred joined the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) team in March 2017, and is one of several staff promoted fairly recently to the position of Grade 1 Supervisor.
Alfred, who took up his new role in September 2019, is a man who derives much pleasure from working in the outdoors. He had previously worked as the farm manager in the Bean se Bos area for many years, but when the owners, who hailed from England, sold the land to return to their roots, Alfred resolved to follow in the family tradition and take up employment with GIB.
“I am the fourth generation of men in my family to work for GIB,” he says proudly.
“My father and his father, and his father before him – they all worked here.”
As a foreman he oversees a team of six responsible for the fixing of leaking or burst pipes, as well as for general maintenance tasks around the area. This includes the clearing of grass verges and bushes along the banks of the river.
A husband and father of five children, ranging in age from 19 to just 16 months old, Alfred enjoys being involved in various aspects of life at GIB. Among other duties, he is a member of the Health and Safety Committee and is also active in the Employment Equity Committee.
“I am not going anywhere,” he says. “Not even when I retire. I like the life here.”
Derik Thokoane, manager of works, is full of praise for Alfred. He calls him “a very good guy” and “a man who really knows how to work”.
Alfred Go is alreeds vanaf Maart 2017 deel van die span by die Gamtoosbesproeiingsraad, en is een van díé wat onlangs aangestel is as Graad 1 Voorman.
Alfred, wat sy nuwe rol in September 2019 betree het, put baie genot daaruit om in die buitelug te werk. Hy het voorheen vir ‘n hele paar jaar as plaasbestuurder in die Ben se Bos gebied gewerk, maar toe die eienaars wat vanaf Engeland kom, besluit het om die plaas te verkoop en terug te gaan na die land van hul oorsprong, was Alfred van voorneme om sy familie se tradisie te volg en hy is toe deur die Gamtoosbesproeiingsraad in diens geneem.
“Ek is die vierde generasie van mans in my familie om vir Gamtoosbesproeiingsraad te werk,” dui hy trots aan. “My vader, en sy vader, en díé se vader voor hom. Hulle het almal hier gewerk.”
As voorman het hy toesig oor ‘n span van ses lede wat verantwoordelik is om lekkende of gebarste pype reg te maak, sowel as om algemene onderhoudstake in die omgewing te vervul. Dit sluit in die verwydering van gras en bossies langs die rivier.
Alfred is ‘n toegewyde eggenoot en pa van vyf kinders; waarvan sy oudste 19 is en die jongste slegs 16 maande oud. Hy hou ook daarvan om betrokke te wees in verskeie fasette van die Gamtoosbesproeiingsraad. Onder andere, dien hy as lid van die Gesondheids- en Veiligheidskomitee, sowel as op die Komitee vir Gelyke Indiensneming.
“Ek gaan nêrens heen nie,” sê hy. “Nie eens wanneer ek eendag aftree nie. Ek hou van die lewenswyse hier.”
Derik Thokoane, die bestuurder van werke, prys Alfred. “Hy is werklik ‘n goeie ou – ‘n man wat wéét hoe om te werk!”