MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Meeting Belinah Leduka is like meeting a big smile that walks and talks. This is probably the motivation behind a regular customer at Hartenbos Spar finding Belinah's story motivational enough to notify the Mossel Bay Advertiser of this bubbly employee at Hartenbos Spar.
The first impression of Belinah is that of a humble woman with friendliness overflowing.
Today a supervisor, she started working as a cleaner at Hartenbos Spar in 2009. Soon this single mother of two boys, one a learner at Hillcrest Secondary School, the other a promising student at South Cape College, true to her nature to help where needed, volunteered as a packer at the pay points.
"When someone went on lunch, I hid my broom safely and I helped out at the till. Then, when they returned I went back to my work," she laughs.
Hailing from Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape, Belinah did not know much Afrikaans. "I liked working at the tills because I learnt some Afrikaans," she laughs, covering her face with her hands. Her "volunteering" paid off and soon she was a packer.
Belinah's way of conducting herself was noticed. "Mrs Joubert asked, 'Belinah, don't you want to be a cashier?' and I said 'Nooo ... I can't work with the money', but they trained me."
One day, Belinah says, upon addressing a customer in English, the man very rudely said that he refused to be served, if not in Afrikaans. "I always sing a song on the inside when I need to calm myself. So, I just became calm."
Today, as a supervisor, she says that during the holiday season when Hartenbos Spar teems with often rude and impatient holidaymakers, she equips the cashiers to cope.
"I always tell them just to be nice and keep their cool." She says she likes it when the holidaymakers come. "It's nice to see all the people from other places."
Belinah's journey was not without obstacles though. Riki Linde, general and human resources manager at Hartenbos Spar says that Belinah struggled with and overcame major health setbacks. She contracted tuberculosis and had a long journey to recovery. After her first bout of tuberculosis was cured, unexplained swelling of the abdomen plagued her until she was transferred to George for further medical assessment. This time, she was diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis. "Through it all, Belinah's faith kept her going," says Riki.
Belinah says the best things about her job are the people and customers she works with. Riki returns the compliment by saying that in fact, Belinah is the one who is the blessing, always the same, always neat and friendly, reliable and never absent from work without very good reason.
"All I want from life is to see my sons and my brother succeed. They are the only family I have."
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