Role Models of the week : Stara and Paxy - Continued.

Stara and Paxy-continued

Role Models of the week

Mr and Mrs Radebe

This rather brief continuation of Stara and Palesa's interview is actually a touching story of how Themba managed his relationship with his father.

Some of us may have done things to hurt our fathers, some of us may have not had solid relationships with our fathers. Themba was not afraid to talk about what his personal encounter with his father was like and how the broken relationship came to an end through all his struggles while growing up.

Growing up to be the man he currently is wasn't easy at all for him and his family.

Having had his father revealing himself now must have not been easy. Themba had to face the sad reality of divorced parents from an early age. This meant that his mother was his source of strength from the divorce right up to most recently when his dad made  a return. (She is still his strength,though).

 "We were struggling, we lived in Muvhango,it was a horrible situation" he says.  "It was difficult knowing that I actually have a dad but who wasn't there for me. I had to leave a multi racial school ,Park ridge,to attend school at Bophelong. From a primary level I was living life struggling like that with my mother and it hurt my feelings a lot. She took me to school. During my high school years I went back to Pele Ya Pele and I failed. I became a "skhotane" and left the school. I made it into Suiderlig and yet again,I failed there too. I went to Prestigious High and that is where I matriculated. I went to Bloemfontein after passing my matric. I didn't have funds! I had faith,though that everything will be fine. My mother hustled around here and there and eventually I did Electrical Engineering at Bloemfontein. It was a 3 month course and I passed it. I made sure I passed all my modules there. I graduated in 2013 and became a qualified a Engineer. It's not my path but I have something to fall back on. I graduated at the most horrible time of my life. I didn't  have funds for a graduation gown. I graduated with just a shirt, a jean and All Star sneakers. I had started keeping contact with my dad at the time. I told him that I was graduating and he didn't want anything to do with me. I decided to use my qualifications to further my studies at Sasol. I completed it and after that, my dad called me asking me for my account number. I was thinking that he was going to send me a mere R500 but when I woke up it was shocking! I called my mother and told her that I can't stand my dad and he just sent me much money. My mother told me to accept the money because at the end of the day he is my father in spite of everything that has happened. God is watching him anyway. I didn't use the money,I wont lie. After two days of transferring the money he called me from hospital. Mind you,he isn't only a businessman but also a soldier, so he was from Namibia feeling ill. He told me he was changing his will. The taxis and house now fall under my name. After that whole situation had blown over, I came back home, told my parents I want to get married. I worked at Mittal. I did my learnership there. I saw that this wasn't my path. I was more into modelling. I opened a company called Royal Entertainment. I have a Modelling Agency. I went for modelling and advertisements in Rosebank. I came back to the Vaal and continued my hustle this side. I had models from the Vaal and still have them. I did photo shoots and everything,which is where my name "Stara" comes from. I applied for a post to be an Events coordinator at the Municipality. It was approved and now, I am also an Events coordinator! I have worked with DJ Goddard before. When all was said and done, we sat down at home,I paid my lobola for my girl and her family turned it down asking for more money! My wife is really expensive,ha ha!. Even my dad was complaining about how expensive she is. He joked about it saying that they literally just want us to sell the Quantam as a whole nje. We had our traditional ceremony in December and all is now well between the families,especially my father and I."

All in all,after all the pain and suffering Themba experienced ,he can now celebrate Father's Day with his father this year. He is blessed to have such a beautiful wife by his side; the one who stood by him through thick and thin. I even joked around with her and told her that she is his 'timeline' because everything he forgets,she remembers for him. Romantic,right!!!

This officially wraps up the 2 part interview I had with the lovely young couple, Themba Stara and Palesa Radebe.

May they have a blessed union together and be sure to catch me at their white wedding looking for people to interview for The Density.

Enjoy this Father's Month and please remember Themba's story when you feel like all hope is gone for you and your father .

Prudy Blue
xx