The story of Happy Matshaba

One day Happy Matshaba spend some time telling us more about himself and the building environment. His story all started 35 years ago when he was born in the suburbs of Durban, Kwa-Zulu-Natal. He went to one of the small schools in town, but his parents could only afford it to keep him in school till grade 4. He then helped his grandma in the house with his siblings.

In his years at home he decided that he likes the build environment by looking closely to all the construction around his home. When Happy was 16, he was allowed to work for a company. He applied for a bricklayer job at a construction company and a few days later he got interviewed and got the job. He enjoy the work he does, because he love to tell his children which buildings he helped build. He also like it for he gets a lot of information and experience when he works.

He can almost build anything by this time and he is very eager to expand his field by learning to build new things. He is able to help build a building from foundations, to laying bricks and even the roof. Sometimes when the owner can’t afford the fitters, he also help fitting taps.

Every single person have dreams, and it will only come true when you work towards it. Happy’s dream is to save enough money so that he can open his own business. He want to work on his own and have his own employees. He already works towards his dream, because he have done all the research and also started saving money.

For his dream to came true he also needs to extend his knowledge. To do this he is planning to work in Cape Town in the nearby future. He already applied for a job there. He wants to learn how to lay paving bricks. When he knows that, he thinks that he is able to start any job in the building of a house.

Happy is enjoying his job and don’t want to do anything else as building. Up until now he enjoyed it most to work in Pretoria, because of all the opportunities and also because of the good salary. When he is going to Cape Town, he will be a bit further from his family, but he think it could also mean a good thing.

It is always interesting to know which site was such a persons favorite, and of course the reason therefor. Happy’s favorite site was one in the Diepsloot area where they build a church. The reason therefor was the complex techniques and also the variety of bricks. He like to work in a group, but not in any group, it must be a specific group: His group. He know how to motivate them to work at the best of their abilities.

To conclude, Happy gave some advice for anyone who want to become a bricklayer as himself: Prepare yourself for very, very hard work. We always work, if is not too cold in the morning, it will be too hot in the afternoon. There will also be sacrifices, but in the end, everything is worth the hard work. It will benefit you in the future.

Happy Matshaba 6 February 2015

 

Du Plessis, Corne. Personal Interview 6 February, Pretoria