The town of Cala may not be Cheik Diop’s place of birth, but it has become his home away from home.
In his almost two decades in the country, the Senegalese national has made a name for himself as a Good Samaritan with a big heart.
He has become a well-known figure in the town, where he is affectionately known by his adopted clan name Mqwathi (a respected royal clan in Cala).
Even Sakhisizwe mayor Mlamli Jentile speaks highly of him.
Diop arrived in South Africa in 1997 and spent a year in King William’s Town before moving to Cala, where he has lived for the last 17 years and is known as an ambassador for locals.
“He is the link between the community and the foreign nationals who own shops. I knew this guy before I became mayor,” said Jentile.
The mayor said Diop was an honest, hard worker who sets an example to others.
He is from a big poor family.
“My family was struggling. We could not make ends meet, there was nobody making an income or working. We were 10 siblings living under one roof.”
He said a friend who had been to South Africa warned him of the crime.
“I decided I must take the risk. If I die there, it would be the way it should be. At home not all approved of it but I nevertheless went to South Africa.”
When he arrived, Diop’s biggest challenge was the language barrier because he could only speak Arabic.
He sold sweets on the streets and later belts, watches and clothing. When he moved to Cala, he continued selling his wares on the street and slept in a commune with other foreigners.
In 1999, he teamed up with three others and rented a shop.
In 2000, he married a South Africa woman Busiswa Samsam. She died in 2008.
Although the two had no children, Diop continues looking after his stepdaughter, who is now 17, and stays with her grandmother in Lahlangubo in Sifonondiya village.
Diop, who has South African citizenship and now speaks fluent English and Xhosa, has married a Senegalese woman and they have four children. They live in Senegal he sends money back home.
“I regard Cala as my home away from home. They are my second family.”
Nomboxolo Qavile, who works in a hair salon in town, is one of those who Diop has helped.
“We did not have enough money for the initiation graduation ceremony of my brother.
“He gave me man’s clothing and shoes for my brother. I paid him after a year, but he refused to take some of the money.”
One of Diop’s workers, Nomandithini Khanyi, said she had been working for him for the past 10 years now.
“He is not like a boss to us but like a brother. He is a man with a golden heart,” said Khanyi. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Senegalese brother with great big golden heart
In his almost two decades in the country, the Senegalese national has made a name for himself as a Good Samaritan with a big heart.
He has become a well-known figure in the town, where he is affectionately known by his adopted clan name Mqwathi (a respected royal clan in Cala).
Even Sakhisizwe mayor Mlamli Jentile speaks highly of him.
Diop arrived in South Africa in 1997 and spent a year in King William’s Town before moving to Cala, where he has lived for the last 17 years and is known as an ambassador for locals.
“He is the link between the community and the foreign nationals who own shops. I knew this guy before I became mayor,” said Jentile.
The mayor said Diop was an honest, hard worker who sets an example to others.
He is from a big poor family.
“My family was struggling. We could not make ends meet, there was nobody making an income or working. We were 10 siblings living under one roof.”
He said a friend who had been to South Africa warned him of the crime.
“I decided I must take the risk. If I die there, it would be the way it should be. At home not all approved of it but I nevertheless went to South Africa.”
When he arrived, Diop’s biggest challenge was the language barrier because he could only speak Arabic.
He sold sweets on the streets and later belts, watches and clothing. When he moved to Cala, he continued selling his wares on the street and slept in a commune with other foreigners.
In 1999, he teamed up with three others and rented a shop.
In 2000, he married a South Africa woman Busiswa Samsam. She died in 2008.
Although the two had no children, Diop continues looking after his stepdaughter, who is now 17, and stays with her grandmother in Lahlangubo in Sifonondiya village.
Diop, who has South African citizenship and now speaks fluent English and Xhosa, has married a Senegalese woman and they have four children. They live in Senegal he sends money back home.
“I regard Cala as my home away from home. They are my second family.”
Nomboxolo Qavile, who works in a hair salon in town, is one of those who Diop has helped.
“We did not have enough money for the initiation graduation ceremony of my brother.
“He gave me man’s clothing and shoes for my brother. I paid him after a year, but he refused to take some of the money.”
One of Diop’s workers, Nomandithini Khanyi, said she had been working for him for the past 10 years now.
“He is not like a boss to us but like a brother. He is a man with a golden heart,” said Khanyi. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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