SA National Council for Alcohol and Drug Addiction (SANCA)
Jerry’s first involvement with the community of Reiger Park, and later the broader East Rand (Ekurhuleni) was when he was employed as information officer and secretary at SANCA. After brief training at their head office, in Durban, where he learned about the effects of alcohol and drug abuse, Jerry conducted numerous workshops and meetings at various organisations within the sports, religion, education and business sectors.
Photography and photo journalism
During his stay at SANCA, Jerry completed a correspondence course in photography and photo journalism with the International Correspondence College of Education. He did freelance work for various newspapers and magazines.
Beeld Newspaper.
He was offered a job at Beeld as a reporter, photographer and darkroom technician. Jerry was later trained as a marketing and advertising representative for the company.
Publishing company
Four years later, Jerry started his own publishing company. He printed and distributed a free monthly community newspaper, The Beam, to communities on the East Rand. He was the sole owner and publisher of the newspaper, which was published from 1984 to 1995.
St Anthony’s Adult Education Centre
After closing the newspaper, Jerry worked for the St Anthony’s Adult Education Centre as a media liaison officer. He was involved in numerous other activities, such as fund-raising, printing, designing and photographic work, producing brochures, magazines, leaflets and advertising for the centre. St Anthony’s catered to thousands of students, mostly black, offering literacy courses and a matric qualification. BA, B.Com and B.Science degrees were also offered. Students obtained these through UNISA.
St Anthony’s Skills Training Centre
Jerry was employed as a public relations officer. With the assistance of the principal, Jerry was assigned to start the skills training from scratch and the centre subsequently offered courses in bricklaying, plastering, electrical, plumbing, upholstering, carpentry, computer and secretarial, dressmaking and design. He served on their committee for 24 years.
Complementary health care
His desire to render a service to the sick, especially in poor communities, encouraged him to study reflexology, reiki, massage, relaxation techniques, physiology, anatomy, and metaphysics. As a qualified reflexologist, Jerry was registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Thembani Home Based Centre (THBC)
The THBC was situated in the Ramaposa informal settlement, adjacent to Reiger Park, in Boksburg. The centre was a sink and wood structure struggling to make ends meet. It catered for patients with HIV/Aids, TB, cancer and many other incurable illnesses. Clinics and hospitals would refer cases to THBC and volunteers were trained to feed and provide medication to patients. Jerry managed the volunteers, attended to correspondence and reports, liaised with various organisations, including clinics and hospitals, and he was also involved in fund-raising.
Photographic workshops
Kodak Africa offered Jerry a job as a programme facilitator, to train and develop South Africa’s street photographers and freelancers. He travelled to all the major cities in South Africa to conduct workshops.
Harambe Community Upliftment and Development Centre
This centre is situated in Reiger Park, Boksburg, and Jerry was employed as centre manager. As a NGO, all the activities were offered free and these included computer training, internet services, research facilities and the formation of a co-operative to manufacture school uniforms. Harambe also assisted up-and-coming local business owners with services to help them get their businesses off the ground.
Retirement
Jerry retired about ten years ago, but is still very active in the community. He lives at the Reuven Old Age Home, in Turffontein, which caters for more than 300 pensioners. A few years ago, they started a committee to attend to the needs of the residents and to ensure their human rights are not violated.
Donation from Meals on Wheels
Jerry was without a working computer and Meals on Wheels stepped in to assist. They took it to a technician who said the computer was very old and would be expensive to repair. A few days later, a caregiver from Meals on Wheels, Vicky Sepp, donated a laptop to Jerry. He was overwhelmed and regarded the donation as a miracle.
Online studies
While browsing the internet, Jerry came across a university which was offering a complete course in metaphysical science. He had always had an interest in the subject and had completed a course in metaphysics 17 years previously. Jerry jumped at the opportunity to apply and he even received a pensioner’s discount on the course. He started with a diploma in practical metaphysics, went on to a bachelor’s degree and has, recently, completed his master’s degree, despite his thesis being rejected three times.
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