Di Famous South Africa TV Pesin Wey Stat to Farm An Fite For Land
For South Africa entertainment industry, few pipo don live life as varied an interesting as Scot Scott. Di man wey dem sabi well-well as TV presenter, actor, an business man don add anoda title to im long list: sugarcane farmer. But di journey from TV studio to farm no easy at all, as im face serious land matter wey nearly take im property from am.
From Small Beginning to Big Fame
Dem born Scot Scott for Zeerust, near Jagersfontein, an from small pikin, im don show say im get talent. For primary school, im na correct athlete wey dey break records. Wen im reach high school, im first go Potch Gymnasium but because of 1973 oil wahala wey make petrol scarce an cost, im finish im school for Lichtenburg High School.
Scott no only dey do sport; im join drama, debate, an music activities. Afta school, im do im soldier work an even study law for University of Pretoria for two years. But im soon realize say law no be im calling.
“Even though I dey fear say pipo, an my papa mama, go look me like mumu if I study drama, I decide say na dat one I wan do,” Scott tok for one interview. Im comot from Tuks an finish Pretoria Technikon im three-year drama course.
TV Breakthrough an Superstardom
Wen im begin to use im childhood name (Scot), work soon dey come for local films an TV series. For end of 1983, im big chance come with Die Hoogste Bod…, den role for Agter Elke Man as bad-bad Jack Steyn, Aunt Stienie im pikin wey dey steal.
But na wen dem choose Scott as “action man” for Skattejag, one of South Africa im most popular reality shows, wey im fame really blow. Dem kill Steyn for di show, an Scott become pesin wey evribodi sabi for South Africa television.
M-Net Years an Business Ventures
Afta Skattejag, Scott become continuity presenter for M-Net, wia im work for 15 solid years. Wen M-Net bring MultiChoice an DStv, im join oda parts of di business too. Dis one include di company im Rest of Africa channels, wia im dey for different programmes like beauty pageants an fashion shows.
For dis time, Scott travel work for 37 African kontris, wey make am gather plenty experience about different cultures an pipo for di continent. For same time im M-Net work begin, Scott slowly join property development, including big-big projects with pipo like Ernie Els an Gary Player.
Di Call to Farming
For early 2000s, Scott begin to find better lifestyle an decide to return to im farming roots. “I work myself die, seven days for week, an even though I dey enjoy wetin I dey do, I decide for early new century say I wan go farm,” im tok for 2016 interview.
Im grow up for farm, so na for im blood. For beginning, im wan make wine, but Scott soon see say wine farms too cost. Im choose sugarcane instead an begin to find correct farm.
Land Claim Wahala Wey Shock Am
Scott tok say to find correct farm take am one year six months, an im make sure say nobody dey claim di land. “I get letter from Department of Land Affairs wey tok say so,” im tok. But shortly afta im become new owner of Burleigh Farm for KwaZulu-Natal for 2004, im an 40 oda farmers for di area hear say Mavundla family don register land claim for their farms.
Dis news shock Scott well-well because im don do im homework well before im buy di property. Wen di lawyers wey dem appoint no do anything, Scott comot imsef an ask late Prof JB Hartman from University of Pretoria (UP) to help.
Expert Help to Fight Di Claim
Hartman, wey be former Head of Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for UP, na expert for land matters. For 2,000-page paper, im show wetin im find, wey show say di claims no correct. Di farms wey be part of Hartman im work, Land Claims Court remove dem for list for 2010.
“Na wahala time. E take two years from my life,” Scott tok about di experience. Di whole matter stress am well-well but im never give up.
Life as Sugarcane Farmer
Since im overcome di land challenge, Scott don settle well for im farming work. Im join different industry an community groups, wey make am become respected member of di agricultural community. As sugarcane farmer, im dey face different challenges like weather changes, market prices, an production costs, but im dey enjoy di work.
Farming no be easy work, but for Scott, e dey give am satisfaction wey im no fit get for city life. Im dey wake up early morning, check im crops, an manage di day-to-day running of im farm.
Return to Television?
Dis year, DStv find Scott an convince am to join dem for dia 30-year anniversary, including celebration of M-Net im Open Time wey pipo like. For new interview with News24, Scott tok say im go think about to return to TV, but no be decision wey im go take anyhow.
“E must be content wey dem research well, wey dem think about well wey truly dey different. If e go sweet well-well, yes, I go do am. I never close di door completely,” im tok.
Legacy an Inspiration
Scot Scott im story na inspiration to many pipo wey dey find to change career or follow their passion. From TV star to successful farmer, im show say with hard work an determination, person fit achieve anything wey im set mind to do.
Im life teach us say e no too late to pursue new dreams, an say challenges dey always come, but with right approach an help from experts, person fit overcome dem. For 65 years old, Scott still dey active an dey contribute to South Africa society through im farming work an occasional TV appearances.
As im continue to manage im sugarcane farm an enjoy di peaceful life wey farming bring, Scot Scott remain one of South Africa most interesting an versatile media personalities wey don successfully transition to agriculture.