After I retired I continued to help FAWU (the Food and Allied Workers Union) to organise farm workers in the Noorder Paarl and Pniel branches. The employers were so hard that they didn't want to meet the union but the branch committee formed a deputation to employers to allow me to come on the premises and to help with negotiations.

In 1990 we started the ANC branch in Paarl and I was elected as the interim chairman. The next year, after the conference, they elected the executive and I was re-elected as chairman. I was the chairlady of the ANC Women's League in Paarl but I said they should get other women involved and we should build up their confidence. Once they have confidence they will take the lead. I was vice-chairlady of the ANC Women's League, a member of the Communist Party, and assisted the civics with problems and deputations and marches and so on. So I was all over. I was retired but I was working harder than when I was working for the union.

In 1995 I was elected to Parliament and served on the labour committee. If there was a problem, or something happened on a farm, I could stand up and ask for a discussion regarding the issue. Then I explained what happened and how it happened and asked whether we cannot find a solution. I could then ask Parliament to take such a matter into consideration or that the law be amended.