Actor Justin Barends, 31, born and raised in Lotus River, sa

• Published date: 23 March 2022
• Author: Roshan Abrahams roshan.abrahams@inl.co.za
• Publication title: Southern Mail

And hard work paid off as he launched the movie trailer for Bloedbetaal 2, in which he plays one of the main characters, at the Mitchell’s Plain Indoor Sport and Recreation Centre in Portland on Saturday March 19

The Barends family moved from Lotus River to Mitchell’s Plain in 2010.

Mr Barends’ road to fame stems from his upbringing when his mother removed him from the negative environment at the high school he attended where he had been “bullied”, according to Ms Barends.

Mr Barends said: “When I was in Grade 8 and 9, my mother noticed the change in my grades and behaviour and with the help of one of my uncles, I was enrolled at TS Woltemade Sea Cadets where I would be skilled in naval marine training and also get some discipline. Although my mother could not afford it, she made the decision to have me transferred to Simon’s Town High.

“My mother had to work two jobs as a single parent to keep me at Simon’s Town High and the Sea Cadets. She would come out of night shift and go into a day shift job elsewhere. Her sacrifices have shown me what it is like to work hard for what you want and even though I decided not to join the Navy when I matriculated from Simon’s Town High, she understood.”

Ms Barends said she took her son out of a negative environment when she saw he was in trouble. “I had to get out of my comfort zone to give him this opportunity (to follow his passion) and he needed a little push in the right direction.”

Ms Barends said her son was a quiet boy but when he became a teenager, he started to become very chatty.

“It was very difficult to get him to keep quiet. However, he had leadership qualities and would always be surrounded by friends. I believe he was a good influence on them. Justin also had a very protective nature over me and his sister Jade, a writer and photographer. He was mature for his age – like an old soul.”

Ms Barends said raising her two children in the backyard house in Blesbok Avenue, Lotus River, was not easy and she was working as a seamstress and a caregiver to support her family.

Mr Barends’ dreams took a different route after he passed matric. “After I matriculated an opportunity was made available to study IT (information technology) and business but this was not something I was passionate about and as most teens after high school we have that period where we find ourselves wondering and feeling lost and start accepting most jobs coming our way for the money. I found myself doing casual work at a catering company over...