WHEN weatherman poster boy Derek van Dam was offered the chance to become eNews weather anchor, it was a combination of two dreams coming
true – forecasting weather and doing charity work in Africa. “I am living my dream being a weatherman and being able to continue helping people in need with my Christian foundation,” he said. Van Dam, 26, was speaking at a Reach for A Dream chocolate breakfast at the East London Golf Club on Saturday morning. Although it was his first time in the province, he said East London and its people had been welcoming and the city was beautiful. Van Dam first came to Africa two years ago with his church’s non-profit organisation, called the Compassionate Life Foundation, when they visited Swaziland to help widows and children orphaned by HIV/Aids. It was in Cape Town that he was offered the job of weather forecasting. Asked about his non-official status as the country’s “hottest” weatherman, Van Dam said he was humbled.
“It is nice and flattering (and) I hope it lasts. I also hope the public recognises that I am trying to do good work as professional and (be) as accurate as I can,” he said.