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Ambassador loves his job
- Details
- 17 July 2012
SOME days are tough, but for Mandla Ntjana, dealing with Rea Vaya passengers is a worthwhile job that makes him – and them – happy.
HE IS standing against the glass wall with a smile on his face. Dressed in a red Rea Vaya jacket and jeans, Mandla Ntjana, a Rea Vaya ambassador at the Joburg Art Gallery Station, gives a warm welcome to passengers flocking to catch the bus.
Ntjana has been with Rea Vaya since the service began operating back in 2009. “It’s been three years now since I’ve been working for Rea Vaya. When the 2010 World Cup started I was already here,” he says.
The first buses of the morning set off as early as 5.30am, which means Ntjana, who is from Thokoza in Ekurhuleni, wakes up very early to ensure that he gets to work on time. “When I’m working a morning shift I wake up at 3am to prepare myself. Lucky for me taxis in Thokoza start operating as early as 4am.”
Ntjana leaves home at 4.30am to report for duty at 5.15am. Describing his daily routine, he says the first thing that he does when he gets to the station is to check stock and the infrastructure to see if there are any broken windows. Then he makes sure the rest of the staff are there on time and dressed in their uniforms before he reports to the control office.
His dedication to his job is clear – while chatting he stops regularly to attend to passengers. Over the past three years, he has developed good relationships with some of the regular passengers, especially elder ones. “Most of them are as old as my parents. As a result, I created good relationships with them and they usually offer advice when needed.”
Working can be difficult for Ntjana, but it’s not as bad as people say it can be. He has been dealing with people throughout his working life – he used to work at Au-pay, a company appointed by the government to pay out social grants. He was also a member of a street committee and a soccer player.
The days that the Chiefs and Pirates play are the most difficult because the supporters come in blowing vuvuzelas, dancing and singing, which is not allowed in the station. It’s not easy to control them, because some have been drinking alcohol, he adds.
Other than dealing with difficult passengers and bad weather, which can make things difficult, Ntjana enjoys his work. He wouldn’t change it for anything, because working with people makes him happy.
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