Five City officials boast over 210 years’ experience in roads

The City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate has paid tribute to five officials who have, among them, more than 210 years’ experience in keeping the city’s roads in tip-top condition.

The officials have received long service awards for serving the City’s residents with dedication for over 40 years at a special ceremony held on Monday, 2 December 2019.

David Afrika (61) from Ocean View, joined the municipality on 9 December 1974, and has been on the job for the last 45 years, doing road maintenance in the South.

‘On my first day, I worked with a shovel and a pickaxe. All these years I’ve worked my way up and today I have a team under me. This week we are fixing the shoulders of the road to Kommetjie. I am happy at work. What you put in, you get out. If you want to work you have to get on with it, and do it,’ said Afrika, who is a senior supervisor at the roads depot in Fish Hoek.

Granville Adams (57) from Mamre in Atlantis, joined the then municipality at the young age of 16.

‘At the end of my first day I was travelling back home in a double decker bus, and another passenger pointed at my feet. It was only then when I realised I was wearing a pair of mismatched shoes, one blue and one black. I believe that brought me luck and helped me to walk the extra mile all these years. I love what I do and I am feeling proud of my work. The longest time I was off sick was when a manhole cover fell on my toe, and that was within the first three months that I started working,’ said Adams, Foreman of the Ebenezer roads depot in the Cape Town central business district.

Keeping Cape Town’s roads and stormwater infrastructure in good working order has been his business for over 40 years now.

Robert Arnold (62) from Manenberg, has been with the City for 41 years. He is managing the fleet at the Hill Star roads depot in Ottery. ‘I have a passion for my work. It is my job to see that everything goes well, and that my colleagues have everything they need and that they can get to where their next job is,’ said Arnold, a fitness fanatic who loves cycling to work.

Kamroe Fischer (61) from Athlone, has been employed at the City for over 40 years, and will be retiring on 31 December 2019. Also based at the Hill Star depot, he has been responsible for line and signage painting on roads and at intersections, as well as for installing road signals.

‘My wife stood by me all these years. She made me breakfast and coffee, and gave me a hug each morning. I have been a happy man at work, and now I’m retiring to look after her,’ said Fischer, who is also a grandfather of five.

Sydney Overmeyer (64) from Ocean View, joined the municipality on 18 June 1979.

‘I had to dig a trench for a sewer pipe in Simon’s Town on my first day. The last few years I have been a special workman and I do welding. I like to be busy. Not one day is the same, and I enjoy my colleagues, we understand each other,’ said Overmeyer who has been based at the Fish Hoek roads depot since 1979.

‘Working for the City is a challenge. It often is a thankless job and very difficult, if not impossible, to please most residents at the same time. I want to thank these men for their commitment and dedication, and for serving the people of Cape Town for over four decades. Together, you share over 210 years’ experience. You are an inspiration to all of us and do very important work. Our roads depots are at the heart of the Transport Directorate and you play a pivotal role in looking after our road network and stormwater infrastructure,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

Source: City Of Cape Town

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