Minibus taxi drivers honour loyal client
Drivers sad to see nurse retire
Most people’s retirement farewells are procedural and mundane.
There are usually colleagues, family and maybe some friends. However, for Gladys Letsolo, a retiring nurse at the National Health Laboratory Services, hers was no ordinary farewell.
Her send-off was graced by people dear to her heart and career – the members of the Johannesburg, Benoni, Brakpan Springs, Secunda and Witbank Taxi Association.
The association brought gifts for the 65-year-old in appreciation for her 38 years of using their services to commute to work daily.
Gcina Mabizela said the association wanted to thank Letsolo for her loyalty.
“When she started using our taxis to town [the fare was] R6 and now it is R25. I know that at home she has a car that she could have used but has chosen to remain with us for so long,” he said.
The Daveyton resident had been such a loyal customer that the association’s drivers used to drop her off at her office’s gates religiously. “I felt so safe in the taxis. In winter, the drivers would come and drop me off right in front of the gate even when they were running late,” she said.
The bond between taxi drivers and Letsolo, formed during her daily commute, was unbreakable.
The health practitioner, who bowed out after 38 years and eight months on the job, said she had purposely used taxis even though she owns a car.
“I realised that taxis are safe and arrive on time. When you are driving there is a high chance of getting involved in accidents because your mind is doing other things and you get easily distracted,” she said.
Taxi driver Eric Mbhele said he had been charmed by Letsolo’s personality and character. “I was very young when I first met mama. She always sat at the back and you would hear her when she greets you,” he said. “Sometimes when a passenger was being unruly, she would come to our defence whereas other passengers would side with their fellow passenger.”
Letsolo said now that she is retired, she will miss waking up early in the morning to go to work and meeting the taxi drivers she has known for years.