Reliable Ram retires
WHEN he started his first day at work, Ramrajh Rambharose wasn’t sure if being a postman was a good career choice.
But now, 40 years and two million kilometres of walking later, and thousands of letters and parcels delivered, he has never had one regret and has clocked up a lifetime of memories to savour during the autumn years ahead.
The 65-year-old, who retired from the SA Post Office on Tuesday, may also hold a world record for 100% attendance, having never taken a day’s sick leave in his working career.
Relaxing at his Verulam home on Thursday, Rambharose said most of his career had been spent delivering post in uMhlanga where he knows everyone by name.
“I was 22 years old when I started and was among the first batch of non-whites who joined the Post Office in 1977.
“At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if it was a good career, but I soon started enjoying it, largely due to the people.
“uMhlanga Rocks was still a village. There were two main roads and sand roads. I knew every individual by first name and surname for 25 years and, while some have moved away or passed on, I still know the majority of residents,” he said.
While he delivered his post, he racked up an average of 20 kilometres walking a day, 100km a week and was known as “reliable Ram” because he never missed a day’s work, except for when he took leave.
“My day started at 6.30am when we would sort the post into street numbers and names and put them into bags and then, at 9am, I would set off for delivery.
“I would normally do four or five bags a day, but we had to do a minimum of three bags. It’s crucial to organise your letters and parcels properly so you don’t end up walking up and down a street.
“I never took a day off, from the day I started until my last day on Tuesday, and I didn’t even take a lot of leave.
“I will be getting a certificate of 100% attendance, which will be scrutinised by the SA Post Office auditor and a general auditor, after which I can submit it to the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Rambharose.
Having delivered tens of thousands of letters and parcels, it’s clear Rambharose was always aware of the importance of the communications being delivered.
“There was one letter written by a lady on her deathbed in the UK who was only able to write the person’s name, but not the address in uMhlanga Rocks.
“The letter contained her last wishes, so it was important and I delivered it.
“Apparently the people in the UK were astonished the letter had been delivered.
“There’s something important for someone in every single letter or parcel and it’s important to remember you have to cater for that, whether it’s a personal letter or a bill which needs to be paid.
“If a single letter gets left out, it can have far-reaching effects.
“Come rain or shine, I was on the road,” he said.
In fact, he was busy carrying out his delivery rounds when the recent Durban storm hit and he had to take shelter under the main bridge in La Lucia.
“Cars were floating everywhere and people were screaming; it was one of the worst storms.
“As for the Durban heat, I always carried water and wore a T-shirt to absorb moisture and a long-sleeved shirt to protect my skin, although I think my skin conditioned itself to the weather,” he said.
When it comes to every postman’s worst fear – a large dog with vicious teeth standing at the gate – Rambharose said dogs had come after him, but “I have never been bitten by a dog.
“I am a very, very fast person on foot and, at the age of 65, I can still run fast. On my last day, I was still working and did my 20km”.
The effect of the internet and other technology was noticeable, he said, with volume having halved over the last few years.
Now, starting retirement, his doctors have warned that he must not simply stop walking, but should gradually cut back.
“I will start by walking 15km a day and will drop the distance gradually,” he said, although with his two passions of fishing and gardening, there’s no doubt he’s going to still enjoy an active lifestyle.
In his special message for residents of uMhlanga, Durban North and Glen Anil, where he faithfully delivered post for so many years, Rambharose said: “Each client is like family and I’m really going to miss them. I would like to thank them for all their love and support. And don’t worry, the new guy is fully fledged and trained.
“I think the key quality for any position is to love your job and to do it with honesty, dignity and respect,” he said.