Piano-playing policeman impresses at King Shaka Airport
FINGERS on the keyboard, pistol on his hip, King Shaka International Airport’s piano-playing policeman has become a sensation ever since a clip of him in action on the instrument in the domestic arrivals hall went viral.
“I didn’t even know someone was behind me filming me,” said Sergeant Sizwe Khalala at the airport yesterday morning.
He normally takes to the keys when he is on a graveyard shift, once the passengers from the last flight of the night have passed through.
The “sarge”, whose favourite music is gospel, said he started playing “a few years ago” after the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) placed pianos in the domestic arrivals and departures halls.
His airport soirées are the result of his learning how to play at his church, the Way Life Truth Ministries in KwaMashu.
Khalala said he also had a keyboard at home.
“I am someone who always likes to learn new things, so I am now learning fusion, jazz and R&B,” he said while playing and singing along to Alpha and Omega, a gospel song of the American singer Israel and New Breed.
“Sometimes if there’s a delayed flight, passengers may hear me,” he said.
It wasn’t until the mystery latenight passenger filmed Khalala that many people knew about the airport’s best-kept musical secret.
When he put on a performance for The Independent on Saturday yesterday, people off planes and folks waiting for passengers were equally taken aback with delight.
“It’s been a great week for South Africa and this embodies the spirit we all have,” said Jody Forrester from Hillcrest, just off a flight from Johannesburg where he had attended a business meeting.
“It’s a celebration of the South African soul.”
Jenny Lea, also from Hillcrest, who was waiting for her son to arrive from London, via Johannesburg, said: “I think he’s excellent. Somebody in Hillcrest had told me about him. I just didn’t think I would see him.”
Also waiting for a passenger from the UK, via OR Tambo International Airport, were Joe Baird and Sylvia Locker.
“A piano-playing policeman at an airport,” exclaimed Locker.
“It’s absolutely amazing and different, a good example of South Africa.”
Baird said he normally associated an airport with being in a rush. “It gives a calming effect,” he said.
Acsa spokesperson Colin Naidoo said the pianos were placed in the airport about four years ago to create ambience.
“They are used quite often by anybody who wishes to, even if they can’t play properly,” he said.
Sometimes experienced pianists were brought in to perform.