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Due to personal circumstances, I entered the workforce at the age of 15. My first employment was at a shoe factory, where I worked in the printing department for approximately one year. Thereafter, I joined the South African Railways and Harbours, working on passenger trains as a bedding attendant. My responsibilities included preparing beds for passengers at night and ensuring that the compartments remained clean throughout the journey.

This role was part of the overnight train service, often involving a three-night journey from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and back. It was during this time that my love for interacting with people and working in the service industry truly developed.

Family Influence and Early Life

My father worked in the same railway trade after returning from service in the Second World War. Prior to that, he was employed by the municipality as a horse tamer, during a period when horse-drawn carts were still in use due to the absence of motorised vehicles. He was born in 1912 in Kruisfontein, Humansdorp.

My father was a strong mentor in my life, as were his brothers and my mother’s brother. He grew up on a farm where vegetables were cultivated, and bartering was a common practice, as money was not a necessity at the time. These early influences instilled in me strong values of discipline, hard work, and respect for people.

Career Progression in Rail Services

In 1986–1987, overnight train services were suspended as long-distance bus and taxi services became more widespread, offering faster travel between major cities. During this transition, I worked in security services for Spoornet for approximately one year.

In 1989, I joined The Blue Train, internationally recognised as the most luxurious five-star train on wheels. Initially, I served as a Senior Bedding Attendant (Special Grade), a role that was later redesignated as Rooms Manager.

In 1997, with the launch of the new Blue Train sets, I was privileged to serve as the personal butler to President Nelson Mandela (Madiba) and Mrs Graça Machel during the inaugural journey. This was a proud and unforgettable moment in my career. At Madiba’s insistence, a photograph was taken of us together. He was a truly charming man who commanded attention wherever he went.

Professional Growth and Leadership

Guests on The Blue Train often expressed interest in South Africa’s history and culture. This inspired me to complete formal guiding courses, after which I qualified as a National Tourist Guide. This enabled me to share knowledge about our country’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and the warmth of its people. I am proudly South African.

Under South Africa’s democratic government and its commitment to equal opportunities, I was later appointed Train Manager of The Blue Train—a position that had previously been reserved exclusively for white employees. This appointment marked a significant milestone in my professional journey and in the transformation of the industry.

Reflections on South African History

South Africa’s history is unique and complex, with much of its early recorded history beginning with European contact. As early as 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape, followed in the 1490s by Vasco da Gama on his voyages to India.

Jan van Riebeeck, working for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), established the Company Gardens in Cape Town as a refreshment station to supply ships with fresh produce and water. This was necessary as sailors often suffered from illnesses caused by vitamin deficiencies during long sea voyages between Batavia and India along the spice trade routes.

Van Riebeeck encountered the Khoisan chief Autshumato of the Khoekhoe Gorinhaiqua and his niece, Krotoa. Krotoa and her uncle became crucial to the VOC as interpreters and intermediaries in trade with local communities, particularly for livestock and fresh meat. Van Riebeeck later took Krotoa into his household, where she assisted with communication and household matters.

By the age of 21, Krotoa married a Danish soldier who also served as a surgeon for the VOC. During this period, many VOC employees became free burghers (citizens), acquired land, and formed families with local women, shaping the early mixed heritage of the Cape.