CAPE TOWN - Top Golden Arrow (Gabs) bus drivers were honoured at a 2021 Driver of the Year (DOTY) awards ceremony recently for their driving excellence and customer service skills.
The competition stands as a tool to encourage and recognise bus drivers who continue to excel despite the challenges they face.
Arrowgate Driver Mayisikelele Mcasa, who clinched the top spot during his first time participating in the competition, said the recognition was a motivating factor for him.
Mcasa has been working for the company for more than three years and said he enjoys getting people safely to their destinations, even through difficult circumstances at times.
“I was a supervisor at a security company, then I developed an interest in becoming a bus driver because I saw Golden Arrow buses passing where I was working every day. Then I decided to visit the Golden Arrow recruitment office to find out about their intake of drivers.
“I was informed by the reception officer that for me to qualify to drive a bus I need to have code 11 or EC licence and a matric certificate whereby at that stage I had a code 10 licence.
“After the visit at Gabs I decided to save money so that I could upgrade my licence.
“This recognition motivates me and I am looking forward to maintaining and improving my safe driving skills,” he said.
Gabs Philippi Depot driver Fuad Gatab was honoured in second place.
He said he could not wait to tell his children about the achievement.
“I feel very privileged and I am so looking forward to being able to show my boys ‘look what daddy has done’.
“When I was at my previous job, working in a bakery, I used to speak to a lot of bus drivers about their jobs and what was needed to be a bus driver. They really motivated me to take that chance.
“I started at Golden Arrow in 2017, but last year was really ‘my year’ to become the best driver I could be.
“I was always looking at promotions and improving my skills. At first I was too shy, but then I started looking at all my younger managers and that made me believe in myself. I feel so special now, believing in myself boosted my morale and improved my profile,“ said a proud Gatab.
Gabs chief executive Francois Meyer said the awards ceremony was his favourite day on the company’s calendar.
He said it is always inspiring to honour their drivers.
“The conduct and driving skills of the finalists personifies what a Golden Arrow Duty bus driver should be and given all the challenges that they face out on the road. This achievement is truly a testament to their character and dedication to the company and its passengers,” he said.
Cape Times