An Eastern Cape delivery driver who went the extra mile — which included crossing a river in a kayak — to deliver two birthday gifts in a rural part of the Transkei, received a cash reward from his employer and may now be in the running to win a trip to Europe.
Sixolile Nqeketho, 29, started working for DPD Laser in December.
“I work hard to put a smile on every customer's face, and the easiest way to do that is to ensure your delivery is at the right place at the right time,” Nqeketho told TimesLIVE Premium on Tuesday.
Last Wednesday Nqeketho had to deliver two parcels — one in Mngcibe Village and one at the Cool Bananas, a spaza shop in Tshani village. He had one major obstacle between him and a successful delivery at Cool Bananas — the Mdumbi river, which cut right between the two villages.
“I knew if we took the road it would be two to three hours to drive to a place I could see on the other side of the river,” Nqeketho said.
So he made a plan.
“I already know the area well, and previously I saw men with kayaks on the river, so I went to that place [the river bank] and asked them to help me cross.”
Nqeketho laughs.
“One of the men said he would do it for R15. It was a risk, but it was worth it. It was an exciting crossing, and even though I became wet, I ensured the package stayed dry.”
He loves his job.
“This is a rural part with not many tar roads, and we work hard to make people's days by getting their packages to them.”
And he did just that!
In Tshani village, Warren Hudson was the person waiting for the package.
“I used to work in the security industry but was retrenched. I then moved to the Eastern Cape, and I've been here in Tshani village for the last 11 years,” Hudson said on Tuesday.
He is married to Nolizwi Lungwana-Hudson, and they own and run two businesses in Tshani.
Lungwana-Hudson is the “queen of amagwinya (vetkoek)” and also runs Nolizwi's Homestay Accommodation. Hudson is the person behind the counter at Cool Bananas spaza shop.
“Between the two of us, we look after 11 children. Three of them are Nolizwi's biological kids. Her sister died in 2020, and we now look after her five as well. Three more ended with us when other relatives died,” Hudson told TimesLIVE Premium.
All the kids are in school.
“This was made possible by a generous European man who read about us on social media,” Hudson said.
Last Wednesday, two of the kids were the recipients of the eagerly awaited package.
“Normally, on birthdays we go to Hole-in-the-Wall and spend the day there to braai and celebrate. This year we couldn't do it on two of the kids' birthdays — a 17-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. We ordered a JBL Bluetooth speaker for the girl and headphones for the boy.”
Weekend trade hadn't tapered off yet when the courier called Hudson last Wednesday.
“He told me he was in Mngcibe village on the opposite side of the Mdumbi river. The driver asked if he could leave the package at a backpacker there. I explained that we had an issue with my vehicle and that our shops were very busy.”
They could not make the drive to the other side of the river.
“He said I mustn't worry, he would bring the package to us. Even then I expected to see him a couple of hours later at best. After a while, he suddenly appeared at the spaza shop. His shirt was soaking wet, but the package was dry.”
Nick Vroom, the CEO of DPD Laser South Africa, laughs when asked if there is a degree of predestination in his surname.
“Of course, my surname is Vroom and I work for a logistics company. Vroom-vroom!”
Vroom is proud of his colleague.
“Our drivers who operate in those far-flung rural areas are heroes of the community. Often times they are the only lifeline supplying this areas with goods.”
Sixolile Nqeketho has already received his first reward for going the extra mile.
“We rewarded him financially, but he will now also be entered in our parent company's Driver Excellence Challenge, which will be held in Europe. This is the first year that DPD South Africa was also invited to send a driver, and Sixolile must stand a very good chance,” Vroom said.
In the meanwhile Nqeketho is too busy driving around the Transkei delivering important goods to be able to keep his fingers crossed.
“If I win the trip to Europe, I will be very happy. It is a reward for good work and making people happy. Imagine doing a delivery in the Transkei and ending up in Spain. That would be a story to tell.”
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