A ride down memory lane in quaint vintage buses

A vintage bus has stood as a symbol of a son's dedication to his father for the past 47 years.

Former bus owner Steven Moses made a promise to his father that he would not sell the bus, and not even suffering a stroke could prevent him from keeping that vow. His family has been linked to the Indian bus industry in Durban since before Moses' birth 52 years ago.

"The first bus we had was one my grandfather bought. It was a truck which he converted into a bus. My father took over from him and then I did. I've been in the business all my life."

Moses had a stroke in 2005 that left him without the use of his right arm and unable to carry on running the business.

"My father's wish for us was never to sell that bus. We got rid of all the others and he wanted us to keep one at least, so that is where it is going to stay," he said proudly.

Now Moses, together with fellow researcher Zainul Dawood, is uncovering similar stories about other Indian bus companies who operated in Durban. Their research has led to many unique and touching stories being uncovered.

"We want in-depth information and to give recognition to the wives who cooked not just for their husbands but for all their drivers. We want to tell the stories of the female drivers who worked and fixed the buses when they broke down," said Dawood.

"We've had stories about children who went to school tired because they were up holding a lead light while their fathers fixed the bus. That's where their livelihoods came from," he added.

The pair aim to give those involved in the industry today - either drivers, owners or conductors - a sense of pride by retelling stories of triumph and tribulations during the apartheid era by documenting the history of the Indian bus industry in the city, spanning 91 years.

Buses began operating in the city in 1919 with many of the initial owners being Indian.

Like Moses, Dawood also has connections to the industry, having worked as a conductor and rank manager in his youth.

Although he left the industry several years ago, Dawood said he could not rid himself of wanting to know more about the companies he once worked for. An avid history buff, he put himself to work digging through the history books but was dismayed to find little information about the Indian bus owners of the past.

"When you go to the library, you find there's lots of information on colonial history, but we need to document the history of what Indians went through. They haven't been given the recognition for what they have done for that form of transport in the city," explained Dawood.

He met Moses at the beginning of the year when he began his quest for information. Moses agreed with Dawood's view of wanting to create some form of remembrance, adding that apartheid was difficult on people of colour who were striving for a better life.

"We had no subsidies or anything. When we started, we had to do everything ourselves."

Dawood and Moses intend to publish their findings next year and are appealing to the public to contribute to their cause. Although they have a comprehensive collection - which includes over a thousand pictures dating back to the 1930s - they said it hadn't been an easy feat.

"People were reluctant to speak to us. Some didn't even let us into their houses. It's been one of our biggest challenges getting people to open up."

Dawood said their biggest find came from an old bus owner whose family was part of the industry's history. "He had a cabinet belonging to his father which he never opened. When we visited him he told us to look in there and take whatever we wanted.

"We did and found it was filled with documentation and pictures. It is such a treasure and it will help us put names to the people who got us here. Even today's politicians used buses to travel in those days. We must remember that."