Honorary Local…Zuko
The Courier Who Became Part of Hogsback
Ask around Hogsback about the local courier driver and chances are you will get a smile, a nod of recognition, or a story about him. After four years of making the same daily journey, he has become a familiar face to many people in the community.
That became particularly obvious this month when he was away for a day. A replacement driver arrived, got lost and then had car trouble. The local WhatsApp groups quickly filled with people asking what had happened to their usual courier.
When he returned the following day, there was genuine relief.
His working day starts in Stutterheim, where he collects the parcels before travelling through Dimbaza, Keiskammahoek and Middledrift, and eventually making the climb to Hogsback. He delivers here every day before heading back out via the Cathcart road.
It is not an easy route.
Over the years he has dealt with difficult weather, poor roads, vehicle problems and days when there is little or no signal on the mountain. Winding Lane is the road he likes least, particularly after heavy rain. It is the only part of his route that makes him nervous, having seen incidents there before.
There was also a particularly serious incident when exhaustion caught up with him while driving. He fell asleep at the wheel, went off the mountain pass and the van rolled. A tree caught the vehicle and prevented it from continuing further down.
Despite that, he returned to the mountain.
What stands out most, however, is that he does not speak about the job with resentment. He genuinely enjoys it. He likes seeing the same people every day, knows many of them by name, and is happy to be doing the work. By the time he gets home he is very tired, but his body has adapted to the demanding roads over the years, and he is still excited to come back the next day.
Among his favourite places to deliver are Tim Jones, Joanne and Mr Benade at the top end, to name but a few. Fortunately, he has also managed to avoid any serious dog incidents.
There is one simple way residents can help. Where properties have long driveways, meeting him at the road saves him time and reduces some of the extra strain on an already long working day. He is particularly grateful to those who already do this.
Tips are not something he generally receives. Occasionally someone buys him a cooldrink, and those small gestures are appreciated.
Four years of daily deliveries have made him more than just the person bringing parcels to the door. He is a familiar face, a dependable presence and, quite simply, someone Hogsback has come to rely on.
Perhaps that deserves a little recognition of its own.
– Interview done, compiled and submitted by field-journo; The Witness