Cape Town - Forty- three years ago, Brian Weyers joined the Oudtshoorn Municipality as a labourer on June 22, 1978.
Little did he know that he would become the municipality's longest serving municipal official.
The 62-year-old cleaner supervisor was later promoted to a supervisory position within the Municipal Community Services Department.
“It feels like yesterday that I started working at the municipality and it is by God's grace that I am still healthy, and still able to work at this age,” said Weyers.
Weyers started working for the municipality at the age of 19 and still has a spring in his step.
Forty-three years later, he still feels eager to come in – with a smile and a joke in his pocket.
In celebration and recognition of Weyers’ 43-year tenure at the municipality, the municipal communication team conducted a brief interview with him.
He was asked how he managed to always be positive all these years.
“It is because of my late father, he told me to always have a smile when talking to people. That’s exactly what I did,” said Weyers.
By following this advice, Weyers became the person he is today, always smiling and ready to take life on.
He is planning on retiring by the end of this year and will miss the officials that made an impact in his life, and made it possible for him to enjoy his work every day.
According to Weyers’ colleagues, and other municipal officials’ tongue in cheek comments, Weyers was considered the "Mayor" or the 'Municipal Manager" around the offices.
“The municipality would like to thank you for your service Mr Weyers, forty-three years and still going strong. We appreciate and value your time here with us,” said acting municipal manager Reginald Smit.
Cape Times