After 28 years filling fuel tanks for Oak Cottage Motors, Constance Jadi is hanging up her hose. Jadi grew up in Grahamstown and attended high school at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School.
After 28 years filling fuel tanks for Oak Cottage Motors, Constance Jadi is hanging up her hose. Jadi grew up in Grahamstown and attended high school at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School.
In 1982, the opportunity to work as a petrol attendant at BP Garage on African Street presented itself. Jadi took the job to help provide for her family.
“The owners of the garage then were the Ellmore brothers. They had employed four female petrol attendants, as males at that time were inconsistent in keeping their jobs,”Jadi explained. Escalating state repression and mass detentions during the 80s did not keep her from her work.
“This was the perfect job for me as I enjoyed interacting with all the customers. Management once wanted me to work in another area of the garage, but I enjoyed meeting and talking to the customers,” said Jadi.
Other perks of the job included tips and the chance to form life-long friendships. “Friends that I have made
would leave Grahamstown for a while and return with a surprised look to still find me here at the garage,” she laughed. The only disadvantage was the chilly Grahamstown winters.
“Your hands get so cold that you can’t even move them.” Jadi has seen the town change dramatically. “BP Garage used to have a dealership that sold only Fiat cars and the car dealership opposite us wasn’t there in the 80s.
Pick n Pay was built while I was working here.” Developments like this, including the KwikSpar that is part of the garage, meant that Jadi’s job got busier.
Oak Cottage Motors owner, Jill White, who took over from the Ellmore brothers in 1998, said Jadi has always been a strong employee.
“We will be sad to lose her. “She has been incredibly loyal.” White said Jadi has been “a great example to her co-workers”.
A few years ago Jadi was nominated by the community as a finalist for Graeme College’s Oscar Night that looked at excellent service in Grahamstown businesses.
Jadi is sad that she is leaving. “Even the customers that I have become friends with are equally sad, but I’m tired now.”
