Retiring Leah (64) thanks employers the Zulu way
Traditional dances and her grandchildren singing for her employers just felt right to her as Leah Gaika (64) retires.
Leah Gaika (64) felt that the event of her retirement should be celebrated by thanking her employer of 33 years on Monday 31 March.
Gaika arranged for traditional Zulu dancers to entertain the employees at the office. The event was kept a surprise for chartered accountant Chris Koch who employed her so many years ago.
“I don’t want my retirement to be a sad affair, even if I am going to miss these people so much.
“I wanted to say thank you in a special way and could think of nothing better than to do it in my traditional, cultural way.”
With the help of her sister who works in the tourism industry in Dobsonville, she got hold of and organised for five traditional dancers (one of which is a very young boy) to entertain the crowd. Some of Gaika’s children and grandchildren also attended the event.
After the traditional dances were completed, five of Gaika’s grandchildren stepped forward and started singing for the employees’ entertainment.
Gaika has been working for Meintjies, Putter & Koch, who keeps an office in the Unilong House building, Horizon View, for more than 33 years. In her time working for Koch she has completed many tasks including doing the cleaning around the office, making tea and working as a receptionist. She also told the Record that he had assisted her in more ways than just employment over the years.
“Whenever I had a problem, a crisis or needed some advice, I easily could approach Chris,” she told the Record on Monday.
“He even helped me to build my current home in Doornkop.”
Gaika showed optimism and confirmed it when she said, “I’m only retiring now, I’m not dead. I still plan on doing more business, I want to bake a lot – if I sit still, I’ll get old.”
Gaika said that most of all, she’ll miss waking up early to get to work and working with the many friendly people she had come to know.
Her official farewell party was organised to coincide with Koch’s birthday on Wednesday 2 April.
View galleries of the event here.
