Umdloti’s tuk tuk treasure

Umdloti is characterized by green forests, waves crashing onto the beach and don’t forget the buzzing of a blue tuk tuk.

Hoosen Rasool is the driver of the Spar three-wheeler and together with his tuk tuk, they make the jolly combination that everybody loves.

“I have been driving the tuk tuk since December last year for Spar, delivering groceries, picking up people to go to the shop or just giving someone a lift for free,” said Rasool.

Although Rasool lives in Verulam, he spends all day everyday in Umdloti, working from 6am till 8pm.

“I have a wonderful job sometimes I get tired when the day is long, but then I just get in my tuk tuk, go for a drive, look at the sea and I am fine again.”

What he loves most are his clients.

“I know 99% of the people in Umdloti and I love laughing and joking with them. Many of them have become my friends,” said the humble man with the kind face.

Not everyone laughs and jokes though and sometimes Rasool has to deal with difficult people, but he does so with a smile and a calm attitude.

“Most of the time people appreciate me, which is a nice feeling they invite me in for tea, give me a tip and phone me when I am not at work saying they need me,” he said.

Rasool is a real salt of the earth kind of man, which is what makes him so popular.

“As long as my bosses are running the Spar store, I will be there,” he said, while he praised Richard and Kerry Gunnies who are the store owners.

The tuk tuk idea is brilliant, as any Umdlotian would know that finding an open parking bay at the Spar is not for the faint-hearted, therefore the convenience of having your groceries delivered to your door is simply genius.

“On a quiet day, I have about 10 to 15 deliveries, and during the holiday season I am out all day, zipping through traffic.”

So next time you see Rasool zooming down the road, smile, wave and he will probably stop to ask if you would like a lift.