Latest news with #Vusi
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
RBIDZ Employee Conquers the Comrades Marathon
As the nation enters into Mandela Month, a time that calls for reflection, unity, and perseverance, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) celebrates an employee whose journey of running long-distance marathons stands as a shining example of the resilience and tenacity we are all inspired to embody. Vusi Ndlovu, a Business Applications Analyst at the RBIDZ, earned his sixth medal in the recently held 98th Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. With seven Comrades Marathon runnings and six finishes now under his belt, along with numerous appearances and finishes at renowned races such as the Two Oceans and Soweto Marathons, Vusi's commitment to sport is matched only by his humility and discipline. Vusi believes that sport is more than fitness and hobby; it is a way of life and a connector since being part of a running association creates long-lasting friendships and bonds. As a long-time member of the Team Vitality Running Club, he has dedicated the past nine years to the sport he loves. The Comrades Marathon, known for its gruelling 90km course between Durban and Pietermaritzburg; tests physical endurance and mental strength – for Vusi it was not only a personal goal but also a journey that reflects the values upheld by RBIDZ, which highlight excellence, commitment, and resilience. 'I run to clear my mind and to stay healthy,' said Vusi. 'Running long distances teaches you how to stay committed, no matter the pain or challenge. You develop a resilient character, something that echoes what Madiba stood for.' 'The Comrades Marathon is always a humbling experience,' Vusi echoed. 'During the race, I kept reminding myself that finishing was not only for me but for everyone who believes in pushing limits and breaking boundaries. Through dedication and support, I managed to conquer yet again.' Congratulating Vusi on finishing the Comrades Marathon and obtaining his medal, RBIDZ Corporate Services Executive Manager-Nombuso Nsele highlighted the importance and need for holistic well-being of employees attributed from company support, culture and programmes offered by the RBIDZ such as the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the workplace. 'Employee wellness is not just a checkbox for us; it is a strategic priority,' said Nsele, 'When employees are physically and mentally strong, they perform better, engage meaningfully with one another, and contribute positively to the objectives of the organisation, as well as the culture of excellence we are building. Vusi's journey personifies what we stand for as an organisation.' As RBIDZ continues to invest in the growth of the organisation and being an employer of choice, Vusi's accomplishment serves as an influential reminder that greatness is possible when talent meets support. The bearing of his resilience and commitment reaches far beyond. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
29-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
My toolbox is bigger than yours
I have a sneaking suspicion the missus has a trove of statements at the ready to get me to do things around the house. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a slouch when it comes to housework. I am the proud owner of a toolbox, a drill, an electric sander, an angle grinder, garden sheers, a trimmer and a lawnmower. If anything, I am the envy of my peers and a prime example of a good husband. However, this was not always the case, and I think I know why. There is nothing more annoying than having a neighbour with a beautiful garden and a garage full of do-it-yourself tools. Trust me, they are the worst. You would think that having a neighbour with a loud stereo system would drive you to the edge, and that might be true, but wait till the missus says: 'What a lovely garden Vusi has, don't you think?' Those words will prompt even the most languid of men into action. And of course, these words are delivered on a beautiful Saturday morning following a week of replying 'Kind regards' to strange requests. I'm sure we have all been rudely awoken by the sound of a top-of-the-line lawnmower roaring to life at 7am on a weekend, the culprit being your DIY-crazed neighbour Vusi tending to his immaculate lawn. Vusi also services his own car and struts around in a Comrades Marathon finisher's T-shirt, has a head full of hair and owns several pairs of jean shorts. An all-round terrible human being. It is the above events that contributed to this writer traversing the isles at Builders Warehouse on the East Rand at 8am on a Saturday, furiously searching for a metal drill bit and screw extractor. The night before I was the recipient of the words 'Can you call that handyman to fix the washing machine?' I swore that day to never let another man enter this house to do what YouTube can guide me through. No screw, pipe or appliance will be spared from the fire and brimstone I will be dishing out. Vusi will rue the day he fired up that lawnmower To date I have fixed door handles, sanded down woods of varying textures, fixed leaking geysers, replaced toilet gaskets, cleared clogged refrigerator drip-pan hoses, painted walls, paved walkways, wired electrical lines, calibrated DStv decoders, assembled trampolines and shoved my fist down clogged plumbing. All in the name of love. I did, however, meet my and YouTube's match with our washing machine. I am convinced the appliance is possessed by some ancient anti-DIY spirit sent my way by that jean short-wearing charlatan named Vusi. I tried everything and even went through all the stages of grief. I denied that there was an issue; I mean why would it just break out the blue? I kicked, banged and shook the bloody thing, to no avail. I prayed to the Lord that there might be a loose fitting somewhere that I would just push in and voilà! But depression soon took hold when I saw that nothing was working and I would have to make the call. But I didn't accept defeat, instead I blamed the soap manufacturer for using too much chlorine and causing the drive mechanism to clog. I was at my wits' end and sheepishly took the easy way out. The new washing machine arrived two days later, and like any self-respecting DIYer would do, I read the instruction manual, hid it, blamed the supplier for sending something without the necessary documents, and then assembled it to the applause of my wife and daughter. Seeing that we are firmly into the colder period of the year, I am slowly building my arsenal for the coming spring and summer months. No screw, pipe or appliance will be spared from the fire and brimstone I will be dishing out. Vusi will rue the day he fired up that lawnmower.
