After 18 years of service to Karaglen SuperSpar, store veteran Johannes Seroka has retired.
In celebration of a hardworking man who always made time to help customers, those who worked closely with him gathered to enjoy his company at his retirement party last week.
Johannes worked in the butchery department at Spar and recalls all the changes to the store over the years.
“When I started we only had one fridge and one saw. The store is much better today than it was back then. I’ve always loved seeing the changes happen,” Johannes said.
One of Johannes’ favourite memories will always be the awards won by the butchery.
“We are all proud of the awards. We worked hard in the butchery for those awards,” he said.
Johannes believes he could not have had better mentorship than under Marius Jordaan and Daniel Mkhatswa.
“Both Marius and Daniel were always there for me,” Johannes said.
In 2012 Johannes fell ill and was hospitalised for three months.
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It took him a further year to recover from his illness at home, but once he was given a clean bill of health he wasted no time and jumped right back into the work he loved so much.
“I was welcomed back with open arms. It was as though I had never left,” he said.
Johannes fondly remembers a time when Andrew Karamichael replaced an ageing band saw in the butchery.
“He told me it was my machine,” he said.
Johannes doesn’t believe any of his children or grandchildren will follow in his footsteps and join the meat industry.
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“My youngest son finished matric two years ago and is planning on becoming a traffic officer,” he said.
Harry Karamichael, owner of Karaglen SuperSpar, said the store was privileged to have Johannes as a team member for so many years.
“Johannes always showed his dedication to the company and to his job. We are truly sad to see him leave and wish him all the best for his retirement,” said Harry.
Award-winning Karaglen SuperSpar butcher Marius Jordaan told the NEWS he has no idea how the store would go about replacing Johannes.
“He was such a dedicated and hardworking employee. We will truly miss him in our butchery,” Marius said.
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He added that Johannes was fondly known as Captain in the butchery.
“If we needed anything we would always ask Captain,” he said.
Marius recalls that on one Saturday, Johannes cut 200 lambs by himself.
“He started at 6am and by 2pm, he was done,” he said.
“Captain is the absolute best cutter in the business.”
Butchery stalwart of 20 years Daniel Mkhatswa, who has worked with Johannes for the last 18 years, described him as a good man who was always willing to go the distance.
“He knew his work very well and would always be open to giving advice,” Daniel said.
“Captain was understanding, dedicated and loved working with the customers.”
Angel Mdlalose, manager for Karaglen SuperSpar, said the whole store would miss Johannes.
“He would always be the first person to greet in the morning. We hardly ever saw him without a smile,” she said.
Now at 65, Johannes plans to spend his retirement at home in Groblersdal with his wife.
“I have five children and 12 grandchildren who I want to spend time with,” he said.
Johannes said he will miss the customers at Karaglen, but is excited to join his wife at home.
