JASON Chetty has been working on the railway ever since he was a teenager.
In 1973, he first donned the uniform of the South African railways, and began working on trains checking tickets.
“Back then we were known as ‘barrier attendants’ and our white counterparts were called ticket examiners, essentially we did the same job, only we worked on different carriages and wore different uniforms,” said Jason showing the Queensburgh News a photo of him taken on his first day of work, 46 years ago.
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“We were only allowed to work on the third class carriages which were the only ones people of colour were allowed to ride on,” he said.
“Back in those days, our trains were also drawn by steam engines.”
Over the years Jason has travelled thousands of miles to carry out his duties. Initially riding the trains, and eventually travelling to countries around the world to represent the new face of the railways in the New South Africa post-1994.
“I have been very fortunate and even got to meet some very important people in countries all over the world where they were keen to pick my brains about how the South African’s managed to transform the public transport railway service.”
He has travelled to Germany to meet leaders of the government and answer their questions about how the South African railways’ service has worked to transform from what was essentially an offshoot of the apartheid government to a public resource in a free country.
He has taken on a variety of roles over the years before most recently settling in to manage the historically significant station in the middle of Queensburgh. “I was the station manager from Pinetown to Seaview at one stage, so I have the experience of knowing the community well,” said the Escombe resident.
“I have been blessed and have worked with so many wonderful people I couldn’t hope to name them all.”
While working on the trains transporting passengers between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in the 1980s, Jason’s actions literally saved lives. “I thwarted the attempts by some who were keen to set bombs and made arrests on trains of people who were carrying explosive devices they planned to set off and I was given a medal of bravery,” he said proudly, showing off a photo of the award he first received in the early 80s.
“Within my career while conducting my duties I have made some big arrests. The awards I was given were from the then Minister of Law and Order, Adrian Vlok. I was the only non-white among my many white counterparts. I was given this plaque and I won it for three years in succession.”
“During those days the violence was escalating. I arrested two men on the train who were carrying explosives. One guy had hand-grenades on him, and between the two men I arrested, they had thousands of rounds of live ammunition.”
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While Jason is moving on to retirement which he plans to spend travelling the world with his wife, he leaves the Malvern Station in the able hands of his successor, Thembinkosi Zulu.
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