A petrol attendant working at an East London garage anonymously invited nine women to breakfast at an upmarket restaurant in Gonubie in honour of Women’s Day.
Budgie Mokoena, 33, said the women were customers with whom he had built relationships while working at the Caltex garage at the corner of Gullsway and Gonubie Main roads.
Of the nine women invited, six pitched.
All are residents of Gonubie, and they included Tamara Ntintili, Zola Ngendana, Pumza Mnqandi, Pumla Mpahlwa, Ngwane Mgebisa and Akhona Tafane.
They received an invite to breakfast at Galaxy Grill at King’s Mall from the restaurant manager on behalf Mokoena, who had asked to remain anonymous at the time.
Ngendana, an education specialist in mathematics at the education leadership institute, said she had mothered Mokoena and he had become part of her family since she first met him in 2004.
“I was very sceptical about attending a breakfast meeting with a man I did not know, but when I asked the restaurant manager who else was attending, he mentioned other women and some of the names were familiar to me.
“But I was confused because although I knew some of them, they were not within my circles of friends.
“I suspected Budgie might be behind this, because this was not the first time he had treated me like this.
“But when I asked him about it, he denied it,” she said.
Ngendana said on Valentine’s Day she and her husband had received a similar call.
“But we both thought it was the one trying to surprise the other when in fact it was Budgie.”
Mgebisa, an education specialist in school management at the Stirling Education Leadership Institute, said she had met Mokoena at the garage and he was a very friendly and warm character.
“He always has a smile on his face and even after a long day when you’re at the garage, he will make you laugh.”
Tafane, a cashier at the neighbouring Riverbend Quick Spar, said she got to know Mokoena because he often came to buy lunch at the deli.
“When our colleague passed away he accompanied us to the funeral. That is when I saw what a compassionate man he is.”
Ntintili, another cashier, said Mokoena had always been supportive of them.
“To think that now on this special day he is treating us to breakfast at a restaurant I never could imagine stepping into, but today I’m here.”
Hudson Park High School physical science teacher Mpahlwa said they were amazed by Mokoena’s “kind gesture”.
“He has united women from all spheres of life and made them sit at one table.”
Mnqandi, a former lecturer at Buffalo City College, said Mokoena was a good friend of her husband’s.
“I have learnt so much from Budgie, just by his kind gesture. He is a petrol attendant, but he’s doing big things with the little that he has. It has opened my eyes in so many ways.”
Mokoena, who funded the breakfast, said the women had made an impression on his life and he wanted to thank them for being the friendly people they are. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
l See also page 4
Petrol jockey springs breakfast surprise for women customers
Budgie Mokoena, 33, said the women were customers with whom he had built relationships while working at the Caltex garage at the corner of Gullsway and Gonubie Main roads.
Of the nine women invited, six pitched.
All are residents of Gonubie, and they included Tamara Ntintili, Zola Ngendana, Pumza Mnqandi, Pumla Mpahlwa, Ngwane Mgebisa and Akhona Tafane.
They received an invite to breakfast at Galaxy Grill at King’s Mall from the restaurant manager on behalf Mokoena, who had asked to remain anonymous at the time.
Ngendana, an education specialist in mathematics at the education leadership institute, said she had mothered Mokoena and he had become part of her family since she first met him in 2004.
“I was very sceptical about attending a breakfast meeting with a man I did not know, but when I asked the restaurant manager who else was attending, he mentioned other women and some of the names were familiar to me.
“But I was confused because although I knew some of them, they were not within my circles of friends.
“I suspected Budgie might be behind this, because this was not the first time he had treated me like this.
“But when I asked him about it, he denied it,” she said.
Ngendana said on Valentine’s Day she and her husband had received a similar call.
“But we both thought it was the one trying to surprise the other when in fact it was Budgie.”
Mgebisa, an education specialist in school management at the Stirling Education Leadership Institute, said she had met Mokoena at the garage and he was a very friendly and warm character.
“He always has a smile on his face and even after a long day when you’re at the garage, he will make you laugh.”
Tafane, a cashier at the neighbouring Riverbend Quick Spar, said she got to know Mokoena because he often came to buy lunch at the deli.
“When our colleague passed away he accompanied us to the funeral. That is when I saw what a compassionate man he is.”
Ntintili, another cashier, said Mokoena had always been supportive of them.
“To think that now on this special day he is treating us to breakfast at a restaurant I never could imagine stepping into, but today I’m here.”
Hudson Park High School physical science teacher Mpahlwa said they were amazed by Mokoena’s “kind gesture”.
“He has united women from all spheres of life and made them sit at one table.”
Mnqandi, a former lecturer at Buffalo City College, said Mokoena was a good friend of her husband’s.
“I have learnt so much from Budgie, just by his kind gesture. He is a petrol attendant, but he’s doing big things with the little that he has. It has opened my eyes in so many ways.”
Mokoena, who funded the breakfast, said the women had made an impression on his life and he wanted to thank them for being the friendly people they are. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
l See also page 4
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos