The Urban Mobility Awards in Cape Town celebrate the dedication and remarkable accomplishments of City staff who have devoted many years of their lives to the service of the city. Michael Ohlsson, one of the 105 staff members recognized at the event, started working for the Transport Department when he was just 19 years old and has now spent over 30 years contributing to the city’s growth and progress. The event was attended by notable figures in the city’s administration and celebrated the resilience, adaptability and dedication of long-standing members to the city’s success.
What are the Urban Mobility Awards?
The Urban Mobility Awards celebrate the extraordinary work and notable accomplishments of the City of Cape Town staff who have devoted many years of their lives to the city’s service. The awards pay tribute to individuals who have devoted 25, 30, 35, 40, and even an impressive 45 years of their lives to the city. The event celebrates the dedication of long-standing members in the City’s accomplishments and serves as a reunion for past and present staff members.
In the heart of November 1983, on an ordinary Thursday, Michael Ohlsson, a young man of 19, began his first day at the Transport Department of the Cape Town City. Alongside a strong team of 20, he undertook tasks in street maintenance, excavation, and curb laying. Fast forward to today, Ohlsson’s unwavering commitment to the city he holds dear earns him recognition among 105 others in the City’s staff acknowledgement awards.
Each year, the City of Cape Town celebrates the Urban Mobility Awards to recognize extraordinary work and notable accomplishments. This esteemed occasion also pays tribute to individuals who have devoted 25, 30, 35, 40, and even an impressive 45 years of their lives for the city’s service. A particular focus this year was on Ohlsson, who initially joined the City to financially support his mother and siblings in Lavender Hill.
Ohlsson’s progression from a bright-eyed new hire to a Principal Technical Assistant was not devoid of challenges. His path involved rigorous physical work, management of road reserves, human resources oversight, running the materials library, and advancing his education via the City’s programs. He expresses gratitude to the City for its support during his personal growth and consistent solidarity during his family crisis – the tragic death of his 9-year-old son, Matthew, in Mitchells Plain in 1997. This profound personal tragedy led to the crafting of a touching book, ‘The Matthew Ohlsson Story,’ co-authored by Ohlsson and his wife, Michelle.
The Urban Mobility Awards ceremony was attended by notable figures within the city’s administration, including City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, Councillor Rob Quintas – the Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, and Executive Director of the directorate, Dalene Campbell, among others. The event served as a reunion of past and present, with the longest-serving members, Cornell Adams and Stanley Arendse, who joined the City in 1976. Regrettably, Igshaan Fataar, whose service extends a remarkable 45 years, received his award in absentia.
City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, in his speech, acknowledged the relentless dedication of the staff. His words concisely conveyed the gratitude, recognizing the fundamental role of these long-standing members in the City’s accomplishments. “You have accumulated a wealth of experience that no one can take from you. Thank you for everything,” he articulated. His sentiments were echoed by Councillor Rob Quintas, who poetically compared Urban Mobility to the city’s cardiovascular system and commended the staff’s resilience in challenging conditions.
The award ceremony held on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, buzzed with camaraderie. Staff members celebrated their milestones, shared a communal meal, and reminisced about their tenure with the City. Their reflections served as a motivational force for the younger generation to stay committed.
Retiree Cornell Adams, who devoted 45 years of his life to the City, underscored the importance of resilience and adaptability to the younger workforce, stating, “Take on as much as you can, do not stick to one thing only if you want to grow in this organization.” This advice, coming from a man who has witnessed the City’s evolution over nearly half a century, served as a potent message of encouragement to the younger employees.
These deeply personal narratives interweave with the City’s own story, forming a mosaic of growth and resilience that promises Cape Town’s sustained advancement in the coming decades. As demonstrated by the Urban Mobility Awards, the people are not merely elements of the city’s operations, but the lifeblood of Cape Town’s vibrant urban existence. Whether they are recent recruits or long-standing servants, each individual contributes to the collective journey, shaping the city’s dynamic history and setting the groundwork for its prosperous future.
The Urban Mobility Awards celebrate the extraordinary work and notable accomplishments of the City of Cape Town staff who have devoted many years of their lives to the city’s service.
Michael Ohlsson is one of the 105 staff members recognized at the Urban Mobility Awards. He started working for the Transport Department when he was just 19 years old and has now spent over 30 years contributing to the city’s growth and progress. Ohlsson’s unwavering commitment to the city he holds dear earns him recognition among 105 others in the City’s staff acknowledgement awards.
The Urban Mobility Awards ceremony was attended by notable figures within the city’s administration, including City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, Councillor Rob Quintas – the Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, and Executive Director of the directorate, Dalene Campbell, among others.
Cornell Adams underscored the importance of resilience and adaptability to the younger workforce, stating, “Take on as much as you can, do not stick to one thing only if you want to grow in this organization.”
The Urban Mobility Awards pay tribute to individuals who have devoted 25, 30, 35, 40, and even an impressive 45 years of their lives to the city. The event celebrates the dedication of long-standing members in the City’s accomplishments and serves as a reunion for past and present staff members.
These deeply personal narratives interweave with the City’s own story, forming a mosaic of growth and resilience that promises Cape Town’s sustained advancement in the coming decades. The people are not merely elements of the city’s operations but the lifeblood of Cape Town’s vibrant urban existence. Each individual contributes to the collective journey, shaping the city’s dynamic history and setting the groundwork for its prosperous future.
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