WATCH | Gqeberha traffic warden directs drivers with Michael Jackson moves

He has the moves, the attitude and the white gloves, and if it wasn’t for his bright safety vest, you might have mistaken Richmond Menzi for the King of Pop, the late Michael Jackson.

The 48-year-old Nelson Mandela Bay traffic warden has grabbed the attention of Gqeberha motorists, putting smiles on faces when he directs peak traffic with moves that would put the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger to shame.

But ask him where he gets the energy to put so much passion into such a thankless job, Menzi simply says: “I was put on this earth to put smiles on faces.”

His effect on the community has been so great that residents have started a campaign to try to find some way of giving back to the man who has put smiles on their faces. 

Born and bred in Kwazakhele, Menzi’s dream was to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a police officer.

Unfortunately he never had the opportunity to pursue that dream, and decided to dedicate himself to the next best thing. He became a traffic warden in 2009.

“It is my job to make sure people get to where they are going safely.

“I work on busy roads, I work with schoolchildren, I work where I am needed, and I absolutely love my job.”

At 7am on Friday, while it was still gloomy and drizzling, Menzi was dancing at the busy intersection of Chelsea Road and the R367, one of the main routes between Gqeberha and Kariega.

He spun around, waved his arms about, kicked out his legs and even directed traffic with his feet.

Some motorists got nothing more than a nod to indicate their turn to go, while others were directed like a conductor leading an orchestra.

“I am the choreographer of my own choir.

“I don’t practise these moves before I go to work. I just do what feels right in the moment,” he said, laughing.

“And I love the feedback. People hoot, they wave, they shout and laugh.

“I know many people hate driving to work in the morning, and if I can make their commute just a little better and more fun, then I have done a good job.”

Bay residents Athi Lupondwana and Bjorn Steinbach managed to film Menzi in action.

Within a day of posting his moves on social media, the video was viewed more than 100,000 times.

Hundreds of people, some from abroad, complimented the dancing traffic warden.

“We spoke to his boss, who said he is an artist at heart, living out his passion through his work.

“Richmond has put smiles on so many faces, and we wanted to see if there was any way we could perhaps give back to him,” Lupondwana said.

“We gathered he likes music and dancing, and we are appealing to the community if they have any donations along those lines that they would like to make, to get in touch and we will try to make this amazing man’s day.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s deputy director of traffic and licensing, Eric Tiso, said it had been flooded with positive feedback from members of the public who had seen Menzi at work.

“I wish you could see and hear the emails, messages and phone calls that come into our office, asking us to pass on their appreciation for the great work he is doing, saying he made their day.

“Not just adults, but children as well.

“Even my own children wanted me to stop the car one morning so that they can watch him dance,” Tiso said.

He said Menzi was a credit to the department.

“I wish more of our colleagues could follow his example and be as energetic as he is.”

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