Probably one of the first faces to greet you as you arrive at the Two Oceans Aquarium is that belonging to Msawenkosi Maseko, known by all as Msa.
As Visitor Services Supervisor, he makes sure that everything at the front of house is in order, and that both staff and visitors are happy.
“I start my day by catching up on my emails,” he explains. “Then, we have our 9am meeting, where we prepare for the day.”
The meeting is fun and informal, and the camaraderie between the Aquarium staff members is obvious. Having spent eight years working here, Msa has forged some strong friendships with his colleagues.
“I work with a good bunch of people, and we have a lot of respect for each other,” he explains.
He’s also got a remarkable skill for remembering names and situations. I mention that somebody tweeted about the great customer service he provided a visitor over a week ago, and he recalled exactly what it was he did.
“I’m grateful for the compliments I receive, but they are not that important to me. My job is to help people, and so when somebody asks for assistance, I put myself in their shoes, and do everything I can to help them. That’s what I’m here for.
“Providing good service at work is not so different from how I live my personal life. My mother could never say no to anyone, and I’m the same. If I can help, I will.”
That probably explains why Pay It Forward is also one of his favourite films.
So how did an Eastern Cape boy from Mount Frere end up working at an aquarium?
“Growing up in a rural area, I didn’t know very much about the ocean, and only went to the beach once during a school trip. I knew I wanted to see more of the world and be something, I just didn’t know what yet.”
“I moved to Cape Town and studied Travel & Tourism at Varsity College. After the museum I started working at nearby closed down, I got an interview at the Aquarium. I started as a casual worker, and then became permanent in 2005.”
The Aquarium opened his eyes to a whole new world. On his first day here, he could barely believe what he saw. “Are these real fish?” he recalls thinking. He also got lost a few times, walking around in circles before he found his way around!
You’d never guess that now, however. As we stroll through the Aquarium, he adjusts a banner here, fixes a display there, and pushes buttons on the various interactive displays to make sure all is in working order. Like so many other Aquarium staff, he considers it his second home.
He’s had some great experiences during his time, too. Riding out to Robben Island to watch the divers fetch kelp for the Ocean Basket Kelp Forest Exhibit was one of them. Diving in the I&J Predator Exhibit was another. Watching the animals being moved to and from the exhibits is a rare sight that Msa has also been witness to.
Between the feeding-time presentations that he sometimes helps with, to greeting visitors at the door, to organising volunteer shifts, Msa keeps himself busy, and that’s how he likes it. In his spare time, he’s been writing about his life so far, and growing up in the Eastern Cape.
“I read Dr Pat’s autobiography and it inspired me to write my own. I realised that everyone has a story to tell, and I wanted to tell mine. I intended for it to be about five pages long, but I just kept going! Now my friends and colleagues are encouraging me to write a whole book.”
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