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Port Elizabeth: The Isuzu Experience Still On My Mind

Thank God summer is here at last but the chilling experience of last winter in the beautiful South African city of Port Elizabeth would surely remain evergreen. Olaolu Olusina relives the experience of a recent trip to South Africa

Along with 14 other African journalists, including two from Nigeria, I was invited by General Motors South Africa (GMSA) to experience the true versatility of the Isuzu Pick-up and be immersed in the vehicles legacy along with its rugged toughness and superior quality.

We were to experience the Isuzu in the wilder side of the Eastern Cape and explore the beautiful Addo Region of South Africa. We actually did and the experience was in deed mind-blowing, especially with the simulated working experience at the Assembly Plant workshop at Struandale where, for three hours , we were taken through the processes of assembling a vehicle under the guidance and direction of Hamilton de Beer with Shakir Daniels and Clayton Whitaker, among others, supervising my group.

The Struandale Plant is the headquarters of General Motors South Africa and the plant covers 37 hectares of land where Chevrolet Utility Pick-up, Isuzu Pick-up and Chevrolet Spark are assembled. The plant, which is run according to a robust quality programme based on the global Vehicle Development Programme (VDP), produces 20 units of Isuzu trucks per day while the Chevrolet lines offer 16 jobs per hour.

The on-road and off-road test drive of the Isuzu Pick-up at both Port Elizabeth and the road to Zuurberg Mountain was also mind-blowing. From our Simulated Working Environment exercise at Struandale, after a brief welcome, we drove in a convoy of brand new Isuzu Pick-up vehicles to Zuurberg Mountain Lodge where we passed the night before the real adventure through the rugged mountain the following day.

From Port Elizabeth, we passed through East London, Brighton, Summerstrand, Bluewater, Grahamstown, Port of Nggura, Addo Elephant Park and Swartkop. At the junction to Zuurberg Mountain Lodge is the South African Police Operational and Tactical Academy, Addo. There is also an Orange plantation right inside the Narina Bush Camp and the San Miguel River Bend Farm.

The weather on the mountain was very cold and even much colder than what we experienced in Port Elizabeth. And for the first time in all my travels to the country, there was light out at exactly 6.28pm local time just about the time for dinner. But the light was restored in less than five minutes and we were able to enjoy the Germany versus Netherlands World Cup match which ended 4-2 in favour of Germany after a penalty shoot-out.

The following day was the real off-road test drive inside the nature’s trail on the Zuurberg Mountain. After an early morning conference where the brand message and product walk around presentations were conducted, we began the journey back through the mountains to Siagboom which holds a track that was to test the strengths and off-road capabilities of the pick-up.

The lead instructor was Grant McCleery, the multiple South African Motorsport Champion, ably assisted by Mario, another versatile instructor at the Isuzu Off-Road Academy.
A warning came for those who were not too sure of themselves to simply stay away from driving and simply observe others drive as there was no much time to waste and the mountain track is very dangerous. An ambulance was in tow and some medics fully kitted to respond to any emergency. They also came with body bags proudly displayed for easy evacuation.

It was really a tough and highly dangerous terrain but surprisingly, the Isuzu waded through the terrain without any ugly incident. I was in the same vehicle with Vice President, VSSM, GM Africa, Brian Oslo, who explained the unique features of the New Generation Isuzu and what makes it tick.
“From the success in South Africa, we observe that we’ve been able to give the people a vehicle they want and at an affordable rate (prices), “ he told this reporter.

The General Manager, Communications, Denisse Van Huysten, showed her prowess and dexterity as she pulled through the terrain effortlessly. Communications Coordinator for Sub-Sahara Africa, Nandi Matomela, was all smiles as she savoured the fun of the exercise, chatting all the way with her guests. Dominic Rimmer, General Manager, Africa Planning, was also on hand to explain what defines Isuzu, saying the objectives are to optimise the vehicle size, improve the interior styling and maintain Isuzu reputation, all in the bid to build a legendary brand across Africa.
Ian Scholls also spoke glowingly about the vehicle, saying the automatic transmission may come in the second half of 2015.

Coming in 16 models, the New Generation Isuzu features improved design and aero dynamics; improved drag co-efficient; class leading interior –spacious car-like interior with more legroom; easy to use controls; rear sitting design allowing for flexibility, rear over-slung suspension and superior handling thus making the Isuzu Pick-up a great all-round package that operates on-road and off-road.

Prior to our departure from our various countries, we had been properly briefed about the weather condition in South Africa at that particular time and were appropriately advised to come along with warm clothes and closed shoes.
But I took the instruction lightly as I simply looked forward to another exciting experience at the Port City and home to the Struandale Plant of General Motors, manufacturers of the Isuzu range of Pick-up.

A year earlier, I was also part of another group of journalists that participated in the unveiling of the All New Isuzu Pick-up, preparatory to its introduction into the sub-Sahara Africa markets, including Nigeria.
Though I have since been to other parts of the country and still savour the great time we had in all the places visited, especially the night we had with the lions at Hoedspruit, none of those places compared to the exciting moments at Port Elizabeth.

I was therefore quite excited at this particular trip, especially the opportunity it would provide in blowing away the winter blues. But I never imagined that the winter could be so chilling.
I had slept throughout the more than five hours journey from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on a South African Airlines (SAA) ’s Lagos – Johannesburg flight and had woken up to a beautiful day at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

VuyisekaSkepe, a staff of Greenroom, the event management company servicing GMSA, was on hand to welcome me at the arrival hall of the airport along with her colleague. She had impressed me a lot with her dedication to work and good public relations during earlier trips , pre-departure planning and correspondences. I was therefore looking forward to meeting her once again.
Vuyiseka was also quite excited to see me. She welcomed me with a beautiful smile as we exchanged pleasantries. But she was to shock me when she offered me an indemnity form right there at the airport. Though it was the normal thing to do, the humour she added to it when she said “Olu, sign away your life ” sent a shock wave into my spine as I realised that from that moment, I was simply on my own.

My connecting flight from OR Tambo Airport to Port Elizabeth was just about an hour after my arrival in Johannesburg as I was to catch a South African Airline (SAA) plane for another one hour flight to Port Elizabeth.
As I moved from the arrival hall to check in for my local flight, it dawned on me that I was not going to find it easy with the weather.

Right at the check-in counter, I was almost freezing as the early morning wind came down heavily. Almost everybody was in winter jacket and boot. Inside the transit van on our way to the tarmac, a man sitting by me checked his phone and was surprised to discover that the temperature had dropped to less than 9 degrees.
Temporary relief however came when we boarded the plane and were on our way to Port Elizabeth. But a great surprise was awaiting us as we dis-embarked at Port Elizabeth as the city was much more colder than Jo’burg.

I had thought we were going to be lodged at the Boardwalk, a massive hotel complex facing the sea at Port Elizabeth. But we were lodged at the neighbouring Courtyard Hotel, another beautiful place also facing the sea. The weather was very cold and we had to wrap our body with the blankets while the room heater was always on. I had never felt such cold all my life and was wondering if that was not the same city I visited a year ago.
My colleague from Nigeria, Mike, did the unthinkable. He was always putting two trousers at a time and wearing up to three or four shirts to keep himself warm in the face of the chilling winter.

“I want to go back to Nigeria in one piece and not in pieces,” he would tell anyone when asked why he had become so bloated overnight. And the trick actually worked.
Despite the weather, it was a great experience as new friends were made, new lessons learnt and more enduring working relationships were sealed.

The General Motors Team treated us to a night of fun and comedy with a South African comedian married to a Ghanaian before our final departure.

 

 

 

This article was first published in The UNION (www.theunion.com.ng) on Sep 15, 2014

 

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