A Gordon’s Bay business owner decided to treat her staff to a fun day on Table Mountain last month. Little did she know it would result in her winning a holiday to Turkey.
“My team haven’t really had the chance before to explore Table Mountain, so I decided to make use of the R90 birthday ticket offer that was available in October. I took 18 of my cleaners and support staff, and they thoroughly enjoyed the day,” said Charmaine de Swardt, owner of CDS Cleaning Services.
“The special ticket price gave more people the time to enjoy one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Nature’ – and the spectacular views from the top, which is why I wanted to take my team to explore the mountain. Plus, the yummy tea and milk-tart at the top,” she added.
It was ultimately her decision to buy her team some light refreshments from the top restaurant, which clinched the competition win for her. All visitors to the mountain who bought items at the restaurant or the curio shop during the month of October could put their names in the draw to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to Turkey.
“I was busy watching the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup final with a group of friends, and the next moment my phone rang, and someone was talking about a trip I had won.
“It took a while for it to sink in – I really thought someone was playing a prank on me, and I had to ask my husband and my staff to assure me I wasn’t dreaming.
“I have never before won anything in my life and I am very excited to go and explore Turkey,” she said.
Trevor Brown, corporate sales manager at Turkish Airlines, said it was a rewarding feeling to be able to award this prize to someone like Charmaine.
“When people go on this trip for the first time, I get excited as well. It is almost like I am going with them. We wish her all the best for this trip.”
The competition to win a trip to Turkey, explains Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) managing director Wahida Parker, was part of their 90th birthday celebrations that kicked off in October. Operations at TMACC started 90 years ago, on October 4, 1929.
“October was a wonderfully busy month for us, with just over 45 000 South Africans making use of our R90 ticket promotion. The fact that we were able to ensure that so many people have access to the mountain is a milestone no one in the team even dreamed we would be able to achieve.
“Handing over this prize to Charmaine is a great way of wrapping up what has been a fantastic month.”
Charmaine and her husband Pieter have won a seven day, all-
expenses-paid trip, which she says they will most likely take in 2020.
