Kenny Rahman
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Durban’s bus industry and the Clairwood community paid tribute to Kenny Rehman, the owner of Bobby’s Coach Works, who died on Sunday. He was 89.
A memorial service was held at St Louis Catholic Church on Monday.
Rehman's dad, the late Bobby Rehman, established Bobby’s Coach Works in 1948 at 354 Flower Road in Clairwood.
Rehman and his brothers worked alongside their dad building buses for owners throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
He recently featured in the POST when he celebrated his 89th birthday on April 7 at the Shri Mariammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe during a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Phoenix.
At the celebration he came face-to-face with one of the last buses in existence from the 1960s, a Leyland OPS. Rehman and his family helped build the bus between May and August 1963.
The company played a role in meeting the demand for buses when Chatsworth (1962) and later Phoenix (1976) were built.
Seelan Achary, the chairperson of the Shri Mariammen Temple, said he was saddened by the news and was glad to have honoured Rehman for the role played in the bus industry.
Rakesh Bhim, the chairperson of the Bus Owners Association, also met Rehman at the event where they shared memories of the bus industry.
“I am glad to have met him once again. He built several buses for my father, Bhim Ramratan, of Arena Coach Tours in Chatsworth. The workmanship and professionalism they displayed was unmatched. Some of the buses still have Bobby’s bus bodies with the icon shape they created. Kenny and his dad played a pivotal role in the transport history of Chatsworth,” he said.
Kemraj Somaru, representing the Newlands Bus Owners Association, said Rehman played an invaluable role to assist the bus sector from the 1950s.
“The important factor was that he carried the bus body finance interest free. This assisted bus owners to purchase new bus chassis on the body waiver system which made up the 10% deposit as the bus chassis was only financed by the statutory financial institutions,” Somaru explained.
Mervyn Reddy, President of the Clairwood Ratepayers and Residents Association, who knew “uncle Kenny” for over four decades, described him as a person of immense passion - someone who always looked beyond his own needs to fight for the greater good of society, Clairwood.
“Clairwood has faced and continues to face the heavy challenges of industrialisation. This is a fight that would have been lost decades ago if not for leaders like Kenny. He stood firm against capitalist interests, fighting tooth and nail to ensure Clairwood remained a residential home for its people. Even until his untimely passing, he remained passionate about restoring Clairwood to its former glory,” he said.
He said Rehman was always the first to arrive at every meeting, ready to offer his wisdom to make the association's work more effective.
“In recognition of this lifelong commitment, our 80-year-old association, established back in 1946, was proud to have bestowed upon him the title of Honorary Life Trustee. Kenny’s footprints shall forever remain etched in the soil of Clairwood,” he added.
Suveer Maharaj, the chairperson of the South African Bus Owners Association (SABOA) KwaZulu-Natal, said Rehman played a meaningful role in the local bus and transport sectors, earning the respect of colleagues, operators, drivers, and passengers alike.
“His commitment to providing reliable and safe transportation helped connect communities and contributed to the growth and development of public and private transport services throughout Durban and surrounding areas,” Maharaj said.
He described Rehman as a respected leader, mentor, and source of guidance to many within the transport field.
"His experience and knowledge of the industry earned him the admiration of colleagues and peers, and his influence helped shape and inspire those who followed in his footsteps. Kenny's legacy lives on in the countless lives he influenced and in the transport industry that benefited from his years of commitment,” he said.
Rehman's funeral will take place on Wednesday (June 3) at St Louis Parish Church in Clairwood, and will thereafter proceed to the Clairwood Cemetery.