Best Career advice: From Gauteng city lights to feeding the nation

Life is never is never so stagnant but it is so dynamic that XOLISWA MAVIS MABAYI finds herself moving from a theology class to farming far away in the Eastern Cape.  The former Bible study girl will soon be getting her hands dirty as she toils in the pig sties making sure that South Africa eats. She spent four years studying the Bible but was not fulfilled. After some time working with vulnerable children and after a horrendous rape ordeal she now bounces back to feed the nation food, not the word of God. She speaks to Thembi Masser while munching on  a raw pumpkin on her exciting new venture. 

   

In December of this year she is going to Engcobo in the Eastern Cape to learn about farming. Her fascination with farming is not new and it is not because of the farmer she met after a funeral earlier this year. Her deceased,  aunt, Vangile Kweba, was an astute farmer. Her farm still supplies the local Spar supermarket in Engcobo with farm produce up to this day.

Xoliswa, now 27, used to visit the farm during the December holidays. Her aunt would then take them for a tour around the farm to show them her successes. But even during those days she was not even remotely interested. As a city girl she was only interested in glamorous occupations. Little did she know that years later she would return to the farm as an interested partner. She is now eager to get her dirty and feed the nation while making money for herself.   

“I suppose my college business studies will be handy when I eventually do farming,” she says softly. Xoliswa is reserved and cool, if not out right shy. But it was at Wordsworth High in Benoni were her dreams started taking shape. She wanted to be a nurse, probably because of the influence from her maternal grandmother, Mavis, after whom she is named. But later she wanted to be a lawyer but eventually she chose to study theology at Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC) in Rosettenville in Johannesburg.   

She decided to study theology probably of the influence from her work at the Charles Wesley Methodist Church in Daveyton where she was a keen member.  She spent four years at the TEEC. She dropped out after she was raped twice by a trusted family friend who was a ‘father to me.’ “Another reason I dropped out is that I fell out of love with theology; it was no longer interesting and when I was with friends it was always only me doing the odd occupation studies. Theology was not glamorous,” she laughs, embarrassed to such an observation.  

But before TEEC she studied for two years at Ekurhuleni East College for FET after failing her grade 10 at Wordsworth. Her parents were devastated that their model daughter failed a grade, but supportive nonetheless. At Ekurhuleni College she did a small business management and economics, office practise, computer typing, business English and sake Afrikaans courses. “I failed in the year in which I failed a career questionnaire.

“I was an interested learner at school although my confidence dipped when I was in high school. However, I was a member of the nature conservation club and was also an English Olympiad.” She also did cross country and shot put at primary level. Later when she was at high school she developed a liking for tourism. Maybe this was because tourism was one of her darling subjects at school. The other was Afrikaans.

After leaving theology she went on to work as a care-giver at the John Wesley Community Centre (JWCC). Her work involved working with orphaned and vulnerable children. “Now I am leaving the centre this December. The man at the funeral really impressed on me the positives of agriculture and I am giving it all my energy. You see, things are no longer the same here at the JWCC attraction to go into farming came at the right time.”

Her younger cousin has a qualification in agriculture and this motivates Xoliswa. “I am going to get my hands dirty. Africa is lazy; otherwise her children wouldn’t go hungry. While yes, agriculture is not glamorous like theology was, it is prosperous, rands and niaras beckon for me.”

She concedes that it will be a cultural shock to leave Gauteng for the rural Eastern Cape, but it is worth it. The future, she points out, lies with agriculture and that is why “I want to own my farm one of these days.”     

GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kabelo scrolls his work across the business fraternity

KABELO CHILOANE realised as early as after his tourism graduation that his life tour was destined to take a different path from guiding others where to locate prime spots to enjoy and view. He switched instead to graphic designing, which he enjoys immensely, he tells Thembi Masser. 

He studied graphic designing at the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering and Technology.it was enjoyable, he says, “because I grappled with graphic designing at my company

I co-owned with my mates I met at the HP Mokoka library in Daveyton even before I studied it formally.”

Kabelo, 24, spent listless days at the library because he was a disillusioned man. Straight after making the Top 10 in an Yfm-sponsored SAB Hansa Pilsner business competition he spent his days not knowing where to go or what to do. His entry for the competition was simple: built-in solar power in the tiling of a dwelling. Although he made the top 10, he failed to proceed further. He blames his flailing presentation skills. “I was not up to scratch, “I suppose,” he offers.

Unbeknown to him, that is when the entrepreneur spirit bugged him. The competition boosted his self-confidence and his self-esteem blossomed. “I networked and realised that I could go further in business if I applied my mind to it.”

And so while spending days looking at books in the library he met like-minded guys who were in the same dilemma as he was - what to do with our lives now? They formed a detergent-making company. The business lasted barely a year but it taught Kabelo plenty. “Firstly, I taught myself graphic designing while working and two, it taught me not to waste company money in the future,” he remarks. “You see, we were good at what we did in the business, and we were just a couple of brilliant with no care in the world except produce household cleaning products. But when the money came in we boxed it out like there was no tomorrow.”

So the company disbanded. That is when he enrolled with the JEIT. His courses included photshop, illustrator, correl draw, indesign and fireworks. While studying he was making money on the side designing for businesses. After completion of his studies he registered his company, Beast Limited Pty (Ltd). “I do visual communication-branding, corporate identity, photography and, of course, graphic design.” He doesn't have a major contract now but “I know it will come in one of these days.”

He partners in some of the projects with Bhekumuzi Philane Zwane, who owns Beyond Power Media. “We collaborate nicely. I hope we do not make the detergent mistakes with him.”

Kabelo was born in Bushbuckridge, where he did his matric. He was at Maotole Primary then Setlhare high and completed matric at Maripe. He did a diverse mixture of subjects, science, agriculture, biology, English, maths, Sepedi and Afrikaans. “I liked English and Biology most and my favourite teacher was Mr Stele. “What I remember about school is that I was confused really. I did not know what I wanted to do after grade 12. The fact that there was no career guidance at school exacerbated the problem further. My parents too did not help me.”

After passing matric he went to Central Johannesburg College to do IT but did not have a place. He then, out of desperation to study something, enrolled to do tourism at Boston Media College. He passed the two-year diploma course and looked for a job. “It never came.” It was then that the idea of a build-in solar panel in the tiles materialised and he entered the Hansa Pilsner competition.

The future holds a lot for me, he believes, although he says he does not know of any entrepreneur who was helped by the government. “There were plenty of challenges for me in the past. They shattered me yes; but I adjusted thinking, dusted my pants and proceeded with the journey.

There are too many graphic designers wannabees but they don’t make enough effort to push forward to go the extra mile. At my time at the JIET there were only the three of us-males. To tell you the truth, I have not come across any females graphic designers to date. Should there be any could they please give me a shout-it will be a historic moment!”        

Right, Kabelo in camouflage and, below, a peek into the future

Pilot. Reaching for dizzy heights drives Bernard

Story by Ivy Mahlasela

Hannes Barnard achieved his private pilot licence on at the age of 18, and  his Commercial pilot's licence at the age of 21. He is an accomplished helicopter pilot now.

The passion for flying has been with him since his childhood. After obtaining his licences he worked as a pilot. As he progressed in the flying industry he has done ratings on piston engines, turbine and twin turbine  helicopters. He is night rated, sling rated and instrument rated and he also has an instructors' rating.

Through all the hard work he was inspired by his grandmother‘s words saying, ‘you can be anything you want to be, just believe and live out your dream’. Today his passion for flying is still expanding with hope and bigger dreams of having to start his own aviation school for the young children who have a dream of flying like he did.  

Auxiliary social work. Mowedi's passion is to help her community

Story by Ivy Mahlasela

A lot of people have a passion for helping people in not only their lives but also in their careers.

Kente Mowedi is a social auxiliary worker at the Department of Social Development and her job entails:

Performing administration duties, handling of the secretariat of meetings, assisting with admin work: photostats, filling, update and maintain data base, registers, arrange meetings, gettting quotations, for service provider, sending out invitations for meetings, assisting with drawing up of community profiles, assisting with events management for national and international days, Community awareness for Early Childhood Development (EDC ) programs and also ensuring that there is compliance with registration and funding.

We get to see learnerships that provide the opportunities for 12 to apply for. It is what the Social Auxiliary Workers job entails.

Auxiliary social work is not for the half-hearted

SMANGELE NDABA’S day is filled with only one thing in mind: to help the community of Etwatwa, Benoni. She is an auxiliary social worker at the John Wesley Community Centre. But now her occupation has turned into a horror movie that went wrong. She is traumatised by all the wailing, lamentations and bad things she has to listen to from clients visiting her and what she experiences when doing home visits. And the hours are long.

But, as she tells Thembi Masser, she likes her work immensely, no matter how long the duty list is.

The main service of the social work is to basic counselling, attending to the needs of the community and making sure that the welfare of the community is on a sound footing.  For one to achieve this, Smangele, 30, says one has to truly throw their heart into it. Throwing their hearts in their jobs means really adhering to the needs of the occupation.  Auxiliary social workers do the job of social workers, only on a smaller scale.  “I do basic counselling,” Smangele says, listing her job description. “Apart from counselling, which is done here at the centre or at the home of the client, I do the following, but not in the order of importance-

Referrals

Facilitation-which means creating and sustaining support groups and income creating projects

Fundraising

Attend stakeholder meetings

Home visits

Teach life skills to young girls

Assist orphaned children with reading skills

Coach the netball team

Create awareness on social issues to young girls

Administration

Visits schools

And this is what this long list means: I have to counsel my HIV positive clients as well do counselling in domestic disputes. I also counsel kids who attend our projects here at the JWCC when they are bereaved. Then there are trauma cases. Most of these trauma cases I have to refer to social workers for attention. I refer other clients to the South African Police Services (SAPS) in the case of domestic assaults and abuse, Home Affairs in the case of orphans who have no identification papers and therefore receuive no grants, and so on. I visit, at their homes, HIV patients to check on feedback on advice given.”

Smagele gives advice to young girls on the effects teenage pregnancies and menstruation problems. She is also expected to attend awareness campaigns on social issues, abuse on women and children and drugs.  She attends stakeholder meetings like the LACCA (local action campaign for children affected and infected) and Child Care Forums (CCF).  At these forums children between the ages of 11 and 18 discusses and share common issues. At the LACCA organisations like the SAPS,  the deaprtments of Home Affairs, education, justice and health give in sight into what should be done when it comes to the welfare of children. Church minsters and child care centres re[resentatives also attend.

The requirements into the occupation are not that strict, but she says you have to be prepared to write and speak a lot. Then there is matric and you must also have an intense ability to listen carefully and with empathy.

Smangele matriculated at Davey and Phandimfundo High Schools. She finds it strange that she only came to like and understand maths very late in her schooling. “I only came to like maths in my final year of study, which was a pity; It robbed ne of a chance to make other choices.” Her other subjects were physical science, biology, Zulu, English and Afrikaans.

She wanted to be news reader on either TV or radio when she was still at school because she likes reading all languages. “I am also fascinated by sports, but strangely, I am not a media person.”

After matric she went to the Rearabile Organisation where the department of social development realised her talent and offered her a learnership to study at Khanya College. She then got her diploma in auxiliary social work after two years. At Khanya her courses included social work, community development, group work, research and case work.

But for the future the mother of two girls wants to establish an orphanage for girls and to help them in their quest to influence better change in their communities.




Smangele with colleagues, Phindile Mthombeni and Mapaseka Khumalo 
and, bottom, at the JWCC with Nhlanhla Mtshali and Lulu Nkosi.

Dad's invisible hand pilots Trevor

Although his father has been absent from his successful life, TREVOR LUBISI smiles when asked about his whereabouts. Trevor is a life skills trainer at the John Wesley Community Centre (JWCC) in Etwatwa, Benoni. His mother died when he was six; and his father disappeared before that occurrence.  Today Trevor teaches people to forgive and make their lives meaningful. He speaks to Thembi Masser about life, Christianity and the purpose of his mission…and the invisible guiding hand of his dad.

Trevor does not forget the words of his mentor, the founder of the JWCC, Sue Skidmore. She reportedly said, ’I know you want to study engineering Trevor, which is good. I also know that you want to be a teacher. But let me tell you; you are probably the best informal teacher I have ever known. So stick with the JWCC, and teach people how to live meaningful lives’. Trevor duly listened to that counselling, and today he is a successful trainer.

He did acquire formal qualifications along the way; and he is presently busy with a B.Ed degree with Unisa as we speak. Years ago he obtained a certificate in psychology on HIV/Aids for which the JWCC paid, and did a one year basic counselling course thereafter. Then he completed   a weeklong (eish that was so expensive brother!) advanced workshop on community issues. Now, for eight years Trevor has trained the young and the old at the JWCC and across Gauteng. He is due to start a new workshop schedule in Limpopo with Andy Komane, a resident of Burgersfort.

According to legend, Trevor is a born community worker and activist. When he was in grade 11 at Phandimfundo High School in Etwatwa, a fellow learner died. Trevor then mobilised his school mates to pass high school and do something for the community in honour of their fallen mate. It did not end there, his enthusiasm. He taught other learners on instructions of his teachers. “”I taught them science, maths and biology,” he remarks. Teachers used to implore him to remain after school so as to inspire others not to leave. “They asked me to lead by example. They said if I left then others would not be motivated to do extra classes.”

While he did not have money to do Saturday classes with those who paid up, he attended free Saturday classes with those unfortunate like him to do extra classes in maths. His group so prospered that those paying for extra classes floundered and soon returned to join him! 

there are many advices that Trevor got along the way when he was building himself up. He remmberes an America man called Roger, who was then 40 years old. Roger said that it was unfortunate that at 40, he did not have a house of his own. He was divorced and he told me that he was going back home to find a job and start all over again to build himself a home." So Roger adviced Trevor

to make sure he build himself and his family a home way before he became 40.

  

“I duly listened to this piece of wisdom, and I surprised many when I built my house with my supposedly meagre JWCC earnings.”

The other advice that stuck on his mind and helped him get going was from a 65 year-old white South African. The man told Trevor save a hundred rand from all monies earned. He told Trevor that earlier in his life he helped build multinational companies that still prosper presently. But he did one thing wrong, he neglected to save wisely. And because of that neglect here he was, at 65, looking for employment. And penniless. So he advised Trevor never to follow this senseless, reckless foot journey, but to go along with success-and put a hundred rand away for prosperity.

Since then Trevor has worked doubly hard at the JWCC and at other organisations. The slogan ’Conquer the world’, has helped him to push hard in his pursuit of prospering, and achieving the unthinkable. “You see, I work with a disciplinarian,” he points out, referring to the JWCC manager, Philip Sharp. “He is a man of strict demeanour, this Mr Sharp, and I abide by him. That also goes for Pastor Mchunu, who always c checked my sense of dress.”

The only people who did not advice Trevor accordingly are his past teachers at high school and his parents and uncle. He was a lively learner, he says, at Phandimfundo in Etwatwa, good in maths, science, biology, and economics, Zulu, English and Afrikaans. His primary education was done at Nkatha Zulu.

Today he is qualified in psychology, facilitating skills, disease awareness skills and computer literacy. He is a social trainer. “I train children, adults and I go out to conduct workshops all over. Soon I am going to Limpopo to establish a brand new training schedule in life skills for the rustic people over there.” 

And he has a special word for his assistant, Busi Ngwenya. “What a lovely lady,” he enthuses with a twinkle in his eye. “She is indispensable.”

Trevor was raised by his uncle in the absence of his parents. “My uncle said to me, ‘Your mother is late, so we take you in with us because your father is useless, he is nowhere to be found’. And true to uncle’s word, I have never seen my father. What I know is that he was a pilot in Mozambique, and that he is very educated. On the day my daughter was born he phoned. It was a miracle that he did. He said I must name my daughter Victoria, my mother’s name. Luckily Andiswa, my wife, did not object. Another miracle happened when I was conducting workshops in Potchefstroom some time ago. He phoned to say that we must have a chat. He has since phoned several times, looking for an appointment for us to meet. Sure, I will meet him, and I will forgive him if that is what he wants.”

But the father, Loius Maloa, who is somewhere in Europe at the moment, has, unaware, given Trevor one valuable lesson-take care of your children, “I don’t have a child out of wedlock, and my wife is my only darling.”

And his mission in life? “To change the mind set of my community.” He wants to train them, to give them information, to change their way of life, and of thinking. “Many people believe that because things happened that way in the past, they can always happen that way again in the present, and in the future,” he complains. “These people are stuck in the traditions which are most of the time void.”

He believes the school syllabus can go a long way in making sure future generations think differently. “The authorities should include teachings on how to tackle life and prosper.”       

Lesego Setou:Lessons from my bosses

Lesego Setou

A saying goes, show me your friends and I will show you who you are.  I think there is some great truth to that but I also think it’s not only friends that shape us, it’s every soul we cross paths with. Our traits are the sum total of our interactions with different souls in this beautiful journey called life; the traits developed can be good or not so good depending on whom we choose to be and what we understood about that trait. I also think a greater part of the leaders we become is also influenced by the leaders we crossed paths with, those we equally admired and those we did not venerate. I therefore decided to share the beautiful lessons I have learned and strive to embrace as I experienced them from bosses.

Mariekie Gericke- My first boss; a highly focused person with high work ethics, she taught me that reading is an essential part of every person’s work. She encouraged me to always keep abreast of what is happening in my field of expertise. Spent an hour of your day, reading something that will either challenge you to do things different, empower you to be efficient or give you more knowledge about your field of expertise

Gusti Coetzer- Hard working, punctual, these are the two words that come to mind when I think of Gusti. I used to travel with this boss of mine to meetings and never have I seen her late for any meeting, she had respect for time. I also loved how hard she worked; she never expected anything that she could not give

Annelize van Rensburg- This boss believed in me, she is the person who advised me to wear a suit after my initial interview with her, because she knew what I needed to warm my way into the Managing Partner’s heart , she invested time in teaching me the ropes and was never tired of my endless questions

Rene Van Wyk- Always pay attention to detail, I used to cry every time she had to check my reports, but this exercise has paid off, you will never catch me, sending an email or report or anything with spelling mistakes or without proof reading it first

Reshika Ramprsad- Be good at what you do, give your best and know that eventually hard work pays off. I am yet to meet anyone who can do a job with outstanding efficiency and effectiveness as this boss of mine

S’thembile Nene- Trust your people and lead with love and respect. This boss was authentic, cared for your growth in all aspects, technically and financially, many bosses claim to have their people’s interests at heart but very few genuinely care about the financial well being of their subordinates

Brian Khumalo – This boss brought an interesting dimension to my life of work, consciousness, I am at this point engaging the world of employment knowing that there is something bigger to my role and that big thing is that, I am a channel for magnificence and my primary key performance area is to remind others of the greatness they are. Brian was also very good at building relationships

John Jepsen- Work hard and play hard, this boss of mine had a huge appetite for work, but once deadlines are reached, he will then make time to relax, travelling was one of his favourites. I therefore know the importance of taking time off

Jeson Ingraham- With love and kindness you will never go wrong. This boss had a beautiful heart; he genuinely cared for his people, something which we sometimes miss in the world of work.

I have worked with giants, different in some ways, similar in others, but I could have missed it all, if I also did not have a teachable spirit, an attitude that is open to learning and that I got from my first bosses my parents.

ARTISTIC WORKS. Amanda surrenders her soul to the stage

Stylish Amnda 

Speaking face to face to AMANDA TOBO is a test in character; she is so charismatic, captivating to look at, so eloquent! Amanda is an artist, an accomplished actress. When she speaks to you, her passion for her craft stares at you incessantly. Her achievements are so vast that the only destination for her is the North Star. But before she gets there, her ambition is to instil education to the learners through theatre. The charismatic actress tells Thembi Masser why she is not accomplished yet; why she wants to be an astute business woman and why she is not keen on awards.  

Growing up in Bizana, where she was born, Amanda, 27, wanted to one of the beautiful presenters she admired on the box. She was always captivated by the beautiful people on the telly who appeared to be enjoying their lives and having a glamorous ‘occupation’. In fact, Amanda was already in the beauty stakes right at the start of her schooling career. Since then she has been in the lime light at every educational institution she has studied at. It started at the Bizana Primary where she was Ms Bizana primary and then at high school when she won the Ms Bizana High School crown. She went on to become Ms Unisa and Ms Durban University of Technology. She has also been Ms lovelife and Ms Bizana.

But after matriculating she did not pursue modelling, but went to study for a diploma in child and youth diploma with Unisa. After just one year at Unisa and a crown as Ms Unisa she packed her bags and headed for Durban, where she continued with her studies in youth development studies. “This is where the love of acting was nurtured,” she points out. The drama department was adjacent to the youth development lecture room and her ear was always in the goings on in what was going on there instead of in class. This prompted her friends to urge her to cross over. “After my diploma studies I again packed my bags and headed to Benoni’s Sibikwa Arts Centre to take lessons in acting.”   

Today, sitting face to face with the vivacious lady, it is evident why she mesmerised so many judges in winning her beauty crowns. She has just got off the stage after taking part in the play You Decide, a South African Brewery’s (SAB) initiative to curb the scourge of under age drinking.  

    

In 2010 she took part in her first ever theatrical play, Surrender in Time. “It was the highlight of my career,” she says. “I always wanted to be on stage, and there I was, speaking and encouraging people in that way.” But her parents where not impresses. They wanted her to do something solid, something normal. “Modelling was first love, but along the way I asked myself questions. I developed the urge to do something challenging, something stronger, something personal.” Modelling fuelled that urge.

She has been in many other productions since then. She has been in Black Child, Lumambo which was on Mzansi magic, Photo Shoot on etv and in many other since.“I am not acting for financial gain or to win awards.  There is more to what I do on stage or on film. I am more into educational acting.”

While she is on the process of registering her business company, Amanda goes home to Bizana from time to time to conduct workshops on acting. “These workshops have been so influential that they have encouraged learners to reach for the stars. One of them, Donald, is in his second year medical studies as we speak.” She is also active in Durban with K-Cap and the Playhouse, organising acting lessons for learners, students and the youth. “In Kwa-Mashu I am lucky to be sponsored by Duma Ndlovu of Generations and Muvhango fame in pursuing my ambitions. I want the lids to do it on their doorstep rather than going to Johannesburg where they end up sleeping on the streets chasing their dreams.”

For Amanda it is work in progress, she asserts, sighing. “Work comes first. I do all my research thoroughly. I am disciplined and I try to emphasise the results of being disciplined in my students. Talent is not enough, they always say, and that is the truth.” She says you will always under achieve if you have no direction in whatever you are doing. She has seen talented, dedicated actors fall by the way side because they relied on drugs to stimulate themselves. “Such a pity, because I looked up to some of them for inspiration. I don’t do drugs, and hope I will never be tempted to.” She says it is all because of pressure. “There is too much pressure in the industry but if your life skills are not developed then you will end up taking stimulants and heading quickly to the scrap heap and your sell-by date. Junkies don’t last.”

She won her first and only award so far in her first year of study at Sibikwa when she won ‘Best Actor’ in the Shashalaza Awards which were organised by the Gauteng provincial’s department of arts and culture. That ward propelled her to dizzy heights.

Amnda, the look of yester year 

Now she has set her sights on becoming a business woman of note.  “I am always looking for excellence.” It is the urge to do somethi9ng challenging, something stronger, something personal, that drives her to the North Star. It is this desire to ascend the milestones that she has no inclination to put brakes on her shining star.  

Amanda..!

LIBRARY. She provides chances to read

There are so many occupations that give practitioners a lot of joy and contentment. Often, these occupations are perceived as boring. Take librarianship for instance. Not many learners aspire to be one, let alone be aware of this exciting occupation. But according to LOUISE VOS, a librarian of somegood standing, this is a career to die for. She has been a book worm forever in her lifetime, and she relishes everything about it. Here she speaks to Thembi Masser about her love for reading and her passion to foster a reading culture into the hearts of the communities that live near the libraries she supervises in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council.

Vos (nee Du Plooy) says librarians build people, build careers, communities and nations.  Librarians are public servants that are at the centre of knowledge. They make sure that publications with the correct and right information are available at any given time in the library. Therefore, they not only dispense books and issue fines when books are returned late, but they promote reading and organises out reach programmes. They are also good in dealing with difficult customers.

She is a coordinator of libraries in the west of Ekurhuleni region: these libraries are in Eden Park, Thokoza, Palmridge, Zonkezizwe, Bracken, Alberton, Germiston and Leondale. She makes sure that budgets are adhered to and that enough books are stocked and the libraries are well-run. But she has been a librarian for most of her life. She was at the Boksburg library for most of the 20 years and, in fact, helped plan its foundations after being hauled out her maternity break.

She is well-experienced librarian; she has done no other job since leaving the campus of the University of the Orange Free State, where she did her B.Bibl. for four years at that time. It is a four year course at universities across South Africa. In the fourth year students are required to do practical work at libraries to prepare them for their arduous but enjoyable work to nurture communities, she says. When they have qualified then they can work as librarians of , teachers, IT specialists and lecturers. They can also work at centres of knowledge.

 Vos, who is now 56, says this is the nicest occupation in the world. No other day is the replica of the other. “You are challenged in this job,” she remarks. “You can never rest on your laurels because readers have different demands and as such, you must always be willing to help them out and solve their perceived concerns.” If you though librarians are desk bound, then think again. “There you are wrong. They must have their fingers on the pulses of the readers and the communities they serve. You must understand their culture so that when you plan out reach programmes and awareness campaigns then you speak to their emotions.” Librarians have a huge task to teach communities how to use books and libraries. “If you don’t like people then well, don’t be a librarian.”

In addition, librarians organises book exhibitions apart from making books and publications accessible. “One of the most rewarding experiences is that of going out to encourage teenagers to read. You know how that lot is during that period. It is a pity, she points out, that libraries and the education sector have no SLA- standard level agreement-  with schools. “That is really unfortunate because school media centres are depleted; they have no books at all. We really would like to work with media centres and schools.”

Librarians work in municipal libraries,  but they can also work at museums, specialised libraries and at universities and school libraries. Specialised libraries are those found at private companies like , the CSSIR  and other big companies, like the one Harry Oppenheimer has  . South Africa has four national libraries. they  are holding libraries. These are in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg. Everything that is printed in the country is kept at these libraries.

She went to be a Kovsie after matriculating at Orange Meisie Skool in Bloemfontein. Even before she arrived at school to do sub A she always loved reading, staring at books whenever she was within reach of them. She remembers that her father, a teacher, wanted to be the only one to teach her to read before she went to school. But she was in a hurry and asked for the services of the illiterate domestic help, Masnuque, to guide her. When a book salesman passed bytheir farm selling an eight volume encyclopaedia called  Children of the World, she ordered it on the spot,  her father bought  it for her and she has since read every word in the 8 volumes before she was in grade 5

Mmakgosi, as she is known in the district of Theunissen and Brandfort in the Free State where she was born and bred, is driven up to this age by the words of her former principal at Orange Meisie Skool, where she used her maiden name, Du Plooy. The late Ms Spies taugh her to always reach higher than she thought was possible. Ms spies said:  ‘Reach for the stars, you might  reach the tree tops’.     

LIBRARY. South Africans don’t dig deep for information

Thembi Masser

Making decisions about careers and which field of occupation to follow is not an easy matter. Especially in South Africa where the majority of black Africans have no guiding light to shine in their way, either at schools or at home. But Glad Khoza, an information scientist graduate, was lucky. Her lecturer gave her valuable advice when all was gloom and dark for her. But now it is, like they say in the movies, mission accomplished.

There was not much advice Glad received from her high school in Mkhuhlu, Hobo Secondary, so she went to the University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus very much in the dark about the law degree she so much wanted to do. Even at school, the subjects she chose where no where related to the law studies she envisaged to delve in later in her life. She liked life orientation out of curiosity, it was interesting. And her teacher made easy to understand, he was not complicated. Her other subjects included history, agriculture, life sciences, mathematical literature and languages, English and Xitonga.

  

After her matric Glad, 22 now, went to the university to apply to study law but to her horror, applications for the law faculty were already closed. “I stood there with my hands on head,” she recalls. All the spaces available for law students were already filled up. So she settled for the smallest class she could find, information science. “But now I am not bitter about the switch, I love information science.”

She says you study information science to be information professional.  It is four years of study. She is now in her fourth year and is doing research at public libraries across the country. She will also do further practical work at her campus library.

“This year our class is the smallest ever, probably in all the universities in South Africa,” she laughs. There is only 76 of us, and the authorities always remind us that it is the biggest ever.”  One of their lecturers, Rachel Mahlatji, offered advice in their first when they still rookies. She was aware that they were disillusioned, hijacked into a class because there was plenty of space available for registration. But her students had no clue what information science was, only glad to be university students. She said, “Do your level best in this profession, you will not be sorry.” So they put their shoulders to the wheel and soldiered on.”  Ms Mahlatji said at the time the country needed cataloger and classifiers, and if we did well, there will not be unemployed, never.”

A cataloger is a person who catalogues library materials and a classifier classifies library material as well.  But you can work anywhere with this degree. Her studies have opened her eyes to very disturbing information- South Africans do not consume information at all. “What is happening is not even the tip of an iceberg. People do not dig deep to find information and to explore it. We stick with what we know and we do not examine and too much issues that confront us.”

Glad is happy at the moment, a far cry from the beginning of her studies at university. She started her education at the Saringwa primary then proceeded to Hobo Senior in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga.   

EXPORTS CONTROLLER. Dasheka aims beyond the skies

By Gcobisa Siga 
Dasheka is now an Exports Controller for one of the most dominating transport companies in Johannesburg called Marine Transport Services.When asked why she changed occupations she said that she felt the need for growth both professionally and financially. “There was no growth where I was and I needed new challenges in different aspects including money because as you grow you have more responsibilities.” This change has also improved her mental state as she is no longer narrow minded and is now flexible and open to new ideas. 

As an exports controller, Dasheka follows up with clients once she receives containers that carry the goods they transport to the Johannesburg depot and gets vessel/ship details from the client. She makes sure that the containers are moved from Johannesburg to the Durban terminal and are stacked into a vessel within the time given. 

She must also make sure that the drivers are at the correct terminals and that the container locks correspond and if the container is stacked under the correct bookings. When all that is cleared, the containers move to the other side of the world. Sometimes one vessel/ship she has to stack has about 70 containers, she must check every single container that is stacked and she doesn’t deal with just one vessel a day. This is what makes her job challenging.l a day. This is what makes her job challenging.

GEMSTONES. The jewel of beauties

Gem stones are the world’s most precious commodities. But just imagine being surrounded by them everyday of your working life. To work with them, touch them, caress them and mould them must be an ultimate wish we would die for. But just imagine being a jewel among these stones yourself. MOTSHEDISI MASHAPHA is Lichaba Creations’ most precious jewel. She has developed a line of products that have taken the company up with the best in the country. She speaks to Thembi Masser about her diamonds in the skies occupation.

Motshedisi, 27, is the creative beads and jewellery designer. The company (www.lichabajewellryhub.co.za), based in central Johannesburg, has branches elsewhere in the country and is owned by the renowned self-made entrepreneur, Max Moeketsi Lichaba. They were recently in the news. His company revamped the old Gauteng Sports Awards trophy this year.    

“I design for queens and kings,” Motshedisi enthuses. Indeed, she is held in high esteem at Lichaba Creations. She established an exciting bead work range for kids, teenagers and young adults. This brought a smile to her manager, Judy Raikane. “This allows us to fight in the most lucrative market any one who has their marbles would like to dabble in, the youth section. That is where the smart money is,” Raikane remarks. “Motshedisi has beads in her feet.”

Motshedisi has been stead fast about her occupation straight from school. She enrolled for a jewellery making course soon after her matric. She spent six months at the Harmony Jewellery School honing her creative skills. She says there is not so much theory at the school. “We use our creative minds and hands there,” she says. “We did not play much there.”

She is proud that she creates adornments that enhance human beauty. “I feel pride in my heart when I see customers ogling my creations in our display cabinets. When they ask, ‘Who made this?’, my heart trembles with joy and when they finally walk out with my creation in their bags or dangling from their hands or necks I pat my own back in joy.”     

The beads for kids, teenagers and the youth market have proved to be a popular range as well. “This range is going to take the market by storm once it is rolled out in the near future” Raikane predicts. “When Motshedisi came with the idea we knew it was going very hard to say no to her. She is stubbornly insistent but joy to work with. She thinks out of the box.” When Raikane arrived at Lichaba Motshedisi was in another section, called the incubator. But Raikane felt Motshedisi was wasting her tremendous talents nurturing products: she was excellent in creating them. “So I moved her .She has a gift in designing and conceptualising products, and strong in bead work.”

Motshedisi went to Harmony primary before finishing her studies at the Harmony high school where she was not strong in literature. “I am not great in that department, but working with my hands fascinates me and gives me joy.”  At school she was comfortable with chemistry, accounting, maths and English. The first three gave me the chance to create, explore and try different methods in doing things, she explains. “I don’t intend to stop here at Lichaba Creations. I need to go over to New York, Paris and elsewhere to display my handiwork.” She says she is passionate in creating bangles and male rings. “I love male fingers,” she says, laughing out loud. “Especially when they are manly.”

Thabo Lichaba, the human resources manager, is full of admiration for Motshedisi. He says Motshedisi likes what she is doing. “She is utterly competent. She is full of ideas, she is loyal and she is an important asset.’ He says they have been buoyed by the beautiful designs she has come up with and customers like her solid bead work. 

Here is some of Motshedisi's brilliant handiwork. Stunning, isn't it?

Contemplation...deep in thought as she creates yet another masterpiece

CHEF.TEACHING HOW TO COOK

By David Monyebodi
During her mid primary school years, Hlokota would gather kids (her peers and younger) around at her house after school hours to share some knowledge with them and the other way around.

Initially during her career decision there were two careers she had conceived in her mind; becoming a dietitian or a teacher. However, her second option became a reality. Having had done hotel keeping and catering at high school became advantageous to her decision making on studying towards hospitality studies which she studied for four years. She’s been a lecturer at an FET college since 2008, where she teaches hospitality studies. Teaching, motivating, guiding, assessing and facilitating students is her job and she believes that dedicating more of her time to her students “makes it easy to work with them” and they understand her even better as much as she does with them; given the fact that people have their own differences regarding their backgrounds and or their nature of understanding. Hlokota never wanted to work at basic education level schools but prefers higher education instead as she believes that the course demands more resources as it is too practical and at tertiary institutions the facilities are mostly available than at basic schools.

Despite the fact that they are at a training centre, her students take their learning seriously and professional as they are able to secure huge offers at professional level; where they are able to cater for big and small functions, both within and outside campus for ministers and or private and government officials. The support and understanding she received from her mother during her studies encouraged her to become even more persistent as the road was not smooth at all, more especially their mentors were so negative and discouraging back in the days. Today she has turned things differently from what she used to get, she encourages her students to never lose hope no matter what challenges they may come across. In 2011 and 2012, Hlokota managed to raise a bar by scoring 98 and 100% pass rate with her students in the subjects she teaches.. “I have a very supportive husband” she said, which she believes is a good thing and would do justice to her passion.

Like any other field, hospitality is very broad and one can branch into other professions within it and it is forever growing and the education system has come to the recognition of the constant growth and need for it to be equivalent to varsity level. Other related careers that one can pursue within the field are; hotel management, entrepreneurship (depending on one’s experience) just to mention a few. Hlokota’s advice is that one should dig deeper into their goals before making any final decisions as they may discover a lot more to their aspired goals and see things differently

SUSHI CHEF. Sushi in the Hood

By David Monyebodi

Whiles studying towards a hotel management qualification for two years, Modikoane fell in love with the kitchen, he then focused on professional cookery which he did as an internationally recognized qualification. He then went out to work for big names; Southern Sun Group, Garden Court, Royal Mnandi Food Service Company just to mention a few. Modikoane also ensures that the marketing and entertainment departments at the restaurant are running smooth as they are the key roles to keep the business going. Having served his time in the field, it became much easier for him to juggle his collective responsibilities respectively.

Besides his creative cooking, Modikoane also empowers varsity students as well as the youth at large even those who do not have cooking experience but are interested in the field by offering them an opportunity not only to learn how to cook but to also earn some pocket money. The reason he decided to bring the flavor home (in the township) was that he saw that there’s a very huge market in the neighborhood, however, he doesn’t do things by book (cooking books) but comes up with his own recipes just to explore with food that he believes are doing justice to his vision; which is to do what others are not doing.

Modikoane is a very dedicated businessman and only gets one day off in a week, and that is on Monday’s where he has to make sure he focuses on his personal life. Tuesday is the review day; to ensure he delivers quality and or meet his customer’s needs, Modikoane engages with them on social networks where most of the customers would give feedback regarding the service at the restaurant. After going through constructive contributions from the responses, they then gather as management and the staff on Wednesdays to discuss and brainstorm over new strategies to improve their services with immediate effect.” One complaint can actually kill the business, so I make it a point that if I receive certain complaints, on the following day they should be attended to and dealt with.” The versatile individual ensures that on Thursdays all deliveries are received from suppliers in preparation for the weekend, as it is the busiest business time of the week for Mlando Restaurant.

“Friday I come in the morning, I start my day at 9am that is when I start cooking.” He also spends much time with his students assisting them with whichever assistance necessary and or they may be in need of at work. Starting from Friday till Sunday, they have six (6) part time individuals who come in to work every weekend therefore Modikoane also ensures that he gives them the whole cycle regarding dealing with customers as well as cooking lessons. Seeing the scarcity of jobs in the country due to “lack of experience” and many other related reasons hindering most people from getting their dream jobs, Modikane guarantees his students jobs after their completion at varsity and or any other training facilities.

INNOVATION. A young innovator and entreprenuer

By James Mahlokwane 

The 23 year old from Soweto, shares with us his experience and lessons from his venture in IT. On an interview, Ndlovu said “My mother forced me to enroll with PC Training & Business College after I took a gab year to teach myself animation. 

She was afraid that I would be unemployed; she thought it was essential that I get a Degree or Diploma. Today I thank her for that push because I am able co-ordinate my animation skills with my computer communication skills to create computer programs.” Ndlovu sees IT to be very influential to changing the world we live in, his favorite IT field is Programming. He added that “programming is the engine of technology because with programming you need to understand all of the other IT fields, for instance, you cannot program software for a network device without the background knowledge of Networks. Programing is more than just breaking large problems to simpler formats; it requires Human Computer Interaction type of knowledge.”

“The IT world is very advantageous, the more you learn the more you develop abilities to solve problems and have an open mind. It gives hope about what does not yet exist. The pride of knowing that you know how to communicate with computers is a blessing.”But like any coin, IT has two sides; Ndlovu adds that “A day in the IT world is like a month if not a year in the real world. Today you are the most honored, tomorrow the new kid comes and you and your work will be forgotten especially if you were not relevant enough. 

You need to grasp as much information as possible because the IT world revolves every minute if not every second. Even the simplest things are not easy to create; it is easy to press “B” on your keyboard and it appears on the screen but imagine what it takes to program a computer to do that.” In an effort to build himself a career, last year this young intellect began designing and programming SPHERENET; a hybrid system that comes with several solutions (social network, file sharing and cloud computing), giving people an ability to incorporate all of that. “It is more than just a social network; it is both personal and professional, creating an environment for individualism and group based activities” he said.

The spherenet changed Ndlovu’s life after people who heard about it began to use it. He recently moved out of his mother’s house to live with a business partner, Raymond, in Diepsloot; the place is turned into a working station. Allegedly Spherenet was blocked by the University of Johannesburg on 22 May 2013 after sending thousands of invites to UJ students. His business partner called UJ to speak to an IT guy and it was unblocked.

According to Ndlovu there are no compulsory fundamental prerequisites necessary to be an IT professional, all you need is an open mind and the ability to keep learning more and more. Furthermore, “IT does not feel like a profession, it feels like a hobby or something that I need to do, just like breathing; that is the fun part I guess, and I enjoy that.”

. CAREERS. Challenges did not deter Mpembe

Having gone to township basic education, the political interruptions at the time didn’t hinder him from following his dream in media. He expanded his education to study towards an Advance Management course with Wits University and also took a short media courses at IAG.

Mpembe put to practice his management skills as marketing manager for the then Tri-Tech which is now known as VUT FM. “At Tri-Tech, my lecturer saw a lot of potential in me and encouraged me to become active in the media”, he added. His role as station manager is to oversee the overall operation of the station. Here we look at aspects like media and public relations which including coordinating with stake holders (churches, businesses and the community), the authority (ICASA) and other managers (programmes manager, sales and marketing manager, production and technical manager) as well as the board.

As a leader, one comes across certain challenges of which Mpembe confessed that it is indeed a mission to deal with people and their differences in terms of delivery at work in their respective roles; however, he always encourages his staff to exchange skills and share knowledge and ideas as a way to empower one another, “we circulate knowledge” he said. According to Mpembe, if one aspires to pursue a career in this profession, the key things are to listen, study, and be self-disciplined and get good management skills in order to be able to work

Having gone to township basic education, the political interruptions at the time didn’t hinder him from following his dream in media. He expanded his education to study towards an Advance Management course with Wits University and also took a short media courses at IAG.

Mpembe put to practice his management skills as marketing manager for the then Tri-Tech which is now known as VUT FM. “At Tri-Tech, my lecturer saw a lot of potential in me and encouraged me to become active in the media”, he added. His role as station manager is to oversee the overall operation of the station. Here we look at aspects like media and public relations which including coordinating with stake holders (churches, businesses and the community), the authority (ICASA) and other managers (programmes manager, sales and marketing manager, production and technical manager) as well as the board.

As a leader, one comes across certain challenges of which Mpembe confessed that it is indeed a mission to deal with people and their differences in terms of delivery at work in their respective roles; however, he always encourages his staff to exchange skills and share knowledge and ideas as a way to empower one another, “we circulate knowledge” he said. According to Mpembe, if one aspires to pursue a career in this profession, the key things are to listen, study, and be self-disciplined and get good management skills in order to be able to work with and for the community.

In explanation to the station’s success, Mpembe said that they do not compete but they penetrate into other geographical areas that are home to other community radio stations which makes their station unique and even extends its market. Recent South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) shows that, Kasie FM 97.1 stands at 200 000 listenership, which puts it at the top three in the Gauteng Province and Mpembe, with a big smile says those are the results of team work.ows that, Kasie FM 97.1 stands at 200 000 listenership, which puts it at the top three in the Gauteng Province and Mpembe, with a big smile says those are the results of team work.am work.