Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, conferred 150 Service Employees Training Certificates to the graduates from the 970 ‘Service Employees’ who were insourced by the University in 2017.

The University embarked on an insourcing project in 2017 and this was concluded last year with close to 1000 cleaners, gardeners and security officers being insourced. The employees were trained in a number of different courses such as financial literacy, supervisory and team leadership skills.

Nhlapo said service workers were the engine room of the University and play a critical role in keeping operations running. “This is never more evident that at the big graduation ceremonies that we host twice a year.” He added that the ceremony marked a significant achievement and the culmination of a great deal of work.

“I am always so proud when I drive into campus and see the pristine gardens, the graduation hall looking immaculate and the floors of the Administration building shining. We are showing the parents and visitors the best that we have to offer when our departments work together like that. We truly are One Smart CPUT.

“For some of you, today may be the first time you are wearing a graduation robe. I hope it inspires you to continue improving yourself through the multitude of learning and development opportunities on offer at CPUT.”

Meanwhile, Human Capital Director, Ncediwe Qomoyi, said they conducted a skills analysis with the different categories of staff to ascertain the skills and knowledge required.

Qomoyi said it was evident that most of the insourced staff had not been privileged to training before, and that the Human Capital’s Learning and Development Unit developed a skills strategy highlighting the skills needed for all categories of staff.

The unit managed to have about 150 service employees trained in a number of different training courses. “I would like to congratulate each of you for this significant accomplishment; you and your families should be proud of what you have accomplished,” said Qomoyi. “You are entering into one of the most exciting and important fields that exists in the life today and that is developing yourself.”

She thanked the Vice-Chancellor, the two directors, Marius Hull and Gavin Solomons and especially the trainees for investing in their learning.

In addition to the number of training opportunities offered by the Learning and Development Unit, there is a group of 50 staff enrolled in the matric program and 35 staff in the Adult Education Training program.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ncediwe Qomoyi, Director: Human Capital Operations and Services, challenges women to grab opportunities presented to them and not to look down on themselves.

“Women need to stand up and work hard in supporting each other and not work against each other. In doing that, we will together turn any hindrances we are facing to opportunities,” she remarks.   Qomoyi believes that empowering women addresses issues of the past and transforms our mind-set to ensure gender equality and inclusivity.   

“Women are strong and can survive any obstacle placed before them. What we have to do, including myself, is to realise that we are wonderfully and fearfully made.”

Born in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, Qomoyi, through the financial assistance of her community and church members, managed to obtain a BTech in Commercial Administration at Border Technikon, now Walter Sisulu University.  “My parents struggled to see us succeed in life… That alone made me want to achieve and do it for them. Unfortunately, my father passed on in the same year I was doing my matric and so my mother took the responsibility of ensuring that I further my studies,” she recalls.

The church leader continues: “Both my parents never went to school… During those days parenting was not done by one’s biological parents only but by the whole community [who] cared about our childhood... This shaped me into what I am today.”

Her first job was at African Bank as a Personnel Secretary and then she was employed by Border Technikon as a Personnel Clerk. She was later promoted to Personnel Officer and eventually to a Human Resources (HR) Generalist.  From 2002 -2004, the Technikon granted her a scholarship to study in Australia where she obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management and further completed a Master of Business Administration at University of Newcastle.

On her return, she was promoted to Senior HR Practitioner and three years later she was employed at CPUT as HR Manager. Qomoyi also believes commitment, dedication, perseverance and loyalty took her to where she is today.  “As a result, I had acted several times in the Executive HR roles at CPUT for longer and shorter periods.”

However, she admits that it had never been easy to be part of such high-level leadership of the Institution, “but I thank God that I persevered. I had been in hot spots and high-level institutional platforms and I managed. I am proud to say, now I hold this post [since April 2019].”  Qomoyi manages close to 30 staff members and deals with many stakeholders regarding human capital matters.

She says CPUT, through the Learning and Development Unit in Human Capital, has made good strides in empowering its staff.  “We currently have good programmes which cut across all levels.  We have provided coaching and mentoring programmes, Women in leadership programmes e.g. HERS-SA Academy, Leadership development training for directors and many more.” 

Despite her demanding job, she is currently studying towards her second Master’s degree in Labour Law with the University of the Western Cape, “Although it’s difficult and challenging, I am still determined to pursue a PhD.”

She says the representation of women in leadership is something “we still need to work on together and I am glad to be part of a department that is one of the key stakeholders of transformation in CPUT”.   

“The institutions of higher learning should trust their own and strive to ensure that they are mentored and coached to achieve.  Successful leaders regularly speak about the advice they had received from those who walked the walk before."  

 *For the duration of Women’s Month, we will be profiling several high profile CPUT women whose achievements and activities help us to become One SMART CPUT.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.