CDS Interns equipped with CV writing skills

On Thursday, 14 September 2017 Career Development Services and Open learning (CDS & OL) interns were presented with a chance to attend a Curriculum Vitae (CV) writing workshop. This workshop was organised by the office of the Director of Career Development Services & Open Learning, Ms Trudi van Wyk. The session was held at office number 326.

For the current financial year, the Career Development Services has 10 interns. The session is aimed at forming an effective workforce and part of that is to develop intern’s professional CV writing skills.

This is a great timing as one of the Career Development Service’s main focus is to assist all individuals to make educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers. But without a good well written CV, it is not easy for people to attract suitable employers, and it is for this reason that the CDS interns were invited to this kind of a workshop session.

Ms Trudi van Wyk says that CV writing should be taken very seriously because it gives the job applicant a chance to make a good impression on a potential employer.  “A top-quality CV will considerably boost your chance of getting a face-to-face interview, so it is worth spending time and effort on the content and presentation. It will make all the difference in obtaining the position you want. You must therefore highlight your skills, expertise and value”. She said.
She also encouraged the interns to start the process of applying now rather than to wait until it is too late. “This is the most important session, and by now you must have started with the process of applying for jobs because the process of getting employment takes too long”. She indicated.

CDS interns were visibly happy with the chance presented to them as they were engaging the director with a lot of interesting questions regarding CV writing and the job application process.

One of the interns Vutomi Hlungwane expressed his excitement. ‘‘The workshop was very helpful, and it will really help me in making sure that my CV continues to standout going forward. What made the workshop more exciting is that the facilitator gave us a chance to ask as many questions as possible and she answered all the questions that we asked, and was very patient’’. He said.
Ms van Wyk is adamant to further equip interns with more sessions in order for them to get prepared for work environment in a professional set-up. Next she is planning to organise more sessions on electronic (Social Media Management) profiles and job interview sessions.

CDS INTERNS MEET THE DDG OF CORPORATE SERVICES AT THE ORIENTATION

Career Development Services (CDS) new interns attended the orientation that was organised by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that took two days from the 13-14 June 2017 at the Ditsong museum.

The new DHET staff met with the Deputy Director General (DDG) of Corporate Services Ms. Lulama Mbobo during 1st day of the orientation. Most of the new staff, with the CDS interns included were meeting the DDG for the first time. The Deputy Director General took time out of her busy schedule to address the new employees and she was more emphatic on the values of the department. She was also on her way to Cape Town on the day.

Deputy Director General (DDG) of Corporate Services Ms. Lulama Mbobo addressing new employees during orientation

She encouraged the new recruits to always remember the values of the Department of Higher Education and Training, and she said it was very important for everyone to practice these values. She also reminded everyone that by practising values of the DHET will enable the new recruits to learn as fast as possible and they will be a good workforce to take over the leadership roles from the current management. The DDG further encouraged new employees to learn and fully understand the vision, mission as well as the mandate of the organisation as that will help them do their job effectively and efficiently.

New recruits observing a moment of prayer to officially open the orientation session.
Career Development Services interns, Zanele Lamola, Mxolisi Ngongoma, Vutomi Hlungwane, Trivor Kekane, Surprise Lesufi, Dimakatso Thantsha, Precious Nkadimeng Itumeleng Modise and Delmond Maloka attended the orientation.

Remember Nkhona waves goodbye to CDS

The Career Development Services and Open Learning directorate paid tribute to Mr. Remember Nkhona on Thursday, 15 June 2017. This was to celebrate the time he has spent serving the directorate and the department of Higher Education and Training as a whole.

Remember has been working under the tutelage of Mr. Mokeki as his personal assistant (PA) since 2015. Mr. Mokek gave a heartfelt thank you speech to Mr.Remember Nkhona for his continued hard work. He described the farewell as a bitter-sweet moment and also said Remember has changed the perception when it comes to male PA’s. “It is a bitter-sweet moment to lose someone like Remember, he has changed my view when it comes to PA’s because before him I have only known women serving as PA’s, but Remember did everything that I used to think only female PA’s were capable of doing”.

Mr. Mokeki further accentuated that Remember was a true professional who is destined for greatness . “Remember has always been carrying himself as a professional and he is destined for greatness. This is why I am happy to let him go because I know he will do greater things wherever he goes”. He concluded.

The CDS team, managers, colleagues and friends described Remember as someone who was very special to them and as a man who was making things happen when it comes to his work. Acoording to the CDS members, Remember was very important in the role he played as he was one of the great leaders , and they lamented his exit as a great loss to the team.

Rember believes that the Career Development Services has been a great family in his life and this is one of the reasons he was dedicated to his work. “What I can say is that I have developed love for my work and that is why everything seemed so easy, but I will continue to work hard’’. He disclosed.

Remember has a captivating tale to his career that is rarely heard of in a work environment. He said that the Colossians 3; 23 have been keeping him going, hence he does his work whole heartedly. Remember also gave the words of gratitude to the team for everything they have done to make him happy. He acknowledged  that if it was not for this directorate he would not be moving to the same direction he is taking right now, but the CDS prepared him for the journey .  He added,  “thank you so much for all your contributions, expression of love and care in my life. You are all special to me and wish all best of blessings’’.

Mr. Remember Nkhona started working for the Career Development Services team in 2015 after joining from the Department of health.

Exploring dune plants with the Pondoland CREW

Thursday, 20/04/2017
Exploring dune plants with the Pondoland CREW 

The Mzamba Blue Flag Beach Stewards asked the Pondoland CREW team to help identify the plants in the working area, as the objective is to achieve the Blue Flag status by meeting certain criterions. The two main criterion that are important in this regard is Environmental management and Environmental information. The Mzamba Blue Flag Beach Stewards team, Phakamani Mfathu, Mxolisi Ngongoma and Wendy Bongwana,  together we put the CREW in the picture of what the project is trying to achieve. The Pondoland CREW team was asked to provide guidance on the plants in this area, from the perspective of identifying important indigenous plants, protecting the existing dune forest plants in the case of any construction, as well as removal of invasive alien plants. This will also help in environmental management of sensitive areas and also to display the plants on the information board in order to educate the community and beach visitors.

After the CREW was  given the background to the project, everyone set off at the Lagoon and headed northwards along the interface between the dunes and the dune forest.  This section is invaded by dense stands alien invasive plants with Lantana camara being one of them.

We also came across a number of dune specialists - Lablab purpureus, Carpobrotus dimidiatus and Ipomoea pes-caprae, Cynanchum amongst others.

Carpobrotus dimidiatus

Phakamani presenting information about the project to the CREW 

Aloa thraskii 

There was huge improvement on the condition of dune forest once we passed the access from the main resort complex to the beach, and there were far fewer invasive aliens present, there was only a couple of them being isolated. The CREW further advised that “it would be a good idea for the construction to focus on the area between the hotel access point and the  River mouth in the south, particularly as there are two existing structures in this area”. They also added that it will be an additional benefit if any reconstruction in this area is accompanied by efforts to rehabilitate the dune forest and remove the invasive alien plants.

Mzamba Beach Stewards hiking along the coast

Mzamba Beach Stewards taking tour along The coast
Date: 14/03/17

The Mzamba Beach Stewards attended a coastal meeting that was held at Zikhuba hall on the 9th of March 2017. As Beach Stewards we presented our work to the municipality, coastal members and other relevant stakeholders. The Node co-ordinator, Lizeka Gqumani was also part of this meeting. Ablutions for Mzamba beach have been approved as this was confirmed by Mbizana Local Municipality’s environmental officer during the coastal same meeting.

The coastal meeting also touched on the coastal tour preparations and the purpose was to keep everyone updated about the departing time. On the 14th of March 2017 we attended a coastal tour with the municipality, trusts along the coast and other stakeholders. This was a long walk along the coast to see our beaches.

 People walking at Mnyameni beach during coastal tour.

During the coastal tour that we had we have learnt about different types of mangroves and sensitive areas that need to be protected. This tour showed us amazing sights of wild places, hidden valleys, Crystal streams with secluded water falls, towering cliffs, pounding seas and everywhere a range of beautiful plants(both rare and common).