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Unisa continues to recognise – and support – talent among staff

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Unisa continues to be proactive and responsive to capacity challenges through recognising, reskilling and upskilling individuals in order to match their work with their talents. This is affirmed by Lynette Naidoo, Acting Director: Organisational Development and Human Resource Information Systems. Naidoo explains that the university has embarked on harnessing the unique strengths and talents of each individual to drive innovation and achieve collective success.

She continues: “This is achieved through ongoing coaching, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities. Through such initiatives, the university’s employees are better equipped to excel in their roles, adapt to evolving challenges, and contribute meaningfully to the university's mission and objectives through purpose-driven work. This is facilitated through key programmes such as the Human Resources (HR) Talent Management and job-shadowing initiatives.”

Among the many individuals who benefited from these initiatives is Phathutshedzo Mashamba.

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Phathutshedzo Mashamba engaged in his passion-driven craft

Joining Protection Services

Mashamba grew up in Ha-Mashu village, Limpopo province. Throughout his upbringing, he was always curious about how electricity works. He enjoyed fixing electrical appliances, eventually becoming the go-to person when his household’s lights needed fixing.

Mashamba says growing up he detested violence and crime, and this led to his desire to join Unisa’s Protection Services Directorate, albeit holding an N3 Electrical Engineering qualification from Tshwane Institute of Technology, which he earned in 2015. He explains: “I started working at Unisa as a security officer in 2012, insourced by Red Alert security company as a temporary security officer.  From 2017, I was insourced by the university and given a permanent post at the Protection Services Directorate.

Through Talent Management, Mashamba’s skill set and passion for installing and fixing electrical equipment was recognised, and on 18 March 2024 he was appointed as an electrician in the Facilities Management Department.

Purpose-driven work

Through Talent Management, Mashamba says he feels he is now operating in his element – working with electricity. He adds that working for the university brings him immense joy, particularly given its reputable global stature and its approach in recognising, reskilling and upskilling talented individuals to align their work with their talents. “This,” he says, “empowered me to take ownership of my contribution towards the university.”

Primary objectives in his new role

His primary objective, he says, is to fix electrical faults that arise within the institution. He adds that he attends to electrical faults, and any appliances and equipment that need fixing. He states that his approach to work involves a mix of innovation and creativity, keeping up with the latest trends, and bringing in fresh ideas and implementing them.

Message to talent management

Mashaba says he is grateful for the university’s Talent Management team for the opportunity to transfer from Protection Services to Facilities Management. He adds that he encourages them to continue recognising the invaluable talent that the university’s employees have that can make meaningful contributions in other sections of the university. “Talent Management should continue to help other employees who have qualifications that are not matched to their field, to get to the relevant sections or departments,” he adds. “They made it possible for me to realise my dream in becoming an electrician for the largest university in Africa.”

Concluding his message, Mashaba say he has pledged to keep working hard. From his appointment day, he says he began envisioning strategies to ensure that power outages across the university become a thing of the past, through innovative strategies and inventiveness.

*By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2024-11-15 00:00:00.0

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