All in a day’s work

When Sgogodela Babadu arrives to work each morning, she is ready to face a throng of 250 to 300 persons three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ensuring that her team meets the needs of hundreds of conference goers is all in a day’s work for the thirty-five-year old restaurant manager at the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre.

“You have to be self-confident. I find the courage to do my job… I’d also say that one should have wisdom. And that’s what I ask from God before leaving home for work,” said Babadu who has worked at the hotel for 13 years.

The restaurant manager added that it is important to be patient and understanding towards the clients as the job requires offering the best services possible.

There are many people behind the scenes ensuring that the third annual Gender Justice and Local Government Summit runs smoothly for the 280 participants at the Kopanong, located in Benoni in Johannesburg. The hotel’s young staff is busy every month of the year, except for in December, when companies and organisations shut down their activities for the year.

Banquet supervisor Mpho Moyo says he can handle anything and any problem, because he loves his job, which allows him to meet different people from different countries. “I learn lots from them. Moreover, it is my job at the hotel that gives me such an opportunity. I love the work that I am doing.

“It is not a hard nut to crack to find solutions to problems. I believe that all issues can be resolved,” Moyo says.

While no problem is too big for Moyo, the Kopanong’s housekeeping manager, Oscar Kheswa, admits that it is hard to satisfy everyone, “particularly because we’re a small group in charge of the housekeeping of all the chalets. It also becomes difficult to recruit casuals (part-time cleaners). Nonetheless, we owe our success to good job planning.”

The Kopanong’s female security officer, Sheryl Dilebo, says she has a “tranquil” job assisting clients and visitors, as well as ensuring that guests enjoy the best security possible. While there are times when the job gets hectic, Dilebo says when things are quiet, “I treat myself with a walk up to the pond which happens to just be in front of my post. I look at the ducks and fishes swimming about.”

Efficiency, friendliness, promptness and the ability to handle any kind of situation are the ideals to which Adelaide Majhobuwa, the reception manager, says she sticks to. “We should put ourselves in the shoes of the client and try to grasp his/her expectations in order to deliver to the best of our capabilities. At times, we have in front of us people difficult to deal with, but it is our duty to serve them.”

Priyadarshinee Luckoo is a journalist with Defi Media Group in Mauritius. This article is part of GL Opinion and Commentary Service, special news and analysis series of Gender Justice and Local Government Summit.