Service smiles for Unisa staffers

State-of-the art systems aside, the human touch remains key at Unisa, an institution servicing more students than any other on the continent. Many staff members go the extra mile to ensure that students enjoy a quality experience when enrolling at Unisa. Three of these unsung heroes recently singled out for praise by students are Mr Sifanelo Magubane, Mr Muswa Ranwedzi and Mr Riekert Liebenberg.

Mr Sifanelo Magubane (KZN Regional Service Manager)

Meryl van Wyk wrote to the university to acknowledge the outstanding service Mr Magubane is providing at the Unisa Wild Coast Sun offices in KwaZulu-Natal. “My two daughters and I have completed or are in the process of completing six different qualifications with Unisa,” she wrote. “Initially we travelled +/- 120km to the Durban offices with queries and often left frustrated without answers. We then discovered the Port Edward offices led by the professional, knowledgeable and empathetic manager, Mr Magubane. He has advised and guided my daughters with career and subject choices, resolved administrative issues and assisted with annual medical aid requirements. The reason that I wished to bring this to the attention of Unisa is that Mr Magubane is marketing your University to a level whereby Unisa has become the institution of choice for many in our district. As a Deputy Chief Education Specialist in our Department of Education District offices, I work with students at various levels of their tertiary education. Each one that I have referred to Mr Magubane, has reported that he had assisted them. He embodies the values of your institution and is certainly ‘shaping futures in the service of humanity’. We look forward to future studies under his capable mentorship.”

Mr Muswa Ranwedzi (Student Advisor, Student Admissions and Registrations)

Rina Deetlefs of the University of Pretoria’s Law Faculty wrote as follows: “I am an old student of the University of South Africa and have dealt with several administrative as well as academic personnel in the past. I have registered now again for some modules and in the process was assisted and advised by Mr Muswa Ranwedzi, student advisor of the humanities department. I would like to recommend Mr Ranwedzi for his excellent service to aspiring students of the university.  He is loyal, very helpful and friendly and has in-depth knowledge of the subject requirements. An outstanding attribute of his is that he uses initiative to contact the student immediately after he received a query to answer the student and to solve the problem. I really think that acknowledgment should be given to him for his outstanding service.  Such a person is indeed an ambassador for Unisa and delivers a positive contribution to the face of the University.”

Mr Riekert Liebenberg (Manager, Student Admissions and Registrations)

Chantel de Koning, accountant at The Tax House, wrote as follows: “Please allow me to convey my sincere appreciation for the excellent service given to me by Mr Riekert Liebenberg. He answers my emails and phone calls with urgency and professionalism and really makes me feel that I am talking to someone who is acknowledging ME, and not just my student number. In the times we are today where lots of people do not want to take their responsibilities seriously and just want the client and the problem to disappear, I am delighted to be dealing with Mr Liebenberg who really takes it upon himself to sort out the queries that comes to his attention. He is definitely a valuable asset to your business.   He represents Unisa as a proud ambassador and does his utmost best to keep the integrity of your business alive.”

* Compiled by Philip van der Merwe