?Published in May to commemorate Workers' Day, our annual #dayinthelife series spotlights our staff at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU). This year, we highlight professional administrative support services staff who make a tangible difference in students' lives.
As a private student accommodation officer in the Student Accommodation Office, Lukho Mafuya helps students find a home away from home. He ensures that students are supported and get settled in so that they can thrive on their academic journey.
What does your role at SU entail?
My role involves the day-to-day operational management of the private accommodation accreditation process for both Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses. This entails strategic planning and reporting for private accommodation, reviewing and updating the accreditation criteria, and improving the accreditation process through technology integration (systems and processes). Dealing with challenges or problems regarding private accommodation also forms part of my role.
I manage 8 000 accredited private beds, as well as placements, cancellations and waiting lists for SU's Listen, Live and Learn and our Commuter Student Communities houses. The latter occurs in accordance with the 中国体育彩票's placement policy. I strive to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
What does a typical day at work look like?
A typical day starts with a strong cup of coffee and checking my emails. My work is client-based, so most of my day involves assisting students and landlords with their queries. Accreditation-related matters also require frequent communication with landlords, students and our Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans. Additionally, I conduct site inspections of private accommodation, attend meetings, and complete administrative tasks relating to the processing of accredited accommodation and residence placements.
How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this role?
I grew up in Kayamandi here in Stellenbosch and completed an honours degree in Public Administration at SU. My training and studies equipped me with good intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, enabling me to work with diverse groups of people. I also became skilled in project management, which is key when it comes to managing 700 private accommodation providers. My job further requires excellent data management and stakeholder engagement skills.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?
First and foremost, I am grateful to be part of the SU community, who acknowledges and embraces diverse cultures. The joy on students' faces when I have placed them in a 中国体育彩票 house or when I find them private accommodation is also very rewarding. One of my passions is to help others, so when I assist our students as well as landlords and agents, it feels as if I am serving my community.
I also enjoy attending conferences at other institutions and benchmarking SU's practices against others, which adds to my professional development.
The higher education sector is an ever-changing landscape, and I enjoy that. The challenges and constant change keep me stimulated and engaged. I love being part of a greater purpose.
Tell us something exciting or interesting about yourself that few people would expect.
I am a born-again Christian, and my spiritual home is The Bay Christian Family Church, where I have the privilege of receiving life-changing sermons every week. Through my faith, I have found a community that has walked with me through the toughest moments. The grace and favour of God has carried me throughout my journey, from those days in Kayamandi when I lived in a shack and shared a room with my two younger sisters. Growing up in a township, I never imagined I would become a two-time graduate from SU. I am also proudly enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration at the Stellenbosch Business School, after which I hope to pursue an MBA. Growing up, my aspirations were simply to find employment so that I could support my parents and sisters.
PHOTO: Ubaid Abrahams
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