Karaglen SUPERSPAR bids farewell to longstanding staff members

It was a day of heartfelt emotion and fond memories when Karaglen SUPERSPAR and staff bid farewell to several longstanding staff members.

After working a collective 118 years for the Karamichael family and the Karaglen SUPERSPAR, Joseph Nemukondeni (53 years and four months), Vivian Mbasa (27 and six months) Harriet Dube (22 years and seven months) and Elliot Shingange (14 years and eight months) will bid farewell at the end of March.

Joseph, Vivian, Harriet, and Elliot were each presented with a personalised plaque and a watch for their service to the family, store, and community.

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“It is a special occasion to honour, Joseph, Vivian, Harriet and Elliot,” said the owner of Karaglen SuperSpar Harry Karamichael.

“Many of these staff members worked for the Karamichael family long before the Karaglen SuperSpar was established.”

He explained that because of the effort and dedication of the quartet an empire could be created.

“The most important thing that makes Karaglen SuperSpar and our family successful is in the people who have stood by us and helped look after our community and customers.

“At the end of the day, shoppers come to us because the staff is warm, caring and understand the community.”
Harry emphasised that Joseph, Vivian, Harriet and Elliot are role models for staff.

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“They have given their hearts, lives and souls to the community.”

Starting his employment at the age of 16 years old Joseph started working for Harry’s father Andrew Karamichael at the Parklands Café in Alberton with three other staff members.

“Joseph was a young man at the time, I was just a baby, but he helped raise me,” said Harry.

Putting customer care first Joseph was dedicated to helping shoppers and ensuring their experience at the SUPERSPAR was nothing short of excellent.

Vivian, who like Joseph, also started under Andrew started working for the company over 27 years ago.

Angel Mdlalose, manager at the Karaglen SuperSpar said Vivian started as a till packer before becoming daily assistant.

“To broaden her knowledge Vivian started working on the floor and has subsequently worked in all of the departments,” said Angel.

From there Vivian went to work in Karaglen SUPERSPAR’s Cleaver Award-winning butchery where she excelled.
“Her loyalty and dedication have been evident throughout the years and through her trials and tribulations.

“She still carries the same energy that she had when she first started working for the company,” said Angel.

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Over the years Vivian continued to upskill and improve her knowledge by completing courses related to merchandising, firefighting and first aid courses as well as the Spar E-Learning courses.

She thanked the Karamichael family for everything they have done for her.

Transferred from a SPAR in Benoni Harriet joined the Karaglen family in 2003 and has never felt out of place.

A confectioner by profession Harriet has a love of making cakes subsequently she found her home in the store’s bakery where countless community members have enjoyed her baked treats.

Welcomed by Andrew, Harriet said she had never felt out of place and felt she was Andrew’s daughter.

Describing the store as more than a job but rather a home where staff members support and care for one another.

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She thanked Andrew and the Karamichael family for everything they’ve done for her.

Elliot who has worked for the SUPERSPAR’s hot foods department for the past 14 years has a plethora of Mediterranean knowledge.

Harry said, that with over 30 years of experience cooking for the Greek community, Elliot was a valued staff member of the store.

“Elliot knows all the Greek delicacies, he grew up among the Greeks and is a valued staff member,” said Harry.

Angel and Harry thanked Joseph, Vivian, Harriet and Elliot for their dedication, loyalty and friendliness over the years.

“Just like the SPAR logo, all of us are part of a tree, we may branch out and go our different ways but in the end, we are all rooted together,” said Angel.