Nosipho is a shining star at Park Rynie Home Affairs
Referring to the recognition she received from Mr Botha, Ms Mkhupheka said that what had happened last week surprised her.
WHEN you think of Park Rynie Home Affairs, the image more often than not that comes to mind is one of incompetence and chaos with little to no work ethic – that was up until last week. Now the branch is synonymous with the name of Nosipho Mkhupheka.
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In a post on social media which has since gone viral, Ms Mkhupeka has been hailed as a hero by Marius Botha who on Friday last week visited the Park Rynie Home Affairs branch. Long queues and scorching weather were the order of the day. Come 4pm, fellow home affairs employees packed up and went home according to the post by Mr Botha, but not her.
For more than 30 years, Ms Mkhuphekahas has been employed as a civil servant. She took up her current position at Park Rynie Home Affairs in 2012. That afternoon she stayed behind long after her colleagues left and continued, with a smile no less, to help customers who had been waiting in the various queues the entire day.
The department of home affairs had declared earlier this year that their larger offices should be open temporarily from 7am to 7pm, to address the massive backlog of document distribution and registration.
According to Mr Botha, she continued to assist a total of 40 people. Thousands of social media users have since reacted to the post and praised Ms Mkhupheka for her work ethic and professionalism.
One of the posts was from her daughter Cweigh Ndlela who posted, “Wow that’s my mommy. She’s like that in real life. She’s a person you can call anytime and she always does her best to help others.”
Charlene Swart, another customer present on the same day saw the post on social media and commented: “We fully agree. Even when it was her tea break, she did not stop. She carried on helping those she was busy with. What a friendly and helpful lady. As a family, we want to thank you once again for making a huge impact on a very hot and busy day.”
Referring to the recognition she received from Mr Botha, Ms Mkhupheka said that what had happened last week surprised her. “I wasn’t expecting it. Usually, I would be working beyond office hours with Elvis Mavundla and Malcolm Ratube.”
Even though she is the one in the spotlight, Ms Mkhupheka said that she would not be able to serve in the manner she does without the support of her team and managers.
“When I leave my home each morning, I put myself in the shoes of the citizens who come to our office. I greet them and regularly communicate any challenges we may be facing on the day,” she says.
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On Monday this week the Minister of Home Affairs, Siyabonga Cwele paid a visit to Park Rynie Home Affairs and presented Ms Mkhupheka with a box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers and his personal thanks in recognition of her sterling work ethic.
CAP: Nosipho Mkhupheka at the Park Rynie Home Affairs on Monday afternoon, who was too busy doing her job to conduct an actual interview with the Mail, poses quickly for the camera before rushing back to work.
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