South Africa’s Employee of the Year Hlamalani Msimeki
H
lamalani Msimeki was born in Elim Hospital in the Soutpansberg Region of the then Northern Transvaal. The first four years of her life were spent in the Tshikota residential area in Louis Trichardt. Her family then moved to Waterval where she, her two sisters and two brothers spent their childhood. When she was nine years old, her father passed away and she and her siblings were consequently raised by her mother who is a general assistant at the Elim Hospital. Hlamalani attended the Hlalelani Primary School and Waterval High School where she participated in netball, athletic activities like high jump and discus while she was also a regular member of the school choir. In 2000, she matriculated, and in 2001, Hlamalani joined a youth movement called Makamba-Ndlela, which dealt with youth programs. The organization also ran Love Life programs such as sport, recreation, motivational speaking, debate and how to maintain a healthy life style.
Hlamalani joined South Africa Custodial Management as a Human Resources Clerk in the support services department in July of 2006. By profession, she is an administrator and is currently studying towards a degree in human resources. Since she joined the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre, she has been awarded the employee of the month six times. She has been described as dedicated, devoted, disciplined and determined to reach her goals. Hlamalani was appointed as the Employee of the Month in March 2010, because of the dedication that she had demonstrated while occupying two positions, namely Human Resources Clerk and Payroll Clerk. Hlamalani is a hard working person who goes an extra mile to accomplish her duties and to assist other employees. A few lessons Hlamalani’s mother taught her at a young age have assisted her in being the person she is today. The lessons included, amongst others: to pray and keep faith, to respect others, to value life, to accept herself the way she is, and to realize that one does not choose to be born into a specific family but that the choice is your own on how to respond to your circumstances.
During 2003, she was awarded a learnership position to run Love Life programs especially focusing on the motivational speaking programs because she excelled in the youth movement programs.
To relax, Hlamalani watches soccer, participates in church activities and reads. She is inspired by the books written by John Maxwell. As a staunch follower of John Maxwell she is currently reading “Four Pillars of Leadership,” which she finds inspiring and motivating.
By 2004, she was appointed as a call centre agent at the Love Life Head Office in Sandton. During the same year she was appointed as a Regional Campaign Coordinator in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo province. WARDEN/EMPLOYEE/OFFICER OF THE YEAR
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