An Office Management & Technology alumna who is now a published author and businesswoman recently spoke to Business and Information Administration students about how the course prepared her for her multiple careers.

Angie Mokoena is the author of Lord I am broken and owner of Angie Mokoena (Pty) Ltd, a company which focuses on fashion designing, image consulting, celebrity styling and personal brand coaching.

She told the students how all the subjects she studied at CPUT came in handy in her career growth and even more so now that she runs her own company. “OMT is so diverse and can lead you wherever you want to go,” said Mokoena.

Surprisingly, Mokoena said the course was not her first choice as she originally wanted to study marketing but the latter was full. After graduation she started working in the Economic Development Department and later became secretary to the Chief Operations Officer at the Tourism Department. “I wasn’t excited about my job but began finding purpose in my life when I started giving fashion tips.”

Mokoena now has her own seamstress and has designed a matric dance evening gown. Actress Jolene Martin is one of the celebrities who have been dressed and styled by Angie.

She enjoys personal branding and warned the students that their social media profile should match how they brand themselves for jobs in specific careers. “What is in your hand is more important that what you need elsewhere,” she said.

Mokoena added that she became unsatisfied with being unnoticed and boosted her self-esteem by writing her first book, Lord I am broken, published by Zion Publications. “It didn’t all come overnight, it took time for me to realise that this is what I want to do.”

She is in the process of producing an audio book and working on publishing her next book.

Academics in the Education Faculty say they learnt a lot from organising the 45th Annual International Conference of the Southern African Society for Education (SASE).

Recently hosted by CPUT, the three-day conference saw scores of delegates from universities in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique descend on the Lagoon Beach Hotel.

Prof Lungi Sosibo, chair of the conference’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the way the conference unfolded exceeded their expectations. This was Sosibo’s debut as conference LOC chair.

“It was a great learning experience to lead this project and to overcome all the hurdles which came our way. The research papers were of a very good quality and as a result attendance was good throughout the three days of the conference.”

“The delegates were very happy with the organisation and support from the LOC both before and during the conference,” she said. “They praised the students who volunteered to work during the conference. They were in awe of the services rendered by the students.” The volunteers were dressed in T-shirts sponsored by Van Schaik.

Ten papers presented during the conference will be published in a South African journal which is accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training while other papers will be selected for an academic textbook with an accredited publisher.

Sosibo thanked Prof Thobeka Mda, Dean of the Education Faculty, for paying for the accommodation of six CPUT students who were delegates at the conference. She added that the students looked good in their CPUT-branded T-shirts and caps supplied by the university’s Marketing and Communication Department.

She also thanked CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo, for sponsoring a successful gala dinner at the hotel.

LOC member Mvemve Mdingi said they worked as a team motivated by the goal of making the conference a success.

“When you look behind and realise what great work we did with my colleagues both from Mowbray and Wellington Campuses, you become very proud,” he said. “What I enjoyed more was the fact that the conference provided us with a platform to receive education in Africa without borders. It was a great learning curve.”

Students in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences received a lucky charm ahead of the current final examinations from Van Schaik Bookshop in the form of goodie bags.

The examination packs were handed over to about 50 selected students who excel academically and exhibit the university’s values. The event was held on the District Six campus.

Rifaat Smith, Van Schaik’s Branch Manager at the Campus, said the exam packs consisted of three pens, two carded packs of highlighters, a lead pencil, a clutch pencil, a pad of sticky notes and two exam pads.

“It’s (the donation) something we’ve been doing for years. We all have goals, and we want to motivate them to continue working hard so that they can achieve theirs,” said Smith.

Business and Information Administration Lecturer Belinda Berman and Student Development Officer Anette Grobler selected the 50 deserving students on the campus.“We looked at their academic performance including major subjects and class attendance. The successful students are decent people who practise ubuntu,” said Berman.

First-year Business and Information Administration student, Nomvuyiseko Mlamla, said being recognised for their efforts in this gesture motivated them.

“It brings out of us that inner thing to want to do more. We’re gonna keep working hard to keep our lecturers happy,” said Nomvuyiseko.

Male students, staff members and members of the public can visit the Student Health Clinic on the Bellville Campus for medical circumcisions. Continue reading →