Staffers celebrate new skills

Certified: Receiving certificates for completing the first aid course were (from left) Innocentia Motsai, Phumeza Nyovane, Hillary O'Connor, Charlene Esau, Deborah Steenkamp, Veliswa Dwyili and Denise Fredericks.

Scores of UCT residence staffers were honoured at a certificate ceremony on 17 September in celebration of the completion of four practical courses.

Residence staff each received certificates for their courses in health and safety, level one first aid, handypersonship or cleaning, the latter offered by Siyaya Contract Cleaners.

Handing out the awards was manager of student housing in UCT's Department of Student Affairs, Glenn von Zeil. Congratulating the awardees, Von Zeil said that these courses have helped UCT residence staffers to be more productive, and therefore more employable.

"These are skills that nobody can take away from you, which can be used in your work as well as in your homes," said Von Zeil.

"Through courses such as these, we hope to cultivate a safer and healthier working environment, which will improve our standards in the years to come."