What time does your day start and end?
Due to the nature of the work and engagement required with a large spectrum of stakeholders, every day is a unique challenge. The day unofficially starts on receipt of the first call or email and generally only ends when all tasks for that day are completed, this is not a typical 9-5.
Officially however, the day starts with a high-level precinct inspection at 07:45 and formally ends at 17:00, though with precinct management duties and as stated earlier, we often work outside of these times so every day is different, and I often work from home in the evenings.
What are your main daily tasks?
My daily tasks to name just a few include precinct services inspections, meeting, liaising and tasking cleaning greening/maintenance teams, development inspections, and infrastructure and operational status reports. Much time is spent liaising with our various stakeholders including municipal and provincial departments, landowners and developers, residents and security teams. I also attend design review meetings and cover the administrative aspects of the above and much more.
My rounds focus largely on a back-to-basics approach where the small things matter. While it might seem insignificant in a large-scale developing precinct that gardens aren’t perfectly pruned or verges are a little unkept, the small things influence the average person’s experience of place. Along with this we also attend to larger matters such as bylaw and association rules compliance across the board, building and infrastructure health, security related operations, contractors protocol compliance and Sibaya Conservation Trust operations and oversight.
Where do you lunch or grab a coffee?
I predominantly have lunch in the office unless I have a lunch meeting which will most likely be at French Zulu where I also enjoy the occasional coffee. Our office deck overlooking the precinct is also a fantastic spot to grab a coffee.
What do you love about your precinct?
Sibaya is unique as a new key economic node for development while also having a massive conservation aspect to it with the surrounding Sibaya Coastal Trust Forest which is holistically integrated into the precinct’s fabric. It really is special.
Why is your precinct important to the community?
It is a key economic node that attracts large scale development and creates many employment opportunities. It also plays an active role in the management, upkeep and safeguarding of a wonderfully unique stretch of coastal forest that really is an asset to be enjoyed by all.
What do you love most about your role?
I am always learning, never bored, and constantly challenged. I also get to meet and interact with people from all walks of life on a daily basis.
