A number of hall secretaries at Rhodes University fear for their jobs after their job profiles were restructured.
The process started last year after hall wardens complained that they could no longer cope with their daily jobs and responsibilities.
A number of hall secretaries at Rhodes University fear for their jobs after their job profiles were restructured.
The process started last year after hall wardens complained that they could no longer cope with their daily jobs and responsibilities.
It was then decided that the hall secretary post would be upgraded to a hall administrator post. All the hall secretaries were assured by the Rhodes Human Resources Department that their jobs would be secure and training would be provided to ensure that they were competent and confident in the new positions.
However, a number of hall secretaries told Grocott’s Mail that this is no longer the case as a series
of meetings revealed a change of plans which leaves their jobs as hall secretaries hanging in limbo.
At the end of 2009 hall secretaries were informed that they had to reapply for their jobs via email. After
this was done they had to write a test which determined their competency as hall secretaries.
They were told that if they did not pass the test they would possibly be retrenched and someone else would
take up their position as hall administrator.
The results of the tests were revealed in January 2010 and five out of the 11 hall secretaries did not make the cut.
The Human Resources department then promised to give the hall secretaries involved a letter explaining
what their future at Rhodes would be.
A week has passed and they are still waiting for the promised better. All the hall secretaries, are also awaiting the official results of their tests.
The National Tertiary Education Union said they are unable to comment on the issue. Lebogang Hashaste, Director of Communications at Rhodes, did not wish to comment at the time of going to print but he said he would provide details at a later stage.
