KwaZulu Natal (Durban): The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements Members of the Executive Committee and Management Committee on Thursday, 16 November 2023, hosted a farewell function for the outgoing Chief Director for Sustainable Human Settlements, Luyanda Kafile, in Durban.
Luyanda Kafile will assume a new responsibility at the beginning of next month as Deputy Director General for Programme Management and Special Projects at the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Head of Department Mdu Zungu and Chief Operations Officer Thulani Bhengu heaped praises and spoke highly of Luyanda Kafile on her dedication and professional approach when executing her duties.
COO Bhengu said the department hoped she would hold the department’s repute aloft and hoist high the service delivery flag at DPWI.
Speaking on behalf of Programmes One, Two and Three, Chief Director for Corporate Services Lindani Khoza and Zithulele Mbonane all were in unison at the positive impact Luyanda Kafile had on the Department’s impeccable service delivery record in housing provision in the Province during the 11 years she spent at Project Management.
They all said Luyanda Kafile had been an epitome of what is often referred to as a dynamite coming in small packs. In her acceptance speech of gratitude and appreciation, Kafile said the retired erstwhile predecessor Elijah Cele had been such an inspiration when she joined the Department.
She said when she joined the Department in 2012, it was the first she landed a job in KwaZulu-Natal. She related how she started working at the Ugu District Office of the Department with limited physical office space, but she soldiered on, and houses were built in Ugu.
An emotional Kafile told the gathered colleagues that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements had provided her the platform to be known professionally in the built environment space.
She further added she was impressed at the culture of dedication amongst Human Settlements Department staffers.