The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has won big at the Higher Education Facilities Management Association of Southern Africa (HEFMA) 25th Anniversary Awards, with its Facilities Management division walking away with five of the eight awards. The awards ceremony was part of HEFMA’s annual general conference, which took place at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana, from Monday until Thursday.
Held under the theme Maturity of Facilities Management in Higher Education, the conference provides a platform for engaging discussions around the management, operation, maintenance and long-term sustainability of higher education infrastructure. Founded to standardise and benchmark infrastructure, financial management, and facility practices, HEFMA has expanded across Southern Africa to address critical institutional challenges like sustainable energy, campus safety, and modern software needs.
HEFMA has three main objectives; namely, to develop and maintain high-quality standards in the facilities management of the physical infrastructure of campuses, to promote professional ideals and standards that would assure the best academic environment and to provide the best professional service to Higher Education through constant education, information and resource creation.
HEFMA also utilises these conferences to celebrate operational excellence and to honour professionals and institutions shaping campus environments across the region. UJ won in the following categories:
- Queeneth Themba (Soweto Campus): Emerging Facilities Management Professional Award.
- Khutso Rammutla: Facilities Management Professional of the Year Award
- DoEL Audit Task Team: Health, Safety and Compliance Award.
- UJ Facilities Management Team: Infrastructure Delivery Award for the Rescue (SIM) Centre.
- UJ Facilities Management Team: Climate Change Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Award.
- Mr Takalani Phosiwa (DFC Camus Director): Strategic Facilities Management Leadership Award, and
In addition, Dr Joe Manyaka (Senior Director Campuses): had a Special 25th Anniversary Legacy Award bestowed on him for his contribution to the sector and lasting impact at HEFMA.
Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the awards are a testament to the dedication, innovation, and excellence by our facilities management professionals and teams. “It is particularly noteworthy that over the past three years, UJ has consistently been recognised at this prestigious event, further cementing its reputation as a leader in facilities management excellence,” he said.
