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Lungile Maphumulo, a tourism management graduate from Durban’s Lamontville township, joined the iLawu Hospitality Group eight months ago.
She had no idea that she would become the group’s general manager before her next birthday.
Maphumulo (27) moved to iLawu in July as a reservations officer from the Hampshire Hotel in Ballito, where she had worked since qualifying four years earlier.
Within two months, her work ethic, ideas and attention to detail had impressed owner Siphiwe Ngcobo and his management team, to the extent that she was promoted to sales and marketing manager for the group. Her rise within the KwaZulu-Midlands hospitality group didn’t stop there. Last week Maphumulo was promoted to general manager.
“I still have to get a new badge,” she laughs, pointing to the metal marketing manager’s name tag on her crisp white shirt. “I’m still getting used to it.”
Maphumulo is already in the thick of things in her new post. She has overall responsibility for the group’s five properties – a guesthouse, and two boutique hotels in Pietermaritzburg and two boutique hotels in Newcastle – and its catering and events divisions.
“Working in this group is great,” says Maphumulo in an interview at the iLawu Inn in Chief Albert Luthuli Street in Pietermaritzburg’s central business district. “I am amazed at how much I have grown professionally and as a person. I used to be so shy. I could hardly talk to people. There has been a lot done here to help develop me. Doing this job has done so much good for my self-confidence. I love this.
“I had no idea I could go so far so quickly. There’s a lot of work and not a lot of free time. iLawu has become my family. I love this job.”
Mabongi Mthethwa (38), the owner of Ekhaya Beauty Professionals, a spa operating out of the iLawu Inn, is equally upbeat about the operation.
“This place is brilliant,” says the UK-trained Mthethwa who moved her beauty business into the hotel three years ago on a five-year lease. “It’s a great venue, classy and the perfect place to work in the centre of town. This is the busiest road in Pietermaritzburg and a very safe, secure venue. Business is very good here.”
Mthethwa, who employs three beauty therapists and a hair dresser, picks up good business from hotel residents wanting their nails and hair done or a full-body massage.
“When I do things, I like to do them right. iLawu is the same. The relationship is good for both of us. We give the hotel clients and they refer their people to us. It works for everybody.”
Another young go-getter at the group is its operations manager Thami Ndlovu (35), who joined five years ago after spending a number of years as a beverage supplier working with Ngcobo.
