Whipping contractors into shape

DOREEN Jacobs walked into the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) about 26 years ago as a secretary.

She’s now the Wayleave assistant manager and is proud to have advanced in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Jacobs is well-respected by her peers and serves as an inspiration to many women in her community, especially given her long service and career progression at the JRA.

She began work as a secretary for the municipal entity for road infrastructure on July 10, 1995, and held the position for seven years. In 2002, she was promoted to job creator, a position she held until 2005.

She was later promoted to Inspector. Jacobs was promoted to assistant manager of Planning in 2015. When the JRA regionalised its depots, Jacobs was drafted to the Head Office as an acting regional administrations manager.

She says in her current role as Wayleave assistant manager, she constantly motivates and encourages female employees to take advantage of the opportunities provided through the city’s subsidised education policy.

“I am proud of my accomplishments as a woman, but I am even more proud of making the most of the opportunities that I have been afforded as an employee of the city,” she says, adding that City of Joburg employees should empower themselves through subsidised education.

Jacobs believes people are equal and should be treated with the same respect. She highlights that at JRA, everyone is given an equal opportunity and is recognised for their efforts.

“Whether you are a male or a female, if you work hard, you will be successful and accomplish absolutely anything,” she says.

Although the JRA has made progressive strides in appointing women as team leaders, drivers, foremen, and in other high-level positions, Jacobs believes females are still under-represented in the entity.

“There is no balanced equation at the executive level, but we are hoping in the future it will be considered.”

Jacobs believes no workplace is without its flaws, and some of her biggest challenges include dissatisfied communities, who have received poor services from JRA contractors for failing to meet the quality standards they promised.

“It is important to maintain professionalism in the workplace. Enforcing and implementing JRA values is at the forefront of the work we do, especially in ensuring that contractors deliver. As the Wayleave assistant manager, I have to suspend wayleaves until fines for services not delivered have been paid and rectified.”

A highlight of her job is assisting JRA contractors process and completing their requests without complaining.

“I have learned to be patient though some don’t submit the required documents on time. I would appreciate being assisted by someone helpful and understanding instead of someone impatient and rude, so I offer our clients the same service.”

Jacobs says being a good team player for all her colleagues and a good listener makes her working environment much easier to be in. “I am always there to offer a helping hand.”

She is still enthusiastic about her work at the JRA and believes women are heroes and queens who always keep the fire burning in their homes.

“Women are critical to long-term development and improved quality of life.”