..:: AUTO REPORT AFRICA ::..
Related Articles
The excitement, which started March 1, is still in the air at VWSA as Faith Lelaka takes up the position of Unit Head of the Paint Shop.
With her appointment, she becomes the first black woman to be appointed at this level in the Production environment.
Faith, according to a statement obtained by AUTO REPORT AFRICA, started as an in-service trainee in February 1999 and has spent most of her VW career in and around the Paint Shop.
In 16 years, she has worked her way from a technician in the Process Lab to the Production Line and into Leadership.
“I realised early on that I needed to be involved in as many aspects of the job as possible and if that meant getting into a tank to measure paint levels or running multiple test to check paint viscosity, that’s what I was going to do!” remarked Faith.
Faith is a wife of 10 years and the mother of 4. So she knows what it is like to juggle work and home life. She places a great deal of emphasis on family life and says that “finding the balance between home and work is a challenge that she is constantly working on”.
When asked how she felt about the appointment, Faith said: “I am honoured and humbled by the recognition I have received through this appointment. I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead. As the new leader of this team, I know that a leader is just a team member with a bit more responsibility – being a part of a team is a core VW Value.”
The Chairman and Managing Director of VWSA , Thomas Schaefer , is equally excited at the appointment.
“As a company we are proud to have Faith in the Volkswagen Team. Her expertise in the Paint Process ensures that our customers both local and overseas will continue to buy great Polo’s and Vivo’s. We congratulate her and wish her well on this next leg of her Volkswagen journey,” Schaefer said.
