South Africa is still basking in glory after pulling off a successful 2010 Fifa World Cup. Credit and praise were mainly directed at the World Cup Organising Committee (OC), in particular, chief executive Danny Jordaan and the chairperson, Irvin Khoza.
But the little-known person who really worked hard to ensure everything operated like clockwork was a woman: Nomfanelo Magwentshu. She was “the wind beneath the wings” of the two men.
As chief operating officer she was second in command reporting to Jordaan and the board of directors. Hers was a high-pressure job; one requiring decisiveness, good management skills, tenacity and foresight: one little mistake could have had a ripple effect.
Other than managing and monitoring the day-to-day activities of the OC, she also had to put systems in place to ensure the organisation operated efficiently.
Key stakeholders included government, host cities and departments such as the police. She said that, during her interactions with the latter, she made sure she was transparent and kept them abreast of developments. “This was to make it easy for them to step in should their assistance be required. Otherwise, in an emergency situation, it would have been difficult to mobilise their support because they would not have an idea about the whole arrangement,” Magwentshu said.
She said that so great was the pressure that, at various stages, some of her staff got overwhelmed. “I had to resort to my motherly skills to cheer them up to get on with the task at hand. Being a woman helped because, instead of dismissing what they were going through, I provided a shoulder to cry on. Besides we just could not afford to lose any one of them until we were through with our task,” said Magwentshu.
As a career woman she concedes that, sometimes, it could be tough to juggle work with her responsibilities of motherhood. “You just need to have a clear schedule so that you create time for work and family. You must be able to strike a balance between the two. As a mother you need to create such spaces to bond with your children,” said Magwentshu.
She said family support is also crucial. “My husband and children understand the kind of work I do, so when I am not home or I arrive late, they understand,” she said.