My Kinda Town | Queenstown

Mandisa Nohashe – Treat other people well

MANDISA Nohashe advises the Chris Hani District Municipality regarding all disaster management issues.

Nohashe dispels the myth that her job is about “waiting for disasters to happen”. However there’s a lot to be done beforehand which requires a lot of planning – something she can’t do alone.

What is your occupation and job title?

I am the chief disaster manager of the Chris Hani District Municipality.

Where do you live and why?

Queenstown. My bread is buttered here!

How long have you lived there?

Four years.

What music are you listening to in your car? Why do you enjoy it?

Mostly gospel music. Mostly because gospel music appeases my soul.

What are your biggest extravagances?

Books and clothes.

What are the last three places you visited on holiday? What did you like best about being there?

Cape Town, Pretoria and East London. I only go on holiday to have time to myself, so in all three instances, that goal was fulfilled.

What are you presently reading?

Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois Frankel.

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Two Can Play That Game. It just confirms my philosophy. The movie is about an arrogant career woman who plays a series of heartless mind games with her boyfriend to “put him in line”, only to discover that he has a few tricks up his own sleeve.

What do you never leave home without?

Car keys.

What is your earliest memory of Queenstown?

I could not get a place to stay for a month, when I arrived here.

Do you have a favourite pub or restaurant? What is your favourite dish there and why?

Spur. Their chicken schnitzel. You have the option of having it grilled and it still tastes divine.

Who, other than your partner or a family member, is your best friend? What do you value most about that friendship?

I do not have a best friend, I’m easy and can make friends wherever I am. All my friendships have unique characteristics which make them valuable to me.

What would you do if you were mayor for a day?

I’d host a children’s Parliament and hear things from their perspective.

What is your life philosophy?

“Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.”

Do you have any advice for tourists?

Although tourism is limited in Chris Hani, there is some development in farm tourism and tours are being operated through game farms.

Tourists can also stop over when they pass through the province via the N6 and N10 roads. They can sleep over at one of the farms or guest houses.

We also have beautiful scenery which can be seen at places like the Mountain Zebra National Park, which is near Cradock.

What is your favourite item of clothing?

Skirts.

How do you get around town?

In a Peugeot 206.

If your house was on fire and you could save only three items, what would they be?

My books, car keys and my handbag.

If a movie were to be made of your life, who would you choose to play you, and why?

Nomacirha Mtshizana (Nobulali). She understands me better than anybody else.

Nosipho Kota