The Durban University of Technology (DUT) continues to commend all its essential workers for their dedication and commitment in providing services to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. DUT’s Communications team’s Simangele Zuma spoke to Neetha Singh, Faculty Officer at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at DUT.

Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am the Faculty Officer at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). My function or role is managing the administrative function for 10 departments within the FEBE in Durban and PMB campuses.”

Q: How long have you been in that role?
A: “I have been in this role for 10 years.”

Q: Please describe yourself in a few words?
A: “I am very dedicated, responsible, committed and take my work very seriously because of accountability which is of very high standard with the faculty office. I have a family as well after DUT which comes with much more responsibility, but I am well-balanced between work and home commitment.”

Q: How has it been like working during COVID-19?
A: “It is very challenging because most staff and students are working remotely, the workload has tripled. The faculty staff has been in the office working because of lack of resources which is very difficult to work from home eg, most of the time documents have to be scanned to students or relevant stakeholders, printing of information.”

Q: How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus?
A: “At first I was very fearful due to the fact that I have been in and out of the office knowing that I actually risked my family in the sense that my son is a renal patient, end of stage five kidney failure but succumbed to his illness in March 2021 but not COVID-19. His dad was a heart transplant patient, he also passed on in July 2021 due to deep depression of the loss of our son.”

Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “To have a positive thinking, keeping my head high up in spite of the challenges that I have to face at home and especially in the office. I ensure that my aims and goals are met at the end of the day or whenever.”

Q: Please take me through a normal day in your life?
A: “Monday to Friday I am in the office at around 6.00 am in the morning, come in with a clear mind and thinking to start my days’ work especially before the phones and students and stakeholders need my attention. Since COVID-19 once my day at work is fulfilled then I leave around 14h00 for home and deal whatever that has to be done.”

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “I usually will find something at home to do and now that I am alone I sometimes watch TV- movies or soapies.”

Q: If you had one wish what would it be?
A: “To retire and have a little more sanity, it has been very stressful due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”