As of 18 July 2022, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) staff and students have physically returned to campus after the relaxation of the public health mandates and the COVID-19 restrictions. To get insight on getting back to the “new” normal, DUT’s Communications team Zanele Mashaba spoke to Tholeka Sidlayi, Library Assistant at the Riverside Campus.

Q: Kindly tell me about your role and the duration you have been at DUT?

A: “I have been with DUT for five years and one month as the Library Assistant After-Hours at Riverside Campus. My role is to serve the DUT community at the circulation to provide library materials, helping users to locate relevant information and responding to user queries in order to ensure excellent customer service and alignment with the objectives of the library function.”

Q: How has it been like to physically return to campus after the relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions?

A: “For me as a circulation personnel nothing much has changed, because we have been working on campus after level 4. My role needs me to work on campus not remotely as most of the time we provide resources/facilities and services physically like the photocopiers, printed books that are found on shelves. All I can say is that it was so much relief to get back to campus as our lives are there and the only fear was to get infected with the virus but I thank God because we were so cautious and following all the rules and I did not get infected with COVID.”

Q: What are some of the coping mechanisms you use to help you adapt to working/studying on site?  

A: “Keeping my head up high all the time and knowing why I am here and reminding myself what I want and my motto which is ‘respect’ does keep me going.”

Q: What do you miss the most about working/studying online?  

A: “As I was doing My Honours Degree last year 2021 and I did it online which was a new experience for me and I could juggle my work and studies.”

Q: What is one thing that people do not know about you?  

A: “I am fragile and act strong when I am in front of people.”

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? 

A: “I keep myself indoors since I am far away from my family. I like to spend time with them.”

Q: How do you plan to impact lives at DUT and its surroundings? 

A: “By making sure that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their goals and I make sure that I am part of their journey as I told myself from the first time that since I am also coming from a rural area, I will uplift people with the same background as me. However, I won’t feel sorry for myself and fold my arms and say I don’t know this and that I will try and seek help until I reach my goal. So by sharing that I am also putting myself into the lives of those who need change.”

Q: What is your daily motivation? 

A: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. This is by Maya Angelou.”

Q: What are your future goals with DUT? 

A: “To have a PHD thesis under DUT is my goal as I am one belt away to reach to it under the Library Information Science (LIS) Department. I am proudly a Library and Information Science product and making sure that I produce more of those products with a bright future.”

Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be? 

A: “I wish as humans we can have our conscience active.”