The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu has taken his time to salute DUT’s COVID-19 Response Team for their dedication and hard work in fighting the spread of COVID-19 at the University.
Prof Mthembu recorded a 15 minutes’ video message of appreciation to the team in his office at Milena Court, DUT Steve Biko Campus on Monday morning (20 July 2020). Please click this link to view the Vice Chancellor’s message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci9lgnjzsto.
“In this short address I wish to honour many of our tough people who are fixing the problem and not fixing the blame. Those who, ‘take action to make a bold and daring move to make a creative transition recognising that an era has come to an end’. Those who, ‘hold on until the light breaks the tide turns and the times change for the better. Those who, ‘inspire with their cheerful attitude while they are going through such obviously difficult times,” said Prof Mthembu.
He said he will not recount the devastation COVID-19 has wreaked and continues to wreak on the people’s lives and the core business of the university.
He stated that it is only the tough among the people who will fix the problem, extricate the people from the mess caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Those tough people, Mthembu said they practice DUT’s Envision 2030 which encourages: transparency, honesty, integrity, respect, accountability, fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence.
“Those are the values and principles these tough people live by. Let me start by acknowledging and celebrating these tough people at our university and beyond. Those who have been infected with COVID-19 but and are still with us to tell the gory stories. Those in our midst who have lost their livelihoods, their jobs and even their loved ones. Those who have shown and continues to show respect, commitment and compassion to their fellow people as they suffer all the ratifications of COVID-19,” said Prof Mthembu.
He explained that DUT has many of such tough people, those who fix the problem without spending a lot of time fixing the blame.
Mthembu said he is talking about DUT’s COVID-19 Response Team that has demonstrated that it has tough people, fixing the problem, navigating the COVID-19 crisis with great expertise, determination and resolve.
Some of the members, he said are involved in the epidemiological research, contributing greatly in the fight against this invisible pandemic.
“DUT’s Communication team in an integral part of our tough people. They have communicated regularly with professionalism, honesty, transparency and accountability. Many staff members in the departments, faculties have demonstrated many times that they are tough people fixing our problem not fixing the blame. Tough people are those like members of the Urban Futures Centre, who make bold and daring moves to support some of the most vulnerable in our society, who are homeless and on drugs. Members of SENEX, EMC and council in general demonstrate that they are tough people. Some have held long meetings fixing our problems,” said Mthembu.
He continued to thank the DUT staff for their commitment in making DUT’s Solidarity Fund a reality and a great success despite facing their own financial problems.
He said his job as Vice-Chancellor and Principal has been made a lot easier and for that he will always be thankful to all DUT’s tough people.
Pictured: DUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu passing his message of appreciation to DUT’s ‘tough people’ fighting the spread of COVID-19
Simangele Zuma
