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 Waheeda Peters spoke to Mthobeli Gabriel Myeza, University Capacity Development Programme Administrator, Midlands Campuses, Pietermaritzburg, Riverside, and Indumiso Campus.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am the University Capacity Development Programme Administrator, Midlands Campuses, Pietermaritzburg, Riverside, and Indumiso Campus. I provide Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP) support to all the faculties of the Durban University of Technology, which includes providing support for staff development and student development; with the key focus of ensuring that compliance is maintained with regards to the University Capacity Development Grant.”
Q: How long have you been in that role?
A: “I have serviced the institution as from the 1st of June 2021 till to date under the umbrella of the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and learning (CELT).”
Q: Please describe yourself in a few words?
A: “I am a very straightforward person who believes in professional competence and due care with good morals and values. I treat people at all levels with respect not only considering their credentials but with the ideology of ubuntu which is an African proverb.”
Q: How has it been like working during COVID-19?
A: “Working under COVID-19 is stressful sometimes, but sometimes it comes with good innovative ideas. Moreover, working during a pandemic requires an individual to accept and adopt to a fluctuating controlled environment and the implementation of new business processes to ensure a complete compliance with COVID-19 regulations, as per the department of health safety protocols.”
Q: How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus?
A: “COVID-19 is a very stressful infection, sometimes it is not just the virus itself built the developing of anxiety within our immune systems is what makes the virus dangerous, as it can trigger other stressful related infections which can lead to hospital admission, and losing a loved one during the pandemic. It is something which is not easy to accept because you might not be ready to deal with such emotions and the financial implications it has on a family as a whole.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “My daily motivation is that you are only as good as yesterday, you must remain calm and open-minded, be realistic in whatever you do to achieve your daily goals and approach each and every sunrise on a clean page.”
Q: Please take me through a normal day in your life?
A: “A normal day in my life is when I have achieved all my goals that I have drafted for that particular day, and I have attended all faculty queries with prompt responses. As well as a day when I don’t feel stressful due to anxiety.”
Q: What are your thoughts about the vaccine and its importance to students and staff?
A: “I am in full support of students and staff vaccinations, I am fully vaccinated not just because it is required for me to do so, but I think it is the right thing to do. Vaccines saves lives, it reduces hospital admissions even if you are infected, it is the right thing to do in my opinion.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “In my spare time I like to play soccer and sometimes I like to watch the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.”
Q: If you had one wish what would it be?
A: “To pass my Certificate in the Theory of Accounting and my SAICA Board exams and qualify as a chartered accountant.”
