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 Zamani Senzo Zwane, a Secretary at the Department of Nursing, Indumiso Campus.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT and which campus you are based at?
A: “I am currently working as a Secretary at the Department of Nursing at the Indumiso Campus. I make sure that students and staff members within our department are assisted with all they need.”
Q: How long have you been in that role?
A: “I had joined DUT in November 2020 as a Clinical Administration Assistant, I was then appointed as a Secretary of the department in February 2022.
Q: Please describe yourself in a few words?
A: “I am a loving, carrying partner and a supportive father to my daughter and family. I believe in team effort at work and I am an all-rounder, key player at any given role.”
Q: How has it been like working during COVID-19?
A: “Working during COVID-19 has been an extreme challenge mainly during our clinical placements period because our programme mainly place students in hospitals and clinic facilities in order for them to gain exposure for their qualifications and also a certain number of hours need to be covered by each student to successfully complete their qualification.”
Q: How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus?
A: “I am lucky at the moment as none of my family or friends have had any COVID-19 cases or deaths caused by the virus.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “I wake up and pray before starting my day and before going to sleep. My family motivates me to work hard and set my short term and long term goals.”
Q: Please take me through a normal day in your life?
A: “I start my day with a prayer, then I prepare for work, I then drop off my daughter at school and pick her up after work. Sometimes on weekends I visit my mum, most often I spend my time with my family and friends.”
Q: What are your thoughts about the vaccine and its importance to students and staff?
A: “I took my vaccine in June 2021 and I had no conspiracy theory about it as I felt it was the right thing to do as we have not had our loved ones being infected with the virus in my family.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “I like travelling a lot on road trips as it helps me to clear my mind and unwind. The best part about travelling is that I get time to listen to some new music. Some of my friends are in the music field and I enjoy spending my time with them over the weekends.”
Q: If you had one wish what would it be?
A: “My wish is to see my kids graduate and my partner become successful under my wing but most of all growing old next to my partner as we are living in a world where most of our peers are dying young during this pandemic.”
