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 teams Nomvelo Zulu spoke to Lindiwe Gloria Green, Circulation Library Assistant at the Allan Plettenburg Library, at DUT’s Steve Biko Campus. 

Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?  

A: “I am a Circulation Library Assistant at DUT.” 

Q: How long have you been in that role?  

A: “I have been in this role for 24 years.” 

Q: Please describe yourself in a few words?  

A: “I am a colleague, a wife, a sister and a grandmother.” 

Q: How has it been like working during COVID-19?  

A: “It was not easy travelling to work, having to follow the COVID-19 protocols on the way to work, and returning back home not knowing if I contracted the virus during the day. It was very stressful, until the COVID-19 vaccine was introduced.” 

Q: How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus? 

A: “I follow the COVID-19 protocols, losing loved ones due to COVID-19 wasn’t easy because we lost many lives; family members, colleagues, neighbours and all of this happened within a blink of an eye.’’ 

Q: Please take me through a normal day in your life?   

A: “I wake up in the morning, get ready for work. By 7:30am I arrive at work, then I start doing my job which includes signing the register, opening computers for students, taking the readings for the stats, opening the photocopy room, switching on the photocopy machine, opening the book drop to find books and returning to the system. Collecting books from the study canals for in-stats, bringing them to the system, then taking them back to the relevant shelves, shelving them numerically and using the alphabetical systems to make them easily to be found by the users. Doing bookings for group rooms and issuing keys for groups as well as returning them. I work until 4 pm.” 

Q: What is your daily motivation? 

A: “To follow the instructions by taking care of myself and others and thanking the Lord for keeping us alive.” 

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

A: “As a granny I like to be surrounded by my grandchildren and scream at them sometimes when they are misbehaving.” 

Q: If you had one wish what would it be?  

A: “I wish that all my children can have decent jobs so that they can be independent, life is difficult without a job.”