As off 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 Amanda Makalima, Student Administration Clerk at the Midlands Campus.

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

A: “I work in the Student Administration department at the  Midlands campus and recently celebrated my one-year work anniversary with DUT, having started in August 2021. My responsibilities include registration, data capturing, and validations. This includes following up on outstanding student information and regularly updating student records, taking notes on the courses and making modifications and deletions as needed. While my everyday responsibility is to provide timely and effective service to DUT students and the entire DUT community. Solving student problems by developing practical, workable solutions.”

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

A: “I started at the institution during COVID-19, and the department I work in has always worked on campus because we work directly with students, so I am now accustomed to the COVID-19 work atmosphere and norms. Returning to campus doesn’t really change anything for me because we’ve always worked on campus; now we’d be doing the same thing on a greater scale because the number of students we receive is higher than it was during COVID-19.”

Q: How are you coping and adapting to working/studying on site? 

A: “Since I enjoy what I do and my profession, I don’t have any coping techniques. I am frequently referred to as a workaholic.”

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

A: “Working online reshaped what we thought the office was and emphasised the power of collaboration. Working during COVID-19 felt like being part of true innovation and setting a new standard for working in South Africa. Using online platforms demonstrated the power of technology and what can be achieved through intense collaboration. I will miss using these platforms as they allowed us to be able to multitask.”

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

A: “I am frequently labelled as a loud person with a loud personality, yet I am actually very shy and I don’t like public speaking.”

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

A: “In my spare time, I enjoy resting and reading, as well as learning and discovering new technical ways of doing things. I also like to spend time with my family and friends.”

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

A: “I believe that I am I am fulfilled in knowing that I help people on a daily basis and that my behaviour contributes to the department achieving its daily/monthly goals and objectives. Making a difference in the students’ lives and broader DUT community motivates me to act with a high level of professionalism and attitude.”

Q: What is your daily motivation? 

A: “I was raised by a single mother for most of my life. An African black woman. She represented love and demonstrated true resilience throughout my childhood. She has navigated life with such grace and dignity. She inspires me to work hard and I wish to make her proud. I would like to give my mother her flowers while she can smell them. Hence, she is my daily motivation as I would like her to be proud of the woman she raised and for her to know that her lessons, love and tender care didn’t go to waste.”

Q: What are your future goals with DUT? 

A: “My ambitions include furthering my education. My department has the ability to have an impact in many communities, and I want to be a part of that because I am also from KwaMashu. My goals also include learning as much as possible from the role I am in.”

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

A: “The phrase “health is wealth” is often used. I hope to see my mother live for a very long time and in good health.”