He is a man who likes his filtered coffee, is not one for too many formalities and believes in making the most of his time. This is Prof Daryl Balia, the newly appointed deputy vice-chancellor for the campus in Potchefstroom.
We asked him to tell us more about himself and how he sees his future role.
Q: What type of person are you?
A: I don't know, really. Perhaps it's best for others to answer. I can tell you that I'm generally approachable and friendly, even when I look preoccupied.
I'd like to smile more often. Perhaps those I interact with – especially our students – will help me not to take life too seriously. Life is after all for the living, and we should make the most of every hour of every day.
I also don't hold grudges and will always try to give people the benefit of the doubt before I judge them. I learned that the hard way myself many times over and do not wish it upon others.
Q: What is your great ideal for the NWU during your term as DVC in Potchefstroom?
A: I would like to help take us closer to our ideal of a unitary university, sharing a common identity and being undivided in our anticipation of the society our founding father Nelson Mandela gave his life for.
Q: What do you expect from your staff?
A: Loyalty counts a lot, as does getting the job done in the best possible way.
Q: What is the first thing you will do on the morning you walk into your office as the new DVC?
A: I will start the day with a cup of hot filtered coffee – never instant!
Then I will start looking for any sign of Fika's ghost, lest it starts controlling me from day one and does not allow me to think for myself! No, I’m only joking of course. Truth be told, Fika has been wonderful in helping me make the transition.
On my first day I must also visit my neighbours in the building, the registrar being one of them, to make sure that when I shout for help, they will run to my aid.
Q: Are you looking forward to your term as DVC?
A: I suppose I'm required by convention to answer that question with a loud yes. Yet, if I'm honest, that is the way I would answer the question once my appointment has really sunk in.
Since my appointment was confirmed, I've had two trips abroad and have been trying to deal with a hectic schedule. The reality has not fully dawned upon me but be assured that come January, I will be firmly in the driving seat.
I have a great vision of keeping the NWU – and the Potchefstroom Campus in particular – the very desirable place that it is for so many of our staff and students. Our passion for Potchefstroom, however, must be nurtured by our desire to reflect the new society we aspire towards. We should lead in such a way that others will follow.
Q: What is a little-known fact about yourself?
A: I’m not sure if I should say this, but like my late father who owned only one coat and never wore a tie, I'm also not given to formality and protocol. (The VC must not read this.)
If we lived without pomp, pride and circumstance I'd be the last to complain. I have learned, however, that you can’t escape it completely. It seems as if my whole life has been about one performance after another. This led me to understand that life, at least the one I chose for myself, is theatre played out in a series of acts until the curtain falls.
Q: What do you really dislike?
A: Phone calls from marketing agents, completing forms and waiting in queues are high on my list. I also hate having to wake up early in the middle of a freezing winter. I think I moved back to South Africa from Britain because of that, though I told my children otherwise.
It certainly seems as if Prof Daryl knows what he likes and dislikes. It is also clear that the next deputy vice-chancellor on the campus in Potchefstroom lives life to its fullest, making sure that every minute matters.
Prof Daryl Balia will be the next deputy vice-chancellor on the campus in Potchefstroom.
