Nearly 3 700 years! That is the number of service years for which staff of the North-West University (NWU) campus in Potchefstroom and at the Institutional Office were recently honoured.

During the events the staff were thanked for their hard work, commitment and caring attitude.

Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, acting rector of the campus, said that the staff’s caring and cooperative attitude is very precious. “Management was recently compelled to have a divided vision to ensure that the restructuring continues, and we are so grateful that the staff continued with their core business. Staff could have switched over to neutral, but no-one did that and the university just went from strength to strength.”

“I am only one person who shakes your hand, but it is the whole university that embraces you and says thank you.”

Prof Martin Oosthuizen, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, said at the institutional event that when you have a special group of people who have been working here for a long time and who know the challenges of the university, they are the best people to take the lead to help management to make the new strategy work by focusing on the institution’s strong points and rectifying things where they go wrong.

“Please continue to give your best service to the institution. Keep on being the critical institutional memory of the NWU and being the champions of our shared vision and dream. Help us so that we can build a better NWU together in the years to come.”

Mr Stoffel Seleke of the transport division on the campus was the only recipient of a certificate of honour for 45 years of service. His colleagues said that he was a very responsible and diligent man who is always friendly and helpful towards everybody.

Four staff members were honoured for 40 years of service, namely Ms Elizabeth Loate, Ms Anriëtte Joubert, Mr André Joubert and Mr Johannes Ntsie.

Altogether nine people received their 35 years’ award, 14 received their 30 years’ award, 11 their 25 years’ award, 19 their 20 years’ award, 68 their 15 years’ awards and 108 their 10 years’ award.

 Recipients of their long-service awards are from the left Mr Danie Stoop (electrical and electronic services – 25 years), Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg (acting campus rector), Prof Luke Sandham (subject group Geography – 30 years) and Prof Aubrey Golightly (Education Sciences – 15 years).

Altogether five staff members from the Institutional Office retired this year. From the left they are Elza Moorcroft (16 years’ service), Ria Robberts (23 years’ service), Rina Scott (39 years’ service) and Riaan van der Walt (32 years’ service). At the back is Prof Martin Oosthuizen, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning. (Mr Willie Jansen van Vuuren, with 11 years’ service, was absent).