Ms Denise Snyders, who joined UWC in 1984, has retired with effect from 1 September 2022.

Over these 38 years she worked alongside 10 Law Deans, successfully steering student administration though often difficult times. Her lifetime with her UWC family was shared with her husband Vernon and daughters Ramona, Abigail and Kayla. The three girls are now all graduates of UWC, Ramona with an LLB degree (2016), Abigail with a BSc degree in Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (2020), and Kayla with a B Nursing degree (2021).

After Matric (1982), Ms Snyders enrolled at the Peninsula Technikon for a National Secretarial Certificate (Public Affairs), a two-year full time course. As part of their practical training, students were placed at various companies. Denise came to UWC for the period 16 to 20 July 1984. She was 19 years old at the time. She spent her week at the Science Faculty. Whilst there she rotated between the various departments (Botany, Pharmacy, Physics and Mathematics) as well as spent time with the Senior Administrative Officer in the Dean's Office. In December, the Secretary at the Physics Department went on maternity leave and Denise was contacted to fill the three-month vacancy. In February the following year, Denise was offered a post at the Law Faculty. She started at the Law Faculty on 1 March 1985 and was the Faculty's 'Sekretaris'. 

In 1993 the University engaged in a process of job evaluation and all posts on the non-academic establishment of the University were evaluated. Her post title changed to Faculty Officer and she remembers that she received a cheque to the amount of R13.83 due to the adjustment of her salary. Denise loved working with students, and has very fond memories of them. They also loved and appreciated her. An alumnus of the Faculty in the 1990s (Mbulelo Bikwani), who later became the Chairperson of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Council, contacted her by phone at UWC in 2011, and afterwards remarked that ‘it is amazing how, even 20 years later, you remain the same cheerful, respectful, welcoming and warm person you were in the 1990s’.

The Faculty wishes Denise well on her journey ahead and expresses its gratitude for her commitment through all the years.




















Ms Denise Snyders and Ms Elizabeth Witten assisting High School learners at a UWC Career Exhibition