The road is flanked by a feast of wild garlic, spekboom and lavender with agapanthus sprouting generously between buildings. What was once called a bush, has truly transformed into a floral kingdom of higher learning.
For weeks, staff at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have been toiling and pruning, watering and raking, polishing and scrubbing, to welcome students back to campus and greet new ones with a broad smile. You will find these staff members everywhere - from the entrance off Robert Sobukwe Road, all along the winding pathways to the Japanese architecture, and from the inspired archway to the administration buildings.
Thabo Mhlebi has worked for the University of the Western Cape for eight years. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC
Thabo Mhlebi has worked as a service provider at UWC for eight years. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, navy pants and shoes so shiny you can smell the polish, he flashes a welcoming smile as he opens the boom at the entrance for visitors. His methodical approach ensures that there is little to no congestion at the access gate. It is not always easy, but Mhlebi manages to acknowledge every staff member with a unique greeting, having not seen many of them since the University closed for the festive season. Unlike them, he never really left campus as he had been working throughout December and January.
“It was very quiet, very quiet,” he explained. The highlight of his job is interacting with people, especially employees who he has come to know well over the years. “It is stress-free. We mostly work with staff and love the people here,” he said when asked what his favourite part of his job is.
Mhlebi commutes from Nyanga every day and works from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. His passion for the job is shared by his colleague, Francois Plaatjies, who was admiring a box of biscuits he had just been gifted by a staff member. “You see how they spoil us!” exclaimed Plaatjies.
Colin Jones smiles shyly outside the Student Centre. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC
When one ventures further on the campus grounds, the aroma of freshly cut grass fills the air, leaf blowers buzz, cleaners chuckle as they go about their tasks, and sprinklers whir in all green spaces.
This is Colin Jones’ “office”. He has worked on campus for six years. Jones spends his days mainly emptying and cleaning bins. “It’s been very quiet and there’s no mess,” he said. “Campus is very busy when everyone is here. The bins are always full,” said Jones. He is dressed in blue overalls, sitting in the shade of the Student Centre during his lunch break.
Jones enjoys working at UWC. “My supervisor is very understanding; there’s no stress,” he said. “The students are very friendly. They like to greet or greet me back. They are very understanding and mostly listen when I ask them to pick up the papers. Some are headstrong, but I just leave them.”
Nolubabalo Phuhlwana takes pride in her job. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC
Not far away, Nolubabalo Phuhlwana proudly stands to attention. She has worked as a service provider for UWC’s Campus Protection Services (CPS) since December 2012. The buzz on campus excites her every day. “I’m very happy for students coming back because when it’s quiet, the day is longer, you see. It’s better to get busy. Then I’m happy,” says Phuhlwana, adjusting her doek, which she uses to tie up her braids.
She is one of two women employed by CPS to guard the campus, and jokes that she prefers it that way as the men never give her stress. She falls quiet and slowly looks around. “I like the place; it’s a beautiful place and is quiet. It’s not dangerous ... there are no skollies here, you see. When you come here, you feel free. When I’m here, I feel happy. So I like this place. I’m safe.”
These are the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes every day to ensure the campus and the academic year run like clockwork when studies are underway.
For weeks, staff at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have been toiling and pruning, watering and raking, polishing and scrubbing, to welcome students back to campus and greet new ones with a broad smile. You will find these staff members everywhere - from the entrance off Robert Sobukwe Road, all along the winding pathways to the Japanese architecture, and from the inspired archway to the administration buildings.
Thabo Mhlebi has worked for the University of the Western Cape for eight years. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC“It was very quiet, very quiet,” he explained. The highlight of his job is interacting with people, especially employees who he has come to know well over the years. “It is stress-free. We mostly work with staff and love the people here,” he said when asked what his favourite part of his job is.
Mhlebi commutes from Nyanga every day and works from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. His passion for the job is shared by his colleague, Francois Plaatjies, who was admiring a box of biscuits he had just been gifted by a staff member. “You see how they spoil us!” exclaimed Plaatjies.
Colin Jones smiles shyly outside the Student Centre. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCThis is Colin Jones’ “office”. He has worked on campus for six years. Jones spends his days mainly emptying and cleaning bins. “It’s been very quiet and there’s no mess,” he said. “Campus is very busy when everyone is here. The bins are always full,” said Jones. He is dressed in blue overalls, sitting in the shade of the Student Centre during his lunch break.
Jones enjoys working at UWC. “My supervisor is very understanding; there’s no stress,” he said. “The students are very friendly. They like to greet or greet me back. They are very understanding and mostly listen when I ask them to pick up the papers. Some are headstrong, but I just leave them.”
Nolubabalo Phuhlwana takes pride in her job. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCShe is one of two women employed by CPS to guard the campus, and jokes that she prefers it that way as the men never give her stress. She falls quiet and slowly looks around. “I like the place; it’s a beautiful place and is quiet. It’s not dangerous ... there are no skollies here, you see. When you come here, you feel free. When I’m here, I feel happy. So I like this place. I’m safe.”
These are the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes every day to ensure the campus and the academic year run like clockwork when studies are underway.
