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17 October 2023 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Nonsindiso Qwabe
Mokitlane Manyarela
Mokitlane Manyarela reflects on his 41-year journey with the UFS Qwaqwa Campus

He has seen the many changing faces of the Qwaqwa Campus, and four decades later, Mokitlane Manyarela says he would not have it any other way.

Fondly known on campus as ‘Ntate Manyarela’, he has been with the campus for 41 years, having started on 1 January 1982 at the ripe age of 18 years. Manyarela recently received a long-service award for 36 years of service, dating back to when the campus moved to its current location from where it started at Lere la Tshepe in 1982.

He recalls arriving at the campus offices in town in 1982 seeking employment, as there were no “buildings or campus” back then.

“I started working as a general worker because there was nothing else to do. All the university’s content would come from Turfloop in those days. As time went by, I worked in the reprographic section, printing exam papers. That was my first official job until the campus moved in 1988 to where we’re now located. All the buildings that are now filling this campus were constructed right in front of my eyes,” he said.

He went on to work for various departments on the campus, such as procurement, cashiers, and finance. In 2007, he joined the transport department, and that is where he is still working as an assistant officer. “What’s made me stay this long is not getting into fights with anyone and always following instructions given to me. I’ve worked under many different bosses, and I believe that none of them have anything negative to say about me. Therefore, I can say I’ve never had a reason to leave because everything I’ve done, I have done wholeheartedly.”

Manyarela said the university also afforded his wife and children the opportunity to obtain their degrees, which is something he considers a huge achievement. “All that I have has been achieved at this institution. It’s been a wonderful journey. I have no complaints, and I am content. I’ve reached my old age here. I don’t know any other job or work environment; this place has become like home to me, and I’m prepared to still give my all to this university, even though old age is now catching up with me.”

News Archive

Kovsie Extravaganza
2011-09-14

 

Once again, Kovsies will showcase its most talented students at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in the annual Kovsie Extravaganza on 21st and 22nd September 2011. With guest artists, Vusi ‘The Voice’ Mahlasela and Die Heuwels Fantasties, it promises to be a first-class production. Expect music styles as diverse as hip-hop and pantsula dancers, a student string quartet, jazz band, various vocal groups and the winners of the campus serenade competition.

While it will certainly be a night to remember, this year will also benefit a cause you will find hard to forget. R25 of every ticket sold will go towards the No Student Hungry campaign (NSH), currently feeding just over a hundred Kovsie students on a daily basis. This means that the donation from each ticket bought will effectively buy one student food for one day.

Hunger on the Kovsie campus is an invisible problem that few ever consider, yet it affects an estimated 10% of the 31 000 students at Kovsies. ‘The problem with hunger at a learning institution is that it hampers talent. A hungry person can never achieve their full potential,’ says Grace Jansen, patroness of NSH.

To help alleviate this situation, you can buy a ticket for R75 at the PACOFS ticket office and join us on the 21st or 22nd September at the Sand du Plessis Theatre. Not only will it be a great night out, but you'll be doing your bit to invest in talent. Watch the press over the next two weeks for more information on this initiative.

If you'd like to know more about this topic or to schedule an interview with Cornelia Faasen, please contact her on 051 401 2819 or e-mail faasenc@ufs.ac.za.

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