Celebrating 30 Years of Achieving Together My UVPERSU journey, my farewell message and a birthday wish to UVPERSU

In October 1995, I started working for the UFS Meeting Administration Department, which was part of the Registrar, Mr Willem Malherbe’s portfolio. My office was a small office next to the then rector, Prof Francois Retief’s office. Mr Ruben Gouws was my immediate line manager, and Ms Nellie Friend was the office manager, and she could type very fast! I was scared to death of computers and my famous last words at my interview were that I’m willing to learn and to work hard, just as long as I don’t have to work on a computer! But we had Nellie!

In 1996, UVPERSU was formed when the UFS Support Services Association and the UFS Lecturer’s Association amalgamated to form a trade union which was registered in 1997. Prof Gerhard Fick, and later, Prof Johan Grobbelaar, can officially be seen as the founders of the new union, and they were also the first chairpersons. Mr Ruben Gouws, Ms Esta Knoetze and Mr Pieter Fourie also played a significant role in the development of UVPERSU.

In 1997, just after UVPERSU was registered as a trade union, the UFS Council allocated the ground level of the Flippie Groenewoud Building to UVPERSU to be used as the union’s office complex. Through the years, the office complex underwent many renovations and UVPERSU bought a painting and valuable wooden furniture pieces that were once part of a former rector’s office. During my time in the UVPERSU office, I had the privilege to work very closely with several vice chancellors and council members.

UVPERSU gives people life and hope in the workplace, strives for transformation, fairness and respect in so many ways, and over the years created miracles out of nothing! Co-operation and achieving together, have always been a major goal for UVPERSU, but the union and its representatives never hesitate to challenge certain issues in a very discreet and diplomatic way, like only a dedicated and committed union can do.

UVPERSU gives people life and hope in the workplace.

Former CEO, UVPERSU

UVPERSU, as the union of choice, and its management and representatives also never hesitate to take that reasonable “chance” in the interest of members and the UFS as the workplace of choice. The law is always adhered to and respected.

I can’t leave after 27 years without saying thank you to members, management committee members, chairpersons, treasurers who served over the years, and Sarien Crous, whose valuable support kept me going! Since 2020, Dr Henk Potgieter as chairperson, led and guided me and the union in the most amazing ways, with his insight and knowledge. UVPERSU is all about teamwork! And the same goes for the previous management committee members and vice chairpersons that were part of my final union years. You are all highly appreciated, and I will never forget our union journey and all the adventures we shared!

The late Vuyo Mbuli rightly said: At the end of it all, life is about memories. I left the UVPERSU office with wonderful memories which I will treasure for years to come…

Happy 30th birthday UVPERSU, and may there be many more wonderful birthdays! For our members, I have the following advice: Tell people to be nice to you! “Be nice; I have union advice from UVPERSU!”

To my successor, Ms Christelle Coetzee, and the new chairperson, Prof Sethulego Matebesi, I know you will take the best higher education union in the world from strength to strength! Make good memories and keep on achieving together! And always live up to the following: