After almost 25 years IT very reluctantly has to say goodbye to Basil Pietersen.

Basil is the one person who will never walk past your office in the morning without saying good morning. And if he forgets (which rarely happens), he’ll make sure he does so later.

Over the years I’ve known him as someone who will always make time to talk, crack a joke and go out of his way to do something for someone else. And its exactly this need to keep people happy which led to the fork in his road.

In future his focus will be ministry – something he had to keep on the back burner since he was ordained as pastor in 2013. Now that his time will be a bit more flexible, a holiday might be a possibility for the first time in a while. And his wife Magdalene (Maggie), three sons, Bradley, Shane and Elvizo will be especially happy to see more of their husband, father and grandfather.

“Ministry is my passion. It’s who I am.”

He wants to improve the lives of others and is closely involved with upliftment in the community. Whether it’s through input on the municipal housing committee or social work, counselling and community interaction in Idas Valley. He also serves on the Idas Valley ministers’ forum and one of his main aims is to enable local ministers to work together and build relationships within the community.

But he won’t limit himself only to his own community – “I go where I’m needed”. Work in Transkei and even in the Netherlands lies in the future.

His colleagues agree. “[Basil] is a good counsellor who guides you in life. I see him as Information Technology’s pastor”, says one of his longstanding colleagues, Anthony Bailey. He’s always willing to help anyone, any time of day.

“IT led me to where I am now. I’ll never diminish what it meant to me.”

The challenges that user support can sometimes bring was never a frustration. He saw it as part of the growth process. Apart from acquiring work and technical experience, it made him develop as a person. And this brought him to where he is now – ready for the next phase of his life.

Data transfers were his specialty as it’s a time consuming process and he’s “as patient as Job”.

Do you still remember Windows 3.1 and XT DOS CW16? That was the software Basil used when he started working at SED (Central Electronic Services) in March 1991 as a supervisor in the cabling team. This was before the IT department as we know it even existed. Albrecht Bester, currently head of network infrastructure, was also his manager at the time. The team was responsible for starting the phasing out process of coaxial and Ethernet cables. A large task which would lay the groundwork for the network in its current state.

By completing his A+ qualification, a new path opened up for him and he started to train as a technician. During this time he was frequently thrown in the deep end and he had to swim to survive.

Being on stand-by afterhours was challenging at times. You are on your own and when there’s a crisis you need to make the right decision and this brings huge responsibility.

“Basil is a people person. And you can never take that away from him.”

By being on campus on a daily basis and interacting with users, taught him a lot about people. In time he could quickly determine how to approach someone, when to listen and when to rather keep quiet. But in the end, his main aim was to protect ITs name and portray a positive image.

Of course being born and bred in Stellenbosch and knowing many people also helps. This is where he belongs and where he’s at his happiest.

Going away was a difficult decision and made for many a sleepless night. But he knows he’s making the right decision and that a new phase is about to start. For the first time in a long while he feels both content and excited about what lies ahead.

“ITs people meant a lot to me and they’ve been there through the good and bad times. But above all, I have to thank by Saviour. Without him none of this would’ve been possible.”

Na amper 25 jaar moet IT baie teësinnig einde Junie totsiens sê aan Basil Pietersen. 

Basil is die een persoon wat elke oggend verby jou kantoor stap en sal groet – en as hy vergeet (feitlik nooit), `n punt daarvan maak om dit later te doen.  

Deur die jare het ek hom leer ken as iemand wat altyd tyd sal hê om te gesels, `n grappie te maak en uit sy pad uit sal gaan om iets vir iemand anders te doen. En dis ook hierdie gewoonte om sy medemens gelukkig te hou wat die vurk in sy pad meegebring het.

Voortaan sal hy fokus op geestelike bediening – iets wat hy sedert sy inwyding as pastoor in 2013 deeltyds moes inpas saam met sy werk. Noudat sy tyd `n bietjie meer buigbaar gaan wees, sal `n vakansie vir die eerste keer in `n lang tyd moontlik wees. En sy vrou Magdalene (Maggie), drie seuns, Bradley, Shane en Elvizo en vier kleinkinders sal verseker bly wees om meer van hulle man, pa en oupa te sien.

“Die bediening is my passie. Dit is ek.”

Hy wil die lewe probeer beter maak vir ander en is reeds nou betrokke by die opheffing van die gemeenskap. Of dit nou is deur middel van insette op die munisipale behuisingskomitee of maatskaplike werk, raadgewing en gemeenskapsinteraksie in Idasvallei. Hy dien ook op die Idasvallei-leraarsforum en sien een van sy hoofdoelwitte om plaaslike predikante saam te laat werk en verhoudings binne die gemeenskap te bou.

Maar moenie dink hy beperk hom tot sy nabye omgewing nie – “Ek gaan waar dit nodig is”. Hy maak reeds planne vir sendingwerk in Transkei en Nederland is selfs `n opsie.

Sy kollegas is dit eens. “[Basil] is `n goeie berader wat jou rigting gee in die lewe. Ek sien hom as die pastoor van Informasietegnologie”, sê een van sy jarelange kollegas, Anthony Bailey. Hy is altyd gewillig om enigiemand te help, enige tyd van die dag.

“IT het my gebring waar ek nou is. Ek sal dié deel van my lewe nooit uitskryf nie.”

Die uitdagings wat gebruikersondersteuning soms bied was nie vir hom `n frustrasie nie. Hy het dit gesien as deel van die groeiproses. Buiten vir die werksondervinding en tegniese ervaring wat hy opgedoen het, het dit hom  as `n mens laat groei. Iets wat hom gebring het waar hy nou is – gereed vir die volgende fase van sy lewe.

Data-oordrag was sy spesialisarea, omdat dit ure neem en hy “die geduld van Job” het.

Onthou jy nog Windows 3.1 en XT DOS CW16? Dis die sagteware waarmee Basil gewerk het toe hy in Maart 1991 as oorsiener in die bekabelingspan begin het by SED (Sentrale Elektroniese Dienste). Dit was voordat daar `n IT-afdeling bestaan het soos ons dit tans ken. Albrecht Bester, tans hoof van netwerkinfrastruktuur, was ook sy hoof en dié span was destyds verantwoordelik vir die eerste uitfassering van koaksiale en ethernet kabels, ‘n groot werk wat die grondslag sou lê vir die huidige netwerkinfrastruktuur.

Die voltooing van A+ kwalifikasie het hom van rigting laat verander en hy het hom begin bekwaam as tegnikus. In dié omgewing word jy in die diep kant ingegooi en moet jy leer swem en oorleef.

Om na-ure bystand te doen was soms uitdagend. Jy is op jou eie aangewese en in `n tyd van krisis moet jy die regte besluit neem as niemand beskikbaar is nie en dit bring geweldige verantwoordelikheid.

“Basil is `n mens-mens. Dit kan nie van hom weggeneem kan word nie.”

Deur op `n daaglikse basis op kampus te wees en gebruikers te help met probleme, het hom geweldig baie van mense geleer. Later kon hy bepaal hoe om iemand te benader en deur die jare het hy geleer wanneer om iets te sê, wanneer om te luister en wanneer om liewer stil te bly. Die belangrikste doel was om IT se naam te dra, beskerm en sy beste sy te wys. 

Stellenbosch is waar hy grootgeword het en dis waar hy hoort en gelukkig is.

Om weg te gaan by IT was `n moeilike besluit en het gesorg vir baie slapelose nagte. Maar hy weet hy neem die regte besluit en dat die nuwe fase van sy lewe nou gaan begin. Vir die eerste keer in `n lang tyd is hy ook nou rustig en opgewonde oor wat voorlê.

“IT se mense het vir my baie beteken en was daar deur al die hoogte- en laagtepunte. En dan moet ek dankie sê vir my Skepper, want sonder hom sou niks hiervan moontlik gewees het nie.” 

After 28 years Helmi Dreijer, Information Technology’s Senior Director will be retiring at the end of 2014. “Retiring” might not be the correct term when referring to Helmi though. Spending time lounging on a stoep will only be on his list in ten years’ time, he says. Marida, his wife, also devised a few things to keep him busy with.

Everyone who know Helmi knows he has an unlimited amount of energy and that he’s always busy running around. He believes life’s too short and there’s too much still to do.

However, he is looking forward having more time for his passions – friends, family and golf (in no particular order). Especially golf of course. He professes he doesn’t have a golf handicap, the game itself is in fact the handicap. But he remains optimistic about his golf skills and believes they will vastly improve in a few years’ time. He also wants to convince a few colleagues to take up the game.

“Technology tends to consume and suck you in and then you don’t see the beautiful mountains surrounding us. Now I have the opportunity to enjoy the mountains more.” They’re looking forward to this new phase in their lives, but it will still include many of his old colleagues.

One of the most important lessons he’s learnt over the years, is to balance your passion for work with your passion outside work.

Technology has always been one of his greatest passions and in spite of his time at Information Technology coming to an end, he has various ideas and plans lined up already.

“I still want to contribute and make a difference where technology is involved.”

Higher education institutions will be depending on and using technology more and more in the future. Especially video-stream technology can create many opportunities for teaching and learning.

He was involved in the first eCampus project where the value of technology was highlighted. The second eCampus project is playing an even bigger role in enriching the classroom experience and also to broaden the university’s footprint, locally, as well as internationally.

He’s not too concerned about his legacy at IT. “The IT environment changes so quickly and 2015’s IT management already have exciting developments lined up.”

His biggest motivation over the years to go to work with a positive attitude has been the people. In time colleagues became friends and this is what he’ll miss the most.

“To get to work on a Monday and listen to everyone’s weekend adventures – who went hiking in the mountain, fell off a bike, went windsurfing and of course, did something great with technology.

Intellectual talks, the challenge to help solve a sticky problem and the opportunity to make a difference, provided more than enough daily motivation. He says it’s easy to be positive when most of his colleagues at the university have a positive attitude themselves.

“Success leads to success and positive thinking. Together with other university colleagues IT managed to accomplish quite a bit.”

He still remembers the first e-mail he and Herman Heunes sent from the Vax and PC and the excitement of the event.

His interest in computers was sparked in 1974 when the first Apple computer was imported to South Africa. He immediately started to disassemble it and tried copying it electronically so he and his friends could afford their own versions. It took a while, but on the West Coast, where he lived at the time, time stands still.

“My son was almost called Apple!”

At school mathematics, science and canoeing, rugby and athletics kept him busy. “All those things that get a boy’s adrenalin pumping.” He still believes one has something which scares you every day. Do something bold, but don’t be reckless.

At Stellenbosch he studied Engineering, first Electronic, but also Industrial Engineering. Later in his career he completed an MBA and at this point, became more interested in Information Technology.

During the interview for his position at IT, the Vice Rector of Operations asked him why he wanted to return to Stellenbosch. He replied by saying, initially one comes to Stellenbosch to become a full-grown person and that he wanted to recreate and continue this feeling of growing and experiencing things in Stellenbosch.

“Phew, Marida and me won’t give up Stellenbosch for anything in the world.”

There is nothing he won’t miss, he says. Even struggling with problems and battling to find a solution, in spite of technical glitches with 3G and Wi-Fi, wasn’t as bad.

Unfortunately some users initially though Information Technology was a general information service and could, among other things, tell you how to prepare frogs’ legs! Incidents like these made for light entertainment.

“The entire time I spent at Information Technology was a highlight. To be part of something bigger and make a difference is an amazing experience and privilege.”

Na 28 jaar tree Helmi Dreijer, Informasietegnologie se Senior Direkteur, aan die einde van 2014 af. “Aftree” is inderwaarheid nie heeltemal die regte beskrywing nie, want daar is geen sprake van op `n stoep sit en rus nie. Marida, sy vrou, het te veel planne vir hom. Hy sal eers oor 20 jaar stoepsit begin oorweeg, sê hy.

Almal wat vir Helmi ken, weet dat hy `n onuitputbare bron van energie is en altyd soveel moontlik probeer uitrig. Volgens hom gaan die lewe te vinnig verby en daar is net soveel dae om alles in te pas.

Hy sien wel daarna uit om meer tyd te hê om sy passies –  vriende, familie en golf (in geen spesifieke volgorde) uit te leef. Veral golf natuurlik. Hy beweer hy het nie `n voorgee nie, golf self is sy “handicap”. Maar hy bly optimisties dat hy oor `n paar jaar aansienlik beter gaan wees en wil ook `n paar kollegas ompraat om saam te begin speel.

“Tegnologie het die geneigdheid om jou in te suig…en die mooi berge rondom ons mis te kyk. Ek kry nou die geleentheid om meer gereeld die berge te geniet. “Ek en Marida sien uit na die volgende fase in ons lewe, maar dit gaan baie van my ou kollegas insluit.

Een van die belangrikste lesse wat hy oor die jare geleer het, is dat `n mens jou passie vir werk moet balanseer met jou passie buite werk.

Tegnologie was nog altyd een van sy grootste passies en hoewel sy tyd by Informasietegnologie tot `n einde kom, is daar alreeds `n hele reeks idees en planne waarmee hy homself besighou.

“Ek wil nog `n bydrae en verskil maak waar tegnologie `n rol kan speel.”

Hoër opvoedkundige instansies gaan in die toekoms toenemend staatmaak en gebruikmaak van tegnologie.  Veral videostroom-tegnologie skep groot geleenthede vir leer en onderrig.

Hy was destyds reeds betrokke by die eerste eKampus-projek waar die fokus op die waarde van tegnologie geplaas is. Die tweede eKampus projek gaan nou nog verder om ‘n baie groter rol te speel, om die ervaring in die klaskamer te verryk en ook die voetspoor van die universiteit te verbreed, plaaslik sowel as internasionaal.

Oor sy nalatenskap by IT is hy geensins bekommerd nie. “Die IT-terrein verander so vinnig en die IT-bestuur vir 2015 is reeds besig met lekker nuwe planne.”

Sy grootste motivering om elke dag positief by die werk op te daag, was mense. Kollegas het mettertyd vriende geword en dis hulle wat hy die  meeste gaan mis.

“Om Maandag by die werk te kom en almal se naweekstories te hoor oor wie die berge is was, wie met `n fiets geval het, wie gaan “wind-surf” het, en natuurlik, wie wat reggekry het met tegnologie.

Intellektuele gesprekke, die uitdaging om `n probleem te help oplos en die geleentheid om `n verskil te maak, het daagliks oorgenoeg motivering gebied. Hy sê dis maklik om positief te wees as daar min mense by die universiteit is wat nie ook positief is nie.

“Sukses lei tot sukses en positiewe denke. Saam met kollegas het IT nogal iets reggekry.”

Hy onthou nog toe die eerste e-pos wat hy en Herman Heunes tussen die Vax en PR (persoonlike rekenaar soos dit destyds genoem is) gestuur het en die opwinding wat daarmee saamgegaan het.

Sy belangstelling in rekenaars het in 1974 begin toe die eerste Apple rekenaar na Suid-Afrika ingevoer is. Hy het dit dadelik uitmekaargehaal en elektronies probeer nadoen sodat hy en sy vriende dit kon bekostig. Dit het lank geneem, maar, soos hy tereg sê, aan die Weskus waar hy hom gedurende daardie tyd bevind het, is daar baie tyd.

“My seun se naam was amper Apple!”

Op skool was wiskunde, wetenskap en sport soos kano, rugby en atletiek , “die goed wat seuns se adrenalien laat pomp”, vir hom lekker.  Hy glo ook `n mens moet elke dag iets waarvoor jy eintlik bang is, doen. Wees waagmoedig, maar nie waaghalsig nie.

Op Stellenbosch het hy Ingenieurswese, eers Elektronies en daarna Bedryfsingenieurswese, studeer. Later in sy loopbaan het hy ook `n MBA voltooi en meer in Informasietegnologie begin belangstel.

Tydens die onderhoud vir sy pos by IT het die destydse Viserektor: Bedryf gevra hoekom hy wil terugkeer na Stellenbosch. Sy antwoord was dat jy na Stellenbosch kom om “mens” te word en dat hy die lekker gevoel van “mens-word” nog verder op Stellenbosch wil uitbou en uitleef.

“Sjoe, ek en Marida sal Stellenbosch vir geen plek in die wêreld wil verruil nie.”

Daar is niks wat hy NIE gaan mis nie. Dit selfs lekker om met probleme te stoei en oplossings te vind – al was daar frustrerende tegnologie soos netwerke, 3G en Wi-Fi wat dinge soms moeilik gemaak het. Sommige gebruikers het egter gedink Informasietegnologie is `n inligtingsdiens en verskaf ook inligting soos hoe om paddaboutjies gaar te maak. Sulke insidente het gesorg vir vermaak tussendeur.

“Om by Informasietegnologie te kon werk was `n hoogtepunt al die pad. Om deel te wees en om `n (e)verskil te maak is wonderlik en `n voorreg.”