Against Marinka Naudé’s office wall sits a black frame with the following quote:

“Service excellence can be attained
if we constantly strive to perfection
and care enough to do our very best in everyday”

Those who know her, also knows she’s constantly either on the move, in a meeting or surrounded by heaps of documents, busy sorting out admin. There’s no doubt she tries to fit as much as possible in an eight to five day. On paper she’s Head: IT Finances and Administration and oversees the correct application of financial policies, co-ordinating, planning, budgeting, management and administration of Personnel, Operational and Capital funds. But her job stretches much wider than the description.

A failed attempt, caused by confusion about the deadline, to enrol for Food Service Management at the Cape Tech, inadvertently, on the recommendation of a student advisor, rather led to a newly launched course, Company Administration. Standard 6 Accounting was quickly dusted off and her career kicked off. In spite of this, one of her favorite activities still remain browsing through recipe books and of course cooking.

Over the years she gained valuable experience working at a chartered accountant in the southern suburbs, an auditing firm in Worcester where calculators took flight during heated moments, and later at an estate agency in the city. In 1998 she accepted a job at IT under the Director of Administrative Information Systems, JJJ du Plessis.

Three years later he resigns and, in spite of being thrown in the deep end, Marinka takes over his financial duties.

“Everything is transaction driven and involves a cost.”

For this reason she is involved in many aspects of IT – from HR systems, staff plans and evaluations to managing the phone system and everything else with a financial slant. This variety of functions and the overview and understanding it gives one of an entire company, is the most fulfilling part of her work.

In 2008 she completes her BTech degree in Business Administration at CPUT part-time and in March of 2013 also an MBA at the SU Business school. Her thesis is based upon the university’s human resources system and titled “An Evaluation of the Oracle HRMS System at the University of Stellenbosch from a User’s Perspective”.

Considering Marinka was raised on a farm, it’s no coincidence she’s good at multi-tasking and works well under pressure. She fondly recalls all the farm activities on their farm outside Worcester – tractor rides during harvest time, early morning trips to the market and how used to floods the farm community in the area was.

“It’s a completely different life – something today’s children don’t know.”

Initially she attended a farm school with only 12 children – from Sub A to Standard 5 – with only one teacher. “We were so few, inevitably we all played together during breaks.” Later during high school she had to get up at 6:15 to catch the first of three buses to get to school in town.

She tries to avoid shopping centres and crowds and would much rather go camping, white water rafting of take to the air with a microlite. Even shark diving’s on her to-do list.

She clearly thrives on adrenalin – probably since childhood, if you listen to her stories about temperamental bullocks. They were brought up in groups of ten and had to be fed a powdered milk solution by hand twice a day.

But as they grew up, they also grew mischievous! Time and again they had to be chased out of the garden after they slipped out of their enclosure. Once Willie, Marinka’s brother, who was in the air force at the time, was particularly hesitant to take part in chasing and rather stood at a distance shouting “shoo, shoo!” Needless to say, it didn’t have much effect. Keeping a distance wasn’t such a bad idea, Marinka would confirm. She herself has been chased through a stream by one.

These days she prefers smaller and more docile animals like her two cats, Asjas and Trensie.

As a child she had to learn North-Sotho at school while they lived in Elsburg, but nowadays she’s also adding Xhosa to her list of languages.

“I just completed my first Xhosa course at the Language Center and will be starting the second one next week.” Otherwise she’s completed three Argus events, many walking events like the Big Walk and enjoy squash.

One things you can be sure of, if you need something done fast and effectively, you can just wander down the passage of IT’s second floor and Marinka will be there to help you. “Service excellence” indeed.

Jacky November, Anthea Davids and Jenny Watson is the formidable trio the Information Technology Purchasing department consists of.

These three chirpy ladies sacrificed 30 minutes of their Friday afternoon last week so I could chat to them. And although they were convinced that their lives were too uneventful to have something to say, the results of our conversation proved the contrary.

Between the three of them, they’ve accumulated 25 years of work at IT and for this reason alone, you should be convinced you’re in good hands if you need to know anything from laptops to network cables.

The main function of the Purchasing department is to handle telephonic or e-mail inquiries regarding hardware and orders and to request quotes from dealers for various components, printers, printer cartridges and desktop computers. All computers in need of repair are also received at this department.

The wide range of personalities they have to deal with, and sometimes strange inquiries, provide more than enough material for lighter moments. Unfortunately they couldn’t divulge all the details as they might get into trouble. But, according to Jenny, the saying “Never a dull moment”, describes their work environment best. She also believes the 25 years she spent in the furniture industry, has taught her valuable lessons in client service.

Jacky also dealt with her quota of difficult clients while working at an insurance company’s call centre. In spite of this experience, she still loves working with people and helping out. To such an extent that she’s currently busy with extra training as technician twice a week. Both she and Anthea have completed the N+ and A+ courses, as well as financial diplomas.

The fact that Jacky likes stand-up comedy, especially Trevor Noah’s, says a lot about her own sense of humour and possibly also her ability to take things with a pinch of salt when necessary.

“I like jokes and laughing.”

Humour and joking around is a common theme in this office. And when it comes to dressing the part, Anthea is usually the one with the best outfit – her colleagues can attest to this when Casual Day comes around each year. And she does it with enthusiasm. Anything involving fun and exercise, she’ll try.

“I’m game for anything”. Within limits of course, she adds quickly.

“At Ratanga Junction I’m the one who screams the loudest.”

In fact, she gets so excited, they pick her from the queue so she can go on rides first.

According to Jacky this excitement also becomes apparent when she animatedly starts talking to her computer’s screen – almost as entertaining as when she’s watching rugby on television.

She’s even up for the odd “foefie-slide”, but with paintball she draws the line. “It’s too painful!”

But don’t think Anthea’s the only adventurous one. During a recent holiday Jenny took to the treetops at Storms river. She did however have to buy the video as evidence to convince her children she did it. Quite impressive for someone who gets motion sickness on a swing!

Apart from this action packed part of the holiday, she made a proper historical trip over a large part of the country on her way to the Kruger National Park. The interest in history was instilled at an early age.

“If I was born in a different time, I would’ve liked to be an archaeologist.”

Places of historical interest and museums in Matjiesfontein and Graaff- Reinet were visited, as well as the Union Buildings and Voortrekkermonument. Even the “Vallei van Verlatenheid”.

Anthea will also be heading towards the Eastern Cape as representative for her church’s VGK brigade. And if you thought “brigade” had something to do with marching, you would be correct. But it’s also more than that. Her role as officer provides the opportunity to work closely with children of all ages and meet new people when traveling for competition – something she derives pleasure from.

While Anthea converses with her screen, Jacky apparently entertains her two colleagues by singing, something she used to do in her church’s gospel band. In the meantime. The phone buzzes with inquiries, but it’s swiftly dealt with between notes and laughs. Never a dull moment indeed.

For more information on hardware contact them at quotes@sun.ac.za.

The first thing I notice on Pietie Traut’s bookshelf is a sturdy Sociology book, securely wedged between various technical manuals. It makes complete sense that the study of social behaviour, development, organisation and institutions interest him.

Here we have someone who has so many stories to tell, after an hour and 45 minutes my pen’s ink ran dry. He loves people, but his thoroughness and consistency found a secure footing in his current position as Managing Head of IT’s Portfolio and Project Office.

People have to be given the opportunity to build a future for themselves within an organisation, to be given room for development.

“They must be given the opportunity to contend. Keep the dream alive!” His own career is a living example of this belief.

He was sent to school at an early age – “I was a busy child, my mother probably wanted to get rid of me.” At the age of 19, three years after completing matric, he started teaching matric.

His first PC was a ZX Spectrum with a mere 1k memory. At this stage he was already convinced that, one day, everything would work with buttons!

His love of technology led to a technical diploma, educational diploma (with technology as speciality) and a diploma in Data metrics and came to it’s full potential at various companies, among others the then Post Office, now Telkom SA.

“I’m actually an electrical guy.”

He remembers the installation of the first modem in Cape Town and how these pieces of equipment were still dismantled and fixed. The first modems ran at 200 bits per second, then 600 bps, 1200 bps, 2400 bps, etc. News photos in papers, also known as land line photos, were sent by copper land lines and then printed on photo paper with the words “Photo via land line” underneath.

Of course Morse code was the forerunner of electronic communication and later the teleprinter – an amazing piece of electro mechanics sending 7.5 bits at 50bps characters, on a copper land line – even overseas.

Those days, once you’ve worked for the Post Office, you wouldn’t be able to get another job at some other private institutions. But Pietie’s persistence paid off when he was appointed at Saambou’s computer division. Unfortunately this meant they had to move to Sunnyside in Pretoria. Initially he rented a flat from a Free State farmer with newspaper curtains. He works at Saambou for 7 months, while his wife, Estelle, misses the Cape desperately.

“Every time they showed Table Mountain on the television, she started crying.”

Around this time, in 1983, the first referendum for the three houses of parliament, was held and he went to vote with his youngest in tow in his pram.

His luck turned around when a colleague’s cousin, a manager at R&R (then Rupert & Rupert) in Paarl, stopped by for a tour of Saambou’s mainframe room. Without hesitating he asked for a job at R&R.

A week later he receives a call from the head of R&R’s Information Division. After negotiating payment of moving costs and furniture storage, Pietie and Estelle are back in Cape Town.

In 1984 he starts working at Stellenbosch University’s IT department with Kobus Meij, Nick Lubbe, Helmi Dreijer, Johann Kistner and also Herman Heunis, founder of Mxit.

Not long after Boland Bank offers him an opportunity to engineer his own career with a brand new position. He remembers this time as one of hard work. It was more than an 8 to 5 job.

“After normal working hours I went home and did the odd jobs around the house men are supposed to do, had dinner and at 9 o’clock went back to work until 2 the next morning.”

Over time dynamics at the bank changed, as with many others during the 80’s and 90’s. Bolank Bank becomes NBS Boland, then Boland PKS and in the end BoE Bank. PEP Bank is also born from these at the time and later also Capitec.

By this time he was smoking 40 cigarettes per day and Christmas 1999 he ends up in hospital to have a stent fitted. This and the unstable work environment convinced him to make a career change and for a second time, in October 2000 he joins the University. This time as Internet and Telecommunications Manager.

Under his management the three tier internet tariff structure is implemented, larger bandwidth is negotiated and the first Siemens IP speech telephone system installed.

“I was also responsible for investigating and facilitating the larger video conferencing systems on campus.” The highlight during this time was Prof Russel Botman’s video chat with the rector of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. The event was broadcasted in real-time from the Endler hall via a “borrowed” 15Mbps connection.

“I remember how Mohamed Shaikh came to hug me afterwards at the cocktail party. He was that relieved everything went without a hitch.” The success of this technically nerve-racking event was also made possible by Joe Smit and Barry Sauermann.

At the same time mass e-mails are being implemented, the traditional switchboard phased out and the current US Service Desk established.

In 2011 restructuring takes place within IT and Pietie reaches a fork in the road.

“I had to take a leap of faith.”

The leap of faith became IT’s Project office, consisting of Pietie, Marius Vorster and Camen Petersen. This team sees to all IT projects being documented and that the correct project management processes are followed. At the moment approximately 83 projects are in development and regular project board meetings are held to ensure these projects add value to business and the three strategic focus areas of SU, namely Academic, Research and Community Interaction.

However, this definitely isn’t an easy, smooth exercise – mind shifts have to be made in an environment where people are used to their own set ways.

“Success breeds success. If we can prove these processes work, we can change reasoning.” It’s all part of the challenge.

When they take a break Pietie and Estelle packs their new teardrop trailer and goes camping in Kenhardt (in winter) and Dwarskersbos (in summer).

“Pitching a tent is a test for any marriage. That’s why Estelle does it and I rather just walk away.”

No wonder it’s a bit stressful, considering a Taurus and Leo are equally stubborn and pig-headed.

Occasionally they also take the motorbike, a sturdy BMW R1200R road bike and explore the country. He’s completed 3 Buffalo Rallies and doesn’t mind driving long distances on his own.

Some of these trips include one of 4700km over 7 days to Phalaborwa  for a friend’s wedding, 2700km in 5 days to a farm on the Botwana border, 90 km’s east of Aranos in Namibia and this year almost 2400km in 6 days to Kenhardt, his home town. During the latter he backpacked to Elands Bay and ended up singing and playing guitar in the local Wit Mossel Pot. The bucket list still includes Route 66 in the USA, but at this stage he might swop it for a trip to Nashville for the Country Music Awards.

After almost 2 hours of stories (and a dried up pen), I was on my way to a next meeting, fairly satisfied that I had enough material to work with. But Pietie, fittingly as a story teller, had to have the last word.

“During that time I worked so hard, I also played in the band every weekend …. with Clive Bruce, Bles Bridges, Hennie from Egoli and Gene Rockwell. ”

“Did you play their songs?” I innocently asked.

“No, I was with them on stage! And then there’s that famous cousin of mine. He has this song called “Drie pikkewyne”, but I’m a better singer than he is!” he jokes.