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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m actually an electrical guy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Those days, once you’ve worked for the Post Office,\u00a0you 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time they showed Table Mountain on the television, she started crying.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In 1984 he starts working at Stellenbosch University’s IT department with\u00a0Kobus Meij, Nick Lubbe, Helmi Dreijer, Johann Kistner and also Herman Heunis, founder of\u00a0Mxit.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter 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.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Under his management the three tier internet tariff structure is implemented, larger bandwidth is negotiated and the first Siemens IP speech telephone system installed.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u00a0Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. The event was broadcasted in real-time from the Endler hall via a “borrowed”\u00a015Mbps connection.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember how Mohamed Shaikh came to hug me afterwards at the\u00a0cocktail party. <\/em>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.<\/p>\n At the same time mass e-mails are being implemented, the traditional switchboard phased out and the current US Service Desk established.<\/p>\n In 2011 restructuring\u00a0takes place within IT and Pietie reaches a fork in the road.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to take a\u00a0leap of faith.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The leap of faith<\/em>\u00a0became 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSuccess breeds success<\/em>. If we can prove these processes work, we can change reasoning.” It’s all part of the challenge.<\/p>\n When they take a break\u00a0Pietie and Estelle packs their new teardrop trailer and goes camping in Kenhardt (in winter) and Dwarskersbos (in summer).<\/p>\n \u201cPitching a tent is a test for any marriage. That’s why Estelle does it and I rather just walk away.”<\/span><\/p>\n No wonder it’s a bit stressful, considering a Taurus and Leo are equally stubborn and pig-headed.<\/p>\n Occasionally they also take the motorbike, a sturdy\u00a0BMW R1200R\u00a0road bike and explore the country. He’s completed\u00a03 Buffalo Rallies and doesn’t mind driving\u00a0long distances\u00a0on his own.<\/p>\n Some of these trips include one of\u00a04700km over 7 days to\u00a0Phalaborwa \u00a0for 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\u00a02400km 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\u00a0Wit Mossel Pot. <\/em>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\u00a0Country Music Awards.<\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring 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.\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you play their songs?\u201d I innocently asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, 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.Die eerste ding wat ek op Pietie Traut se boekrak raakkyk, is `n stewige\u00a0Sosiologie-handboek, vasgepen tussen allerlei tegniese handleidings. Dit maak sin dat `n vakgebied wat sosiale optrede, ontwikkeling, organisasie en instansies hom interesseer.<\/p>\n Hier het ons met iemand te doen wat soveel stories het om te vertel dat my pen se ink na `n\u00a0uur en 45 minute begin opraak het. Hy\u2019s lief vir mense, maar sy deeglikheid en konsekwentheid kry stewige vastrapplek in sy huidige posisie as Bestuurshoof van IT\u00a0se Portefeulje- en Projekkantoor.<\/p>\n Mense moet die geleentheid gegee word om `n toekoms te bou by `n organisasie en ruimte vir ontwikkeling gegun word.<\/p>\n \u201cThey must be given the opportunity to contend. Keep the dream alive!\u201d. Sy eie loopbaan is die toonbeeld hiervan.<\/p>\n Hy\u2019s op `n jong ouderdom\u00a0skool toe \u2013 \u201cEk is te woelig, my ma wou my seker maar uit die huis uit h\u00ea.\u201d \u00a0Op 19 begin hy reeds klasgee in Datakommunikasie nadat hy 3 jaar tevore in matriek was.<\/p>\n Sy\u00a0eerste rekenaar was `n\u00a0ZX Spectrum<\/em>\u00a0met net 1k geheue en toe reeds toe was hy vas oortuig dat alles eendag met knoppies gaan werk.<\/p>\n Die voorliefde vir tegnologie lei tot `n tegniese diploma, onderwysdiploma (met tegnologie as spesialisgebied) en \u2018n diploma in Datametrie en kry gestalte by verskeie besighede, onder andere die destydse Poskantoor, vandag Telkom SA.<\/p>\n \u201cEk is eintlik maar `n elektriese ou.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hy onthou toe die eerste modem in Kaapstad\u00a0 destyds ge\u00efnstalleer is en modems nog uitmekaargehaal en reggemaak is. Die eerste modems het teen 200 bisse per sekonde geloop, daarna 600 bps, 1200bps, 2400bps, ens. Nuusfotos vir koerante, of t\u00e9 wel landlynfotos, is via koper landlyne versend en dan op fotopapier gedruk met die woorde \u201cFoto per landlyn\u201d onderaan.<\/p>\n Morsekode was natuurlik een van die voorlopers van elektriese telekommunikasie en later die teledrukker – `n stukkie ongelooflike elektromeganika wat teen 50bps karakters, van 7.5bisse lank, kon stuur oor \u2018n koper landlyn – ook oorsee.<\/p>\n Destyds\u00a0kon jy nie binne 6 maande nadat jy bedank het \u2018n aanstelling\u00a0by sekere ander privaatinstansies kry as jy by die Poskantoor gewerk het nie. Maar Pietie se uithouvermoe\u00eb het op die ou end vir hom `n pos by Saambou se rekenaarafdeling laat kry. Dit het `n skuif na Sunnyside in Pretoria beteken, waar hy aanvanklik `n woonstel van `n boer van die Vrystaat gehuur het met koerantpapier vir gordyne. Hy werk hy vir 7 maande as Netwerkhoof, terwyl Estelle, sy beterhelfte, droewiglik verlang na die Kaap.<\/p>\n \u201cElke keer as Tafelberg op die televisie gekom het, het sy begin huil.\u201d<\/p>\n Dit was rondom di\u00e9 tyd, in 1983, toe die eerste referendum, die driekamer parlement referendum, plaasgevind het wat hy met sy jongste met stootwaentjie en al gaan stem het in Sunnyside. `n Week later kry hy `n oproep van die hoof van R&R se Inligtingsafdeling. Na armdraai oor verhuisingskoste en 3 maande se meubelstoring, is Pietie en Estelle terug in die Kaap en by Tafelberg.<\/p>\n In 1984 begin hy by Stellenbosch Universiteit se IT-afdeling werk saam met Kobus Meij, Nick Lubbe, Helmi Dreijer, Johann Kistner en ook Herman Heunis, stigter van Mxit.<\/p>\n Kort voor lank bied\u00a0Boland Bank hom die\u00a0geleentheid om sy toekoms te verbreed met `n splinternuwe pos. Hy onthou di\u00e9 tyd as een van baie harde werk. Dit was nie net `n kwessie van 8 tot 5 nie.<\/p>\n \u201cNa gewone werksure het ek huistoe gegaan en allerhande goedjies rondom die huis gedoen wat mans maar moet doen, aandete ge\u00ebet en 9 uur se kant die tweede skof ingesit tot 2 uur die oggend.\u201d<\/p>\n Met tyd verander die\u00a0dinamika\u00a0by die bank, soos met die meeste banke gedurende die 80\u2032s en 90\u2032s. Bolank Bank word NBS Boland, toe Boland PKS en daarna BoE Bank. PEP Bank is hieruit gebore en later ook Capitec.<\/p>\n Teen di\u00e9 tyd rook hy 40 sigarette `n dag en beland Kersfees 1999 in die hospitaal om hy `n stent kry. Hierna besluit hy dat die onstuimigheid by die bank nie meer lekker vir hom werk nie \u00a0en sluit, ter wille van \u2018n meer stabiele omgewing, `n tweede keer in Oktober 2000 by die Universiteit aan. Di\u00e9 keer as Internet- en Telekommunikasiebestuurder.<\/p>\n Onder sy bestuur word die 3-vlak internet tariefstruktuur in werking gestel, groter bandwydte onderhandel en die eerste Siemens IP spraak-telefoonstelsel ge\u00efmplementeer.<\/p>\n \u201cEk was ook verantwoordelik vir die ondersoeke na en beskikbaarstelling van die groter video-konferensiestelsels op kampus.\u201d Die hoogtepunt hiervan was Prof Russel Botman se video-gesprek met die rektor van die Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, intyds kampuswyd uitgesaai vanuit die Endlersaal via \u2018n \u201cgeleende\u201d 15Mbps verbinding.<\/p>\n \u201cEk onthou hoe Mohamed Shaikh my na die tyd tydens die cocktail party<\/em>\u00a0kom omhels het van blydskap dat alles probleemvry verloop het.\u201d Joe Smit en Barry Sauermann het darem ook `n groot rol gespeel in die sukses van hierdie tegnies-senutergende gebeurtenis.<\/p>\n Tussendeur word massa sms\u2019e geimplementeer, die tradisionele skakelbord uitfasseer en ons huidige US Dienssentrum skakelbord gevestig.<\/p>\n In 2011 vind grootskaalse herorganisasie binne IT\u00a0plaas en Pietie beland voor `n vurk in sy pad.<\/p>\n \u201cEk moes `n\u00a0leap of faith<\/em>\u00a0vat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Die\u00a0leap of faith<\/em>\u00a0is vandag IT se Projekkantoor, bestaande uit Pietie, Marius Vorster en Camen Petersen. Hierdie span sorg dat alle projekte van die afdeling IT gedokumenteer en die regte projekbestuursprosesse gevolg word. Tans is daar in die orde van 83 projekte in ontwikkeling en gereelde projekraadvergaderings word gehou om te verseker dat projekte waarde toevoeg tot besigheid in die drie strategies belangrike areas van die US, naamlik Akademie, Navorsing en Gemeenskapsinteraksie.<\/p>\n Dis egter verseker nie `n maklike, soomlose oefening nie \u2013 kopskuiwe moet gemaak word in `n omgewing waar mense gewoond is aan hul eie vaste\u00a0metodes.<\/p>\n \u201cSuccess breeds success<\/em>. As ons kan wys dat die prosesse werk, kan ons denke verander.\u201d Dis alles deel van die uitdaging.<\/p>\n As dit tyd is vir vakansie, pak Pietie en Estelle hul\u00a0nuwe\u00a0teardrop<\/em>-sleepwaentjie en gaan kamp in Kenhardt in die winter en Dwarskersbos in die somer.<\/p>\n \u201cTent opslaan is `n toets vir enige huwelik. Dis hoekom Estelle dit doen en ek liewer maar wegloop\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Dit gaan ook maar bars, siende dat `n Bul en Leeu altwee ewe hardkoppig en eiesinnig kan wees.<\/p>\n So af en toe vat hulle die motorfiets, `n stewige BMW R1200R padfiets en verken die land. Hy het al 3 Buffalo Rallies agter die blad en ry maklik op sy eie na v\u00ear bestemmings.<\/p>\n Van hierdie ritte sluit een van 4700km oor 7 dae Phalaborwa toe vir `n pel se troue, 2700 km in 5 dae na \u2018n plaas op die Botswana-grens, 90km oos van Aranos in Namibi\u00eb en vanjaar ook sowat 2400 km in 6 dae na sy geboortedorp, Kenhardt. Tydens\u00a0laasgenoemde rit het hy in Elandsbaai gebackpack<\/em> en met `n besoek aan die Wit Mossel Pot<\/em>\u00a0te heerlik gesing en kitaar gespeel. Die plan was nog om Route 66 in die VSA aan te pak, maar op die stadium sal hy dit liewer verruil vir `n besoek aan Nashville vir die Country Music Awards.<\/em><\/p>\n Na amper 2 ure se stories (en `n dro\u00eb pen) was ek oppad na `n volgende vergadering, tevrede dat daar oorgenoeg materiaal is om iets met `n bietjie vleis saam te stel. Maar Pietie, soos `n storieverteller betaam, moes nog `n laaste lyn gooi om my nuuskierig te maak.<\/p>\n \u201cDaai tyd wat ek so hard gewerk het, het ek elke naweek ook in die band gespeel \u2026 saam met Clive Bruce, Bles Bridges, Hennie van Egoli en Gene Rockwell.\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHet julle hulle liedjies gespeel\u201d, vra ek ewe.<\/p>\n \u201cNee man, ek was saam met hulle op die stage<\/em>! En dan is daar nog daai bekende neef van my. Hy sing van drie pikkewyne, maar ek sing beter as hy!\u201d,\u00a0spot hy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u00a0social 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":259,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54470],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-meet-our-people"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-26 06:41:28","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/259"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6362"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6393,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6362\/revisions\/6393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"Pietie-web\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/files\/2014\/09\/Pietie-web1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nSy geluk het gedraai toe`n neef van `n mede-kollega, `n bestuurder by R&R in die Paarl (toe Rupert & Rupert), eendag opdaag vir `n\u00a0toer van Saambou se hoofraamkamer.\u00a0\u00a0Sonder om te skroom, vra hy of hulle werk vir hom in die Paarl het.<\/p>\n