46 minute read
COVER FEATURE
by Softcopy
The coronavirus pandemic has caused enamours challenges to so many people around the world and South Africans have not been immune to them. This is definitely a time of disruption in our country; this disruption has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to so many and a great many changes in the way we go about our daily lives. In times like these we need to come together in our resolve to fight this invisible enemy. We have faced challenges before but this one is different it calls on us to support one another and play our part in flattening the curve. We asked 19 of our staff and students to share how the coronavirus has affected them and how they have been dealing with its effects.
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19 FOAD STAFF & STUDENTS
Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi (Research Co-Ordinator: Faculty of Arts and Design)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, especially because I was one of the first people who were asked to go and test, due to possible exposure.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
I have been I Working from home, very successfully. No distractions, unnecessary visits, etc. But I miss some of the facilities, e.g. files with information.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
Nothing is guaranteed. Appreciate my family and friends daily, not with Xmas gifts at the end of the year.
What do you miss the most before the coronavirus?
TRAVEL, I LOVE IT. Visiting friends and family.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Please stay safe, always read messages from the DUT Covid-19 task team, and play your part.
Together, we can do it, if we don’t put our guard down.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I did think it would be worse than it turned out. I thought that the townships would be affected very badly.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It has made me re-evaluate my priorities. I realised I do not spend enough time with myself, giving all my creative energy to people around me.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I’m just more careful when mixing with people, very mindful of the viral load I am exposed to.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I’ll need to refocus and look for more fulfilment within and in my surroundings. I realise that I have been influenced by outside forces more than I care to admit.
How do you think the coronavirus has affected the arts and what do you think artists can do to adapt to the new normal?
I think artists are creative and sensitive people that thrive on situations like this. It provides grist for the mill.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
“Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.”
02
Dr Chris De Beer
(Head of Department: Fine Art and Jewellery Design & Manufacture)
Khaya Mchunu (Lecturer: Fashion and Textiles Department)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
There was definitely panic on my side. I think the worst feeling was that things were never going to be the same again. I had heard of previous outbreaks like swine flu, SARS and Ebola, but the fact that we recorded the first case in the country -- even scarier, in the province -- definitely caused a bit of panic for me. I remember the messages I got from friends and family when the first case was announced on the news. It showed that they cared, but it did also cause panic, knowing how rapidly the virus is said to spread.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
During the earlier days of the first COVID-19 positive case, I was supervising a Master’s student who was close to completion and preparing for her exhibition because she did a part-thesis, part-practical. She soldiered on, finishing the work and getting her creative output ready for an opening. We publicised the event on social media as well as the university’s Pinboard, then boom! As the exhibition was nearing, the first case was reported and the faculty took the step to stop lectures. Sibongile Milisi’s exhibition got locked up for months. As a supervisor, it was sad to have watched and played a part in the Master’s project and not see the ultimate outcome as it had been imagined and planned. My teaching at undergraduate level has been hit hard too. I teach a
practical module that requires students to do some studio time. This has been particularly difficult because students could not access our sewing labs for a few months. I had to do some online teaching, communicating on WhatsApp, and using learning management systems such as MS Teams and Moodle. WhatsApp has been the most accessible for my students, but for some moments it meant receiving messages after midnight because students use midnight surfer. At times, when I lecture means engaging students with different personalities: some quiet, other loud, inquisitive questioning. I missed that because chatting on WhatsApp is not the same. The emotions and excitement (or the sadness and frustration for that matter) is not felt, at least not in the same way. I will say, though, that some students who were previously quiet in person were inquiring on the socials, and this was probably a lesson for me that blended learning is truly beneficial for some calling further for its use in T&L. Personally, I have not been able to visit family randomly because of the controlled movement. I have not been able to go to gym, eat out or any other such activities that I do outdoors. But being locked down has been helpful in the sense that I had the chance and time in between changing the curriculum to focus on personal research activities. I also got to do other creative activities like drawing and making clothes for some friends.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I try to follow the guidelines provided by government of wearing a mask, washing hands and distancing socially as much as possible. It has been difficult, though, the almost forbidden (if not limited) touching, hugging
How do you think COVID-19 has affected the fashion industry?
Like many industries, the fashion and clothing industry has been affected by COVID-19, but the need to constantly wear masks has also presented the industry with some opportunities, no matter how miniscule they may seem. I saw this when we created masks in my own department for some bodies in the institution.
However, I am passionate about upcoming fashion designers, and I think COVID-19 has disturbed the grounds for them to grow their brands. It has meant many months without cashflow. But I have also seen the resilience that fashion designers have. Looking at designer websites, masks have been designed, and each designer has created them around their brand. The sudden act of designing masks is indicative of their resilience. I have also seen how being locked down has created the room to conceptualise new ideas, and capturing and sharing those ideas on social media has been inspiring for me. It was like being invited into the brain of a fashion designer, and that is so refreshing.
How do you think fashion designers can overcome challenges presented to them by the coronavirus?
Earlier, I spoke of complexities. I am reading up on transdisciplinarity, which speaks of wicked problems. Perhaps one strategy that may be applicable to the industry (I am thinking young designers when I use industry) is to think of and treat COVID-19 as a complex and wicked problem. One way of addressing a wicked problem is through collaborative efforts amongst different disciplines. Perhaps fashion designers have reached a point where surviving and overcoming challenges requires collaboration with others, and I am sure that will spark ideas on how to deal with the intricacies of running a fashion business. I do not mean that designers have not collaborated with others before, but perhaps there is a need for a different form of collaboration: not the kind where we collaborate and at the end of the collaboration we go our separate ways but maybe more of a partnership where a hybrid industry is formed that merges the strengths of the collaborators.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Very much so, as it was really too sad and frightening to know the number of people who lost their lives with the outbreak of the virus in China.
How have you been affected by the coronavirus?
COVID-19 has brought much stress, tension and fear. Seeking medical attention when it was needed had to be stalled due to the fear of being infected by the virus, which resulted in my health condition deteriorating. It was also depressing that I could not physically be of support to family and friends during the time of the loss of loved ones.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Since the coronavirus is life-threatening I had to take the necessary precautions and follow protocols as was laid down by the World Health Organisation and the government regulations. Keeping away from family and not living life as normal was not easy, but it had to be done. I just had to pray and remain positive and strong.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I learned to appreciate the breath of life that God has given me and to live life to its fullest by doing what I can while I can and have the ability to do so. This period has taught me that being materialistic in life is not worth it and that I rather just treasure and enjoy every moment that I can with my loved ones.
What message of encouragement would you give to someone during this time?
Life is too short. It can be gone in the twinkle of an eye. Let us learn to love, appreciate, forgive and see the best in others always. We must remain positive, be of good courage and hold fast to the hand of God. He is the only one who will see us through every situation no matter what we go through. Let us continue to practice the coronavirus protocols by wearing of masks, sanitising and social distancing so that we all can be safe and save lives.
Irene John (Secretary: Video Technology Department)
Ayesha Mall (Lecturer: Media, Language and Communication)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I didn’t panic when the news of the virus initially broke in China and then Italy. But when it reached South Africa, I was a bit concerned and then alarmed when it spread so virulently.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It has impacted my professional and personal life in profound ways. Like most people globally, the pandemic has confined me to my home. This has meant working remotely, mainly from my home, which has demanded of me a new realisation of how to work without being in physical proximity with my colleagues and students. I had to learn to effectively participate in online communication by way of teaching and participation in meetings. The shift also required a reorientation of my home space into a home/ work space. This posed a few challenges, which I and my house mate had to negotiate around as he works from home too now.
The pandemic affected my personal life in quite sudden and unexpected ways; for instance, I had to reconfigure my home to accommodate an elder family member. All of this has called for considerable introspection about one’s privileges, needs, strengths, flaws and other personality characteristics and frailties.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been vigilantly sifting fact from supposition and conspiracies, and I have been observing all protocols to protect myself and those around me from the virus. This has meant an almost non-existent social life, no travel and [going] out only if essential. it and that I rather just treasure and enjoy every moment that I can with my loved ones.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
It has taught me the importance of patience and fortitude and to check myself from veering towards selfishness. It also taught me that I can do almost anything from the confines of my home if I have good technological connectivity. It has also reminded me that I have enough.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss my freedom.
What role do you think journalism can play in fighting the coronavirus?
To report responsibly by verifying information received. To continue to expose corruption and to tell the stories of those that have the least means to tell their own stories.
Where do you see the future of media post COVID-19?
I see a future characterised by an increase in mobile journalism across spatial boundaries.
Michelle Reynolds (Lecturer: Interior Design)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
The unknown is always scary. We knew a lot less about the virus at the start. I wasn’t panicked as much as concerned for the people that I love and of course for what a pandemic meant for the world at large.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
I am sure that COVID-19 has changed us all personally and professionally. I’m grateful to the pandemic for forcing us to prioritise online learning. It’s been a refreshing and exhilarating learning curve, and it’s been encouraging seeing academics and students embracing the future in this way. That said, I miss problem solving with colleagues over a cup of tea and cake. I miss conversations around a table with students, many things really. But the creativity of motherhood and working from home, beside my garden, dogs and young family has definitely extended into my professional life, and it’s been good.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have dealt with the effects of the COVID-19 by working hard, and by being creative. During hard lockdown, my husband and I rolled up our sleeves and got 3D printing visors for healthcare workers. At the time, there was very little PPE in the country, so it was great to be able to contribute in our small way. As a family, we wrote a list of all the things we wanted to build but hadn’t made time for, and then we made them one by one. This included a treehouse, an electric bike and a community bike park for families at the end of our road, which is a dream realised. I got stuck into an online photography course, and my husband finally got round to prototyping a robotic camera arm, both of which are keeping us honest.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life? This time has taught me that I have all that I need in life
and a whole lot to give. To make the things that matter, happen.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
Other than the sweet embrace of loved ones, what I miss most about life before COVID-19 is being carefree and “going with the flow”. I feel the pandemic has schooled us in how to “grow with the flow”. It’s been good, but intense.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
I love these words by Fred Rogers, a muse in life and parenting. He says “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” In so many ways, the world is in such a bad way. I would encourage students and colleagues to look for the helpers, or better yet, to be them.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Ooh yes, I thought it was end of it all. I saw statistics of infection and death rate escalating every minute; I just lost hope for tomorrow.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Everything had to come to a stand-still at the beginning of lockdown. Life style had drastically change completely. I had to stay indoors for a long time, and life was too frustrating. I could not carry on with my studies as usual, even with work also. After some time, I had to do things online in order to carry on with life.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Consulting with friends, family members, health professionals and colleagues to share information with me in case I need help and support.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I came to realise that healthy living is the key everything. Extra precaution is the key to survive against all odds. I had learn to do lot of things through technology.
How do you think teachers can adapt to the new normal that has been brought by COVID-19?
Adapt to the approach of doing teaching and learning. Be willing to work odd hours in some special cases.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
People should practice safety, learn more ways to save since the economy is deteriorating. We should all follow what the South African President advised us to do to minimise infection and stop the mortality within our country.
Dr Douglas Thembinkosi Sibusiso Sotsaka
(Lecturer: School of Education)
Dr Anita Hiralaal (Lecturer: School of Education)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Not really; I did not comprehend the severity of the pandemic and thought it would go away in a few days and everything would return to normal. Only when close family friends passed away from COVID, did I take it seriously.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
My professional life did a 360-degree somersault as I had to learn how to teach online and use the institution’s LMS (Moodle) for teaching. In my personal life, being an insulin-dependent diabetic meant throughout the national lockdown, I was housebound and I felt stifled and very restricted. I felt that I was being deprived of all that was fun for me. Also, being at home with my children all day presented a new experience for me and at times created some anxiety because we were getting in each other’s way.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been relatively calm and accepting of the situation because I realised that this pandemic could result in me losing my life if I did not take the necessary precautions. What has this period taught you about yourself and life? I have come to appreciate my life and not take it for granted because it could be gone in a flash. I began to appreciate the little things that I had taken for granted previously. I became more introspective and mindful of other people and more empathetic. Little things like waking up in the morning and really looking at the flowers in my garden or the birds in the trees made me think about the fact that my work had previously consumed my life. Deadlines and meeting targets seemed to have become so superfluous as the days went by during the lockdown.
How do you think teachers can adapt to the new normal that has been brought by COVID-19?
I think that teachers not only have to change and adapt to the new normal, but they have to change their mind-sets and their thinking. If they remain constantly negative and do not embrace the change and accept it as inevitable, be proactive and not reactive, then this change will be seen as an obstacle rather than as a challenge to make a new beginning and reinvent yourself with limitless opportunities.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Our lives will never ever be the same again, so instead of waiting around for things to go back to the way they were, look forward to becoming the change and see this as an opportunity to put all the negative in your lives as something that is gone and should not be dwelt on. Be appreciative of being able to see the sun of another day, and most important of all, enjoy your family and your friends. How often does one get this chance to transform and reimagine the possibilities?
Anathi Gobeni (Former Drama and Production Studies student and Imbewu: The Seed actress)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February? When the news broke about the coronavirus, there was generally a lot of panic as we did not have enough information about it, and all we knew were the bits of information that were sifted down through social media. We had conflicting reports about the authenticity of the illness, and there was generally a lot of fear as we began to hear about the severity as the death toll began to rise. Then the country gradually began to shut down and then we knew that it is real. Panic struck because we did not know what this meant for us and how prepared we were to handle the effects.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your life personally?
The coronavirus had a major dual effect on me. It had a positive impact because it made me become even more attentive when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness. On the other hand, it had a negative impact on my mental state: when we hit lockdown and we had to self-isolate, I lost contact (interpersonal) immediately with family and friends as I took the rules very seriously. I could not go to visit family or friends and that took a toll on me because even though I live alone, I enjoy having guests over and entertaining them, hosting dinners and so forth, but that could no longer happen as the country was on high alert due to the spreading of the virus.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus in your personal life?
I haven’t been hit directly by the coronavirus per se, but I have been practising extra caution and also taking extra measures to make sure that I do not contract the virus because that would have a detrimental effect on my household and my working environment. Another important thing for me has been to destigmatise the virus in my own mind so that I do not treat recovered individuals with any less humanity.
As an actor, how has COVID-19 impacted the way you work?
We have seen major changes that have had to happen in order for us to be able to continue to work. Some of these changes included intimate scenes being cancelled or rewritten, minimising physical contact, not being able to use extras (background actors) in the scenes so we used smaller locations and we had to get very creative with camera angles. The technical crew had to change the way they work (make-up and wardrobe). We had to help as much as possible with that because part of their job includes them being in direct contact with us, and that could no longer happen, so we had to step in and take over a bulk of that work. Furthermore, a lot changed in the industry: auditions were no longer being held face to face but talent had to now submit audition tapes (self-recordings), and many events had been cancelled or postponed, which meant many alternative income streams had been plugged. All in all, the effects of the virus on the industry were immense.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
Life can change in an instant; nothing is forever. We have had a great deal of loss this year -- loss of income, loss of jobs and most importantly, loss of life. The biggest lesson in all of this for me was to always appreciate what I have and the people that I have because it could all be gone in an instant. It also reminded me of my sense of humanity as in many cases we had to come together and assist those that needed assistance the most, so that was a tiny bit of silver lining in this dark cloud. We were reminded of UBUNTU and re-awoke our humanity.
What message of encouragement would you give to your fans during this time?
All things pass, especially negative. What we have to do is to find the positive in all situations. We should take this year as a reset and prepare ourselves to make 2021 the best year for ourselves. We should just remain patient, calm and take extra measures to ensure that we are healthy, happy and safe. Wear a mask when you leave the house, continue to sanitize your hands regularly and remember be kind to everyone and make good choices.
Anele Malishe (Student: Language Practice)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Hearing that there is an outbreak of a pandemic flooded a lot of questions in my mind. Questions like will I survive it? Am I mentally and physically fit for it? Am I going to be able to deal with it? etc. To be honest, I panicked when the first case was confirmed here in Durban, but at the back of my mind, I had hope that the outbreak will fade out soon and life will continue as usual. Getting information that the number of cases increased drastically to a point that Durban became a hotspot and we had to leave everything and go home to contain the spread of the virus-- as true as it was, it honestly felt like a smack on my cheek. I just didn’t understand. The announcement of the national lockdown was an eye-opener to me, and I had a different perspective of things.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
I was worried about my studies; to think that it’s my final year and my chance to shine for my family, then the whole world gets upside down, and the worst of it all: the world gets shut. I had wished that this pandemic broke out in our first year. It would have been easy to recover because honestly I didn’t see any way possible of trying to save the academic year. When multimodal learning was introduced, I lost all hope and faith in myself and studies. After some time, my positivity poured back and saw this whole pandemic situation as a chance for each one to find themselves, a break from everything and doing some introspection, a chance to deal with ourselves and be sure of what we want, and I had hoped that everyone comes out of this situation a different person. Looking at multimodal learning, I didn’t see it working, but now I’m enjoying it because I began to look at it as chance to learn new things that will help me in the workplace, a chance to be more advanced in technological stuff in this foreverchanging world.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I’m grateful that no-one in my family was infected and [I’m] sending out love to those who were infected and deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones because of this pandemic. COVID-19 taught me how to survive under difficult circumstances (especially at home) and adjust to a few things, grow some thick skin and also become strong for myself and my daughter. I got a chance to spend quality time with family, sort out our differences and we grew stronger. I’m a very active person; going to the gym made me forget about the pandemic, and it meant a lot when a few people got interested in what I was doing and joined me, including my sisters.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I’ll be forever be grateful to the DUT’s student counselling centre for guiding me emotionally. I was able to use some tactics to deal with myself and everyone around me. I can say I’m the strongest person mentally and physically, I am resilient and really proud of myself. I’ve always looked at life as a rollercoaster ride, and right now the rollercoaster is making its way out of the dark tunnels and heading towards light. COVID-19 was a phase, and it shall pass.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I was not an outgoing person, but knowing that you have to stay indoors because of a pandemic made me feel like a prisoner. I miss going to the shops and being free, roaming the streets freely. I miss the life without a face mask, hugging freely. I miss sneezing freely and getting a ‘bless you’. I miss being surrounded by people and having fun and lastly, I miss the vibe the country had before the outbreak.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
My greatest fear post COVID-19 is how people will recklessly act in the name of being free. I’m afraid they will forget about hand hygiene. People are going to waste themselves away because there won’t be any restrictions on some things. I fear the rise of crime rate and road accidents.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
Everything revolves around time. Make the most of the little time you have been given. Another thing: don’t feel threatened by other people’s time; theirs is now and yours is coming, and remember in whatever you do, you’re always one decision away from changing your life. Nothing beats being strong and believing in yourself as an individual. As a student, stick to your goals, be in a productive circle and get active, but most importantly never abandon your books. They brought you here, and they will take you far.
Jeannette Shange-Kalala (Lecturer: Visual Communication Design)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, I did panic a bit, especially when we watched the numbers of people dying from coronavirus in other countries. It felt like there is nothing much you can possibly do to prevent getting the coronavirus. Every time I went to supermarket for groceries, I used to come back feeling like my chest is blocked, would put all my clothes in the washing machine and bath immediately. I think this was part of the psychological effects of COVID-19. The more I got used to wearing the mask, washing and sanitising hands, and mostly the social distancing, it became better.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Professionally, everything stopped: could not teach, could not do anything and the tricky part was that we had no prior warning to better prepare ourselves in terms of teaching. Eventually, when we could start teaching, there was such a backlog. Also, the long break in teaching and learning had effects on the students’ performance. It seemed they had forgotten everything that had been done before. So besides having to complete the syllabus, we have had to sort of begin from the beginning just to recap on what was learnt prior to lockdown. For design-based subject modules, you cannot afford to not have the preliminary skills and knowledge, or else you will not be able to execute your projects much as you go forward.
Personally, it has not affected me much. I am an introvert so do not mind being indoors at all. In fact when lockdown started, I think what used to be my weekends just became my everyday with just the occasional going out for groceries.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
It was very scary at first I must admit, but as we learnt more and more about how to prevent it, it has really become a new normal for me. Importantly, even though we are under Level 1, I am still careful as if we are under Level 5.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
It has taught me that I am definitely an introvert. About life it has reminded me of appreciating life and to celebrate everything. Also, checking on people is something I started doing regularly because it has been tough. People have suffered with anxiety and depression.
How do you think graphic designers or creatives can play a role in fighting the coronavirus?
Graphic Designers are visual communicators who can assist by continuing to develop messages and materials that teach and remind people about the coronavirus. I say remind because when you go outside, it seems like people have decided that the virus does not exist anymore. I have just finished a design project with my students where they were developing infographics for an awareness campaign for COVID-19. Visual information is very important because it is fast and can be consumed by many people at the same time.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
Stay safe and still be careful and observe all the COVID-19 regulations. Even though we are under Level 1, we should behave as though we are still under Level 5. This is a way to protect yourself and others around you. Also, keep fit because physical exercise can help maintain a healthy mental state.
Katekani Moreku
(Fashion Designer and Former Fashion and Textiles student)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
I was a little bit shook by the matter as most people might have been, but like every bad situation, we have to learn to keep calm and figure out survival tactics as soon as possible.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
The virus has stripped away physical interactions, which is one of the things I value much. Being isolated by force is quite exhausting.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the Coronavirus?
I have been staying indoors and figuring out how to articulate Katekani Moreku within the new decade.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
We are all vulnerable and nothing is guaranteed. It’s important to make the most of each day.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss going outside without being a little paranoid and interacting with people.
How do you think COVID-19 has affected the fashion industry?
It has definitely slowed down the fashion industry and has given all of us the opportunity to rethink our approach to fashion and its effect on life on earth.
How do you think fashion designers can overcome challenges presented to them by the coronavirus?
Designers should remember that there is an opportunity in every situation. They should look at this as an opportunity to be innovative and reconfigure the fashion industry.
What project(s) are you currently working on now?
I have a collection in collaboration with Pick n Pay Clothing that launched in stores on 30th September 2020.
What message of encouragement would you give to other designers during this time?
Do not resist change, and never bow down to defeat. Use these tough times to prove to yourself how tough you are.
Busani Mzibuko (Student: School of Education)
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
It has affected me academically as well as in my personal life. A lot has changed. For example, before the outbreak of this virus, I used to attend lectures on a physical basis where I get an opportunity to ask and engage with them, but now in “the new normal”, I am attending my lectures online, and I can say that the new normal of doing things has brought me close to technology, and it’s a good way of doing things. My personal life has been affected negatively because on weekends I used to assist Matric students and during the week I was busy tutoring students from varsity, but none of the above mentioned happened.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been close to my Saviour. I prayed for protection and guidance. I cannot say that I have dealt with the side effects of this virus, but I have allowed my Saviour to deal with everything with regards to this virus. What has this period taught you about yourself and life? It has taught me to put God first in all situations that I encounter in my life. It has made me realise the importance of technology. I have seen that nothing lasts forever, and there is time for everything and you need to be patient and be courageous.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
Going to church every day, assisting Matric students and tutoring.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
I cannot say that I fear this virus. What I fear the most is the livelihoods as well as the economy of our country. Many have lost their jobs due to this virus, and their livelihoods have been affected negatively because it is now very difficult to look after themselves and to take care of their loved ones or their families. As for our economy, it was not good before the COVID-19, and this year is worse than before. The figures that estimate the Consumer Price Index (Inflation) and Unemployment are not promising, but I still have hope that our economy will recover.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
During this time of need, we must not lose hope. We must not allow fear to control our lives. Struggle is temporary, but happiness is forever. God gave us this life to live it, so we must not live a life of regret or fear. This virus will be with us for quite some time, so we must go and do what we always did before the virus. We need to adapt to this new way of living and studying, hoping that all things will go back to normal again and that we shall live our happy lives again.
Nomvelo Wanda
(Student: School of Education)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
It was chaotic and disturbing. It holds a feeling of failure to a student going home early without fulfilling your main course of approaching tertiary education. At first, there wasn’t much information. It was fear-filled with not knowing whether coronavirus will be by your home and lives of South Africans will be lost. How the South African government broke the news was scary and questionable: do they have a plan, and how will the country survive with lockdown and only work from essential workers?
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
There was an introduction to online learning, and at first it was a big relief and joy and excitement. In life in general, I endangered the lives of my family by working as an essential worker, and I was the only one working at that time. It was in the middle of the month, and home was a misery. It wasn’t nice; the situation was bad, and there was almost no food. There was only maize meal and salt, and I was only left with a choice to go back and work to bridge the gap as I was the only one soul who was working in this family of 8 mouths, and I had to go to university. There was social grant money and NSFAS, but at this time there was nothing. It was all finished by this time of the month. There were thoughts running from the family to approach loan sharks. I wasn’t told, and I was in the middle of that practice that my family was in debt because my mother broke her leg in the yard while I was at res, so that was how it was. I restarted working there to bridge the gap. As the implementation from 1 June, I communicated with the supervisor of the store to only work over the weekend in order to have the attendance perfect at school. It wasn’t easy. I was the bread winner, and when I had to learn online, there was too much noise at home and we lived far from the library. There were times that in this area there was no electricity for days and I had to charge [my device] in a store.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
We were left with to adjust to new rules and being updated daily about the COVID-19 news was relieving and good.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss being at campus having long big lectures that included future teachers. That was the moment I know I chose the right path and felt like I belonged. I missed catching the bus to school and riding the bus late (around 8) to our res, singing loudly in the bus. I missed the stadium singing, shouting and being noisy as students, being in crowded places, dancing, relationship goals and success goals.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
It is confusing sometimes as we all don’t know what to expect. It is very upsetting and disappointing to hear someone you know is part of the big numbers that are published every day and he / she is gone and no more.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
Online learning has been implemented to further the education and progress. If there is a will, there is always a way. It is all about choices .During hard times, a human being can choose to overwork or not work, but the ball is in your court.
Cephas Makwara (Lecturer: School of Education)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke?
I had heard about the disease affecting people in China (Wuhan) but was now travelling to other countries and for South Africa. The first case was here in Pietermaritzburg, and this is where I am located. It reminded me of the case of the xenophobic attacks which broke out the moment I crossed the border into South Africa in May 2008. I consider myself among the fortunate, considering I have survived and observed the protocols as well as praying for protection from God. I was later appointed the SHE rep for the School of Education and have thus been at the forefront of fighting the virus for the faculty of Arts & Design and university from the school trenches. I have therefore been on campus for the most times of all staff members. I never panicked but appreciated the gravity of the pandemic. I was one of those advocates for closure of universities and the teaching and learning enterprise until such time as it is possible to open. I thought all teaching and learning should stop for the whole system as the online learning would serve to amplify the inequalities already present in the SA society. With hindsight, that position is still my considered opinion. Online learning has benefits of continuity, yet those without gadgets and connectivity are excluded. While concerted effort at availing online resources physically through print media are being practised, the practice appears rather vicarious than generative. It is however, better than when there is no effort being made at all.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Coronavirus has led me to learn how to use the MS Teams software for remote teaching. While I have made an effort to speak with the Audiovisual unit to explore remote meeting options such as Skype and another that the university was in the process of acquiring, the coronavirus made it easy with MS Teams. We are now able to meet remotely on MS Teams. I have sought to remove the loss of tuition time that occurred for the School when we travelled to Durban for the Faculty Board meetings. Our day was just dead in the water, yet for Durban colleagues, they could come in at 11 then leave the meeting for a 1pm lecture or continue with a 4pm lecture as the meetings concluded after 3pm. This was impossible for the Indumiso-based school of education. As a consequence, the SoE colleagues can now participate fully in the Faculty Board while also being able to continue with classes that come after the meeting.
Personally, as I travel to campus most days, I have had to bath twice every day otherwise I would expose my family to the virus. I always wore the mask at all times as well as sanitising after touching commonly-used gadgets such as the photocopier/ printer.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
I miss going to church every Sunday. Teaching students live, sharing the life journey, which is not so cordial and humane now. This is impersonal as one speaks to the computer.
What fears do you have about life post COVID-19?
The relatives and compatriots who became unemployed prior to COVID-19 will continue being unemployed. I fear that the virus can have some resurgence and people may be relaxing and having their guard down.
What message of encouragement would you give to colleagues and students right now?
We are not out of the woods yet. Let’s continue to be vigilant, opening our eyes and observing all the said protocols. If it means working remotely, let’s continue in that lane, so long as we are doing justice in the circumstances. Let’s not forget to always be ethical and professional in our contact. Let’s remember to live the values engraved in the DUT strategy namely professionalism, courtesy, integrity, compassion, transparency, fairness, commitment, excellence, accountability and respect. These should be values that we as DUT cherish and strive to live for as we discharge our purpose in this life. We should be committed to our work as we do this for the Lord. We ought to strive for excellence which has emerged through DUT being fifth in the country on the debut of entering the world university rankings process. Let us be ethical and fair in our dealings. We are DUT, not the buildings or the machines. We as employees give expression to DUT, so as long as we are still employed, let’s demonstrate the commitment to its vision, mission and core values with the DNA strands of innovation and entrepreneurship pervading every body politic of what we do. It could also be helpful if management meets employees halfway in being people centered! We can make the DUT great aboard flight ENVISION2030. .
Dr John Mangundu (Lecturer: School of Education)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February? I was panicking very badly, imaginations were going wild, having seen movies where people are wiped out by viruses. I thought that the virus was airborne and just getting out of the house would get me infected. I started thinking about my family, relatives and friends, whether we will be seeing each other ever again.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
It affected me positively and negatively at the same time. Positively, in that I started getting serious with multi-modal teaching which was never taken seriously before. Learning and exploring new ways of delivery: that was great. On the other hand, it derailed my plans, especially for research with some of my students. They couldn’t collect data from the field. Personally, I got a bit stressed,. Anxiety crept in thinking about what’s going to happen to the academic year, about how I am going to deliver my module, especially that it’s practical-based. And no-one had answers to these questions.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I have been taking it easy lately, not following much of the news, exercising regularly and embracing life. At the same time, I am taking the precautions as given by WHO and DoH.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
This period taught me to be strong. It taught me that anything can happen in life, and the most important thing is to adapt and survive. Being flexible and versatile is key to unprecedented circumstances like this pandemic.
What challenges do you think the coronavirus poses on teachers and how do you think they can adapt to the new normal?
Delivering is a big challenge for teachers in schools. Having poor ICT integration into their teaching and learning processes poses a big challenge for them.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
They should take it easy, not focus all their energy on fear of the pandemic. They should rather stay positive and focus on progressive activities of life. This will pass, and we will be back to normal again at some point.
Dr Carolyn Burnett
(Senior Lecturer: Video Technology)
How has the Coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Like all other academics, I have now had to shift to online learning. This has been a real challenge for me as a lecturer of video technology as so many of my lectures are based around film and video screenings, and because students have not had sufficient data, I have had to avoid streaming or posting videos. Instead, I have been doing podcasts and narrated PowerPoints, which work quite well. I also include links to the video material, but I know not all students will be able to watch video examples.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
Fortunately, my family and I have been well and have managed to avoid the virus so far. However, we have had friends who have been very sick, which is a reminder of how serious this virus is.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
I miss being connected to other people. I miss my colleagues and all the conversations that we shared at work. Not being able to see students in person, or crit their rough cuts while I sit next to them, has made teaching quite difficult. Students have been posting their rough cuts to YouTube, or sending them via Dropbox, and I then watch the work and write the criteria out and email it to them. What could have been a conversation now has to be put in writing. It can be quite time-consuming.
What do you think the coronavirus’s impact has been on film and television industry?
It has had a huge impact on the industry. Some companies did not survive and others have downsized. One of the biggest areas of impact has been in sports broadcasting. We still don’t have spectators at events, but at least coverage of sports has started again. Soapies have continued, and a new soapie ‘Durban Gen’ premiered on eTV last night. It is shot in Durban by the same company that does Imbewu.
Do you think the film and television industry can overcome the impact of COVID-19? And if so, how?
There will always be an audience for visual stories. The industry was moving away from traditional film and television towards streaming and COVID-19 has just increased this move. Film theatres will not survive.
What message of encouragement would you give to your students and colleagues right now?
We will remember this time as a turning point in our history. We have to adapt and add to our repertoire of skills so that we are employable. Most importantly, we must keep up with technological changes and embrace them.
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
No, I wasn’t.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your professional and personal life?
Personally, I wasn’t able to see my family since I moved to another province. It isolated me from my family, and that really hurt. Professionally, it wasn’t that bad because Zoom meetings made everything easier for me, and I was still receiving payment, so it wasn’t that bad.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I haven’t been dealing with it, actually. It was the best time of my life because I could be an introvert without judgement.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
That I need more time by myself.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
Nothing, really.
How do you think photographers have been affected by the coronavirus?
Event photographers and freelance photographers really had a hard hit from this pandemic. Financially, it affected these type of photographers, but for the commercial ones, it’s business as usual.
Thalente Khomo (Former Photography student)
Were you panicked when news of the virus broke in February?
Yes, since it was not expected, and scientists were not even promising of its cure.
How has the coronavirus affected you in your studies and personal life?
In my personal life, it was positively affecting because it is where I realised that I was supposed to relax and start to open a new page in my life while there was nothing operating. Then, in my studies, I was more than affected because it came immediate by the time whereby the NSFAS was removing me from their department by means of N+2 rule, so I was trying to fix all those problems by applying for any other sponsors which was still opened by that time. Now they are closed, , and I’m still stressed because it is clear that by next year I could be staying at home because I’ll be owing the university.
How have you been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus?
I was always washing my hands with soap after a while and sitting at home, then practising my Mathematics and Physics.
What has this period taught you about yourself and life?
It clearly shows that I must depend on myself and look for only things that I could benefit positive products on.
What do you miss the most from before the coronavirus?
An allowance to be with my lecturers in lecture rooms and also allowing us to be with our tutors since they were very helpful to our modules. Now, we are not adapting well to e-learning. I also miss breathing fresh oxygenated air since now we are living under masks that are recycle carbon dioxide to our bodies and makes us dizzy.
What message of encouragement would you give to other students right now?
I would like to say it is more than important to study their books and focus on what they are always dreaming of. Lastly, they need to follow instructions from Government to keep their lives in good condition.
