Working in Student Governance and serving as an Assistant Residence Head at Metanoia, Thulani Hlatswayo plays a key part in assisting students on their transformative journey at Stellenbosch University (SU). Fortunately, he is well equipped for the task, having actively engaged in various organisations and programmes during his own student days.

As we kicked off May commemorating Workers' Day, we dedicate this series of articles to our staff and their important contribution to the University. We had a chat with Thulani, who joined the SU staff corps in 2019 as permanent staff – read on for our interview.

What does your role at SU entail?

My primary role is that of Coordinator in Student Governance at the Centre for Student Leadership, Experiential Education and Citizenship. In addition, I serve as an Assistant Residence Head at Metanoia. Service to the student community is at the core of both roles, and a fundamental requirement is to provide support and guidance to students in their experiential learning outside the classroom (in the co-curriculum). In this way, we create a transformative student experience and a friendly, supportive and value-driven living environment away from home.

What does a typical day at work look like?

When the job revolves around people, especially students, it becomes difficult to describe an 'average day'; every day is different. Apart from the administrative tasks that the job entails, there is a constant need for engagement, problem-solving, finding solutions and making change happen. The variability is what makes the job exciting. You must be able to think on the spot and be willing to learn, unlearn and relearn certain practices.

How did your education or past experience prepare you for this job?

I hold a BA in Social Dynamics, which focuses on the human sciences, particularly against the backdrop of the Southern African reality. I am currently enrolled for a BComHons in Public Administration. My undergraduate programme has made me think more analytically about societal issues, which enables me to contribute to conversations around policymaking, implementation and review.

I also took part in many co-curricular development opportunities and served in various student leadership structures. This has equipped me with competencies such as liaising, negotiating, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, value-centred leadership, civic literacy, project management and resource stewardship. I have personally grown as a leader, and can now also affect the leadership of others.

I am passionate about championing social justice issues regarding student access and success, ranging from food security to academic re-admission, historical debt, student housing and SU's Language Policy. I feel so strongly about these issues because of my own experience coming to SU in 2014. I travelled from Gauteng without any access assurance from the University. Yet I was determined to gain access, even though, at the time, it may not have been a conducive space for black people to flourish. In my quest to break the barriers, I have developed several projects to improve access and success for students coming to SU from disadvantaged backgrounds, including both rural areas and townships. One such initiative is the recruitment drive via the Academic Affairs Council. I also initiated a registration campaign workshop, which equips student leaders and staff to work in synergy offering an ecosystem of support during the registration period.

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?

It is interesting to learn about past experiences that inform people's behaviours and practices. We all have a story to tell, and once we come together with our different narratives, we create a space with more opportunities for creativity, transformation and development. I enjoy learning from my colleagues and the students, and working on projects that connect me with different people to gain different perspectives. I appreciate my personal transition from when I arrived at SU, to being a student and a student leader, and now an employee. And I enjoy being involved in policymaking task teams and policy review working groups both within and outside my own environment, as this allows me to help SU achieve its vision and mission.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that few people would expect?

I do not always have a solution to everything. I try to be as proactive as I can, but I occasionally have to pep-talk myself out of my personal fears and show up as an efficient SU employee.

Photographer: Stefan Els