VC praises long servers

Committed: Harry Fisher was the only recipient of the 45 years service award at a recent Long Service Awards ceremony.

Vice-chancellor Dr Max Price praised staff members who have loyally dedicated long periods of their careers to UCT.

At the Long Service Awards ceremony on 5 October, Price said it was unusual and special for people to stay with one employer for a long time in a world where staff often jumped from one career to another. The staffers' long service says something about the university and about themselves, he added.

"You have shown commitment by serving your colleagues and a countless number of generations of students. I thank you for that."

The 78 awardees were honoured for 45, 35, 25 and 15 years of service, and together have clocked up 1 760 years of service.

Among the memorable long-servers are traffic supervisor Harry Fisher (45 years) and receptionist Ella Waqu (25 years), who began her career at UCT as a tea lady.