Martie began her career at UP in January 1967, and except for the interrupted period of approximately four years during which she also helped out on a temporary basis – at first in the typist pool, then with the Registrar of Finances as well as the Dean of the Faculty Mathematics and Natural Sciences – she was employed for more than four decades. Her temporary posts were with the Department of Drama and the Dean of Theology's office.

Martie however made her most significant mark in the Department of Sociology where she worked for more than 30 years with no less than four Heads of Department. She was always there for us - through the good times as well as those moments of pain and suffering. She not only kept the administration and departmental infrastructure on the go on a daily basis, she also ensured constant contact between the students and their parents, the personnel and Faculty as well as the University. She administrated all arrangements around our many local and foreign visitors and made them feel so welcome that we always received a big 'thank you' after the visits.

Well, they say if walls could speak….Martie of course experienced all kinds of weird situations in the Department, but given her extraordinary professionalism and loyalty, she always played a valuable role in the restoration of any dis-equilibrium. The Department will sorely miss Martie the human being – her peacefulness and her care for each and everyone. She was not yet another person who worked here, she was a good friend.

We wish you all the best for this new journey that you and Theuns are embarking on. We do not doubt that all will go well with you. A big thank you – it wil not be easy to have someone like Martie in our midst again. You brought the light and the sunshine with you to the Department every day.