Tell us about your job here at UP?

My job title is Messenger, but I am responsible for a variety of other functions, such as managing the kitchen and its supplies, and providing support when there are conferences and events hosted at the Faculty. I started working in this position on 1 October 1989. On 6 October last year, I received my award for 30 years of continuous service.

What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

I love my job because I have learnt to do it well over the years.

What is your least favourite part about your job?

I don’t like that in the past 30 years my salary has not grown enough. It’s been an advantage that my colleagues at the Faculty have been wonderful.

What would be your top suggestion for making UP an even better place to work?

I would really urge the University to consider revising the salary scales of staff members. It’s really important that we fix that.

If you were not in your current position, what else would you have liked to be?

When I was growing up I wanted to be a nurse, but the problem is that my family could not afford to send me to nursing school. I think I definitely would have been a nurse.

Tell us about who Julia is away from work?

At home, my family knows me as a hands-on person, and I love taking care of my children and husband. My husband and I will be celebrating our 40^th wedding anniversary this year. I am really looking forward to that.  At church, I am known as MaMsiza, who loves praising and worshiping.

What are your goals for the next five years?

I will be retiring soon, and I am looking forward to that. I have built my life over the years in Soshanguve, so I will continue staying there. I sell fruit and vegetables as an additional source of income and, God willing, when I retire I want to grow my business and pay attention to it full-time.

Is there a favourite piece of advice you have received in life that you would like to share with our colleagues?

The importance of respect and behaving appropriately. With these two things in check, you are going to go far.