“This is my daily job, hence my motto is, ‘I do my daily and hourly duty. I do it patiently and thoroughly. I do it as it presents itself. I do it at the moment, and let it be its own reward,” says Pasika Machika, General Assistant, who tells Tukkievaria about his career and shares his thoughts on how to make UP a better workplace.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Vaalbank [102 km northeast of Pretoria] in KwaNdebele, and was raised in a traditional community led by King Makhosoke Mabhena II, the reigning monarch of the amaNdebele people of South Africa. Growing up under a traditional leader taught me how to navigate complex systems and make tough decisions. King Makhosoke II is a representative of the community and as such he is entrusted with an important responsibility, namely that of harmonising community customs and traditions with the ethos of the Constitution.

Why did you choose this career, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I wanted to be a lawyer, and that is a craft that takes a long time to become proficient in. My family background and my grades could not allow me to pursue this career. As they say, “You'll never reach perfection, because there's always room for improvement. Yet get along the way to perfection, you'll learn to get better.” I’m considering upgrading and following this career. Of course, I do enjoy my job. General assistance work involves a variety of tasks, among others to ensure restrooms are cleaned, sanitised, and re-stocked. The work is its own reward. After all, unhygienic and unsafe restrooms can help the spread of germs and disease, not to mention affect the dignity and self-esteem of staff and students.

What is your least favourite part of the job?

My take is this: Cleaning gives people a sense of mastery and control over their environment. If you find yourself struggling to find the energy to tidy and clean your environment, this may be a sign of depression or anxiety. I do enjoy my job, because cleaning is a job that most people don't think is important. However, most businesses wouldn't be able to run without having a cleaner. Hygiene and cleanliness are highly important in pretty much every business sphere.

    Do you have any suggestions for making UP an even better place to work?

There are some issues with regard to a lack of communication of institutional policies. Recently I saw a group of students congregated at the Student Centre. I approached a few students to find out what was the matter. I discovered that it was about the launch of the anti-discrimination policy. Some of us do not have access to such information, while it can be easy for individuals to misunderstand or misinterpret others, and these misunderstandings may lead to arguments or tension in personal, platonic, or professional relationships. This implies that individuals may start doing things purposely to get on each other's nerves, blaming each other for everything, and not complying to rules or requests. Ultimately this leads to ongoing arguments that cannot be solved without better communication. As a remedy, may I suggest that a platform or one-on-one briefing sessions be considered to communicate such important policies/ messages, so that we are all on the same page.

What do you do in your free time?

I visit family and friends. I also enjoy watching soccer.

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

“It is not what you have, or who you are or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it. Winning is not everything, but the effort to win it is.” Our backgrounds do matter in some of our careers. However, I do believe that life is the most difficult examination. Many people fail because they try to copy others, not realising that everyone has a different question paper. You have to take charge and live a productive life of your choosing, regardless of the challenges you might face.