David Visser chats with Tukkievaria about his professional background and his role in the Department of Facilities.

Where did you work prior to joining UP?

I matriculated in 1986 and started working as a Stores Clerk from 1 April 1987 at one of the gold mines of the Anglo-American Gold Division, which was later renamed AngloGold Ashanti, in Welkom.  I moved up the ranks and accepted a position as Provisioning Officer in 2000 at the Western Deep Levels Mine in Carletonville, which is also part of AngloGold Ashanti. In 2002 became Regional Stores Manager for the West Rand Region, including Ergo in Springs, and in 2008 assumed the position of Commercial Manager Logistics for AngloGold Ashanti SA Region. Here, I was responsible for managing stores and inventory on the Vaal Reef Mines, Western Deep Levels and Ergo. 

Between 2010-2015 with the drop in the gold price and many of the mines reaching their end-of-life stage, AngloGold Ashanti scaled down and closed some of its operations resulting in job losses and retrenchments. In 2014 I was seconded to West Africa and visited countries like Mali, Senegal and Ghana as part of my responsibilities. I did this for the 7 months and then opted for voluntary retrenchment due to health reasons. I worked at AngloGold Ashanti for 27 years.

In January 2015 I started to work as Stores Manager at North West University Potchefstroom Campus, where I was responsible for all stores excluding the Residences on the Potchefstroom, Vanderbijlpark and Mahikeng campuses. I worked at NWU for 6 years.

I saw the post advertisement for the Manager Stores Services position at UP in December 2020 and applied. My application was successful and I was appointed on 01 April 2021.

I studied part time and obtained a National Diploma in Logistics from UNISA, an IMDP from University of Stellenbosch Business School and a Purchasing and Stores Diploma from the Institute of Vocational Studies. I’m currently busy with my final module towards a Bachelor in Business Administration degree with UNISA.

What attracted you to UP?

University of Pretoria has been continuously challenging and that is what pushes me to soldier on.

What does your day-to-day role entail?

I manage Stores Services within Facilities Department with a current staff complement of 18 members. We work with 3780 stock items worth R18m. We have the two operational set-ups where Technical Services receive the material on a job card and submit the request afterwards, while the rest of the university submit a request and collects when issued.

We navigate through the supply challenges created by the micro (internal customers) and macro (external) environments. Internal challenges are mostly caused by lack of communication or planning from the user departments. External issues are if, for example, a supplier closes the University’s accounts and cuts off future supply due to shortages of products like we saw when the paper mills in Kwazulu-Natal were affected by flooding or disturbances cause by strike action.

We strive to maintain a service level of 95%, prevent over stocking and we manage slow and non-moving stock items to prevent obsolesces. From the buyers’ side we ensure adherence to procurement policy, monitor price escalations and ensure that customers pay a fair price.

We have to ensure we are aligned to the overall strategy of UP.

What would you like to improve in your section/ department and why?

I’d like for us to reduce stock holding and increase stock turnover; reduce stock obsolesces and prevent losses; increase professionalism within Stores Services; automate processes and reduce paper work.

I’d also like to see our staff being upskilled through on the job training, courses and through their own commitment to personal development.

All of this would contribute to improved services to the broader UP community and reduce the costs overall.

What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

Having a satisfied customer and building professional working relationships with colleagues, team members and supplier representatives.

What is your least favourite part of the job?

Having to deal with unreasonable customers who focus on the odd occasion when we have a challenge and ignore previous occasions when his/ her order was supplied in full and on time.

What do you do in your free time?

I prefer to spend time with family, relatives and go to church.

I follow race horses and visit Turfontein Racecourse on a regular basis. Before COVID-19 I often went on trips to Greyville in Durban and Kenilworth in Cape Town.

I’m an Orlando Pirates supporter and follow British and Italian soccer. I occasionally attend local soccer matches and will watch a live game when The Stormers play one of the Gauteng rugby teams.

I make it a point to read a minimum of three books a year and keep up to date with trends in the supply chain industry.

What are your personal likes and dislikes?

I enjoy my space and love to help those in need when I can.

I dislike people who judge and look down on others. 

Quick quiz:

Sport: Soccer, rugby, cricket and horseracing.

Food: I enjoy a nice lamb chop (braai) and home baked bread. However, I need to watch what I eat due to my chronic condition (diabetes).

Movies: I go and watch a Spiderman movie whenever a new one is out.

Musician: R&B and gospel music.

All-time hero: My parents (Koos and Katriena Visser) and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.