Zululand’s district Director for Education calls it a day

Issued by M.L.Tshabalala (MANCO farewell committee –chairperson)

retires at the end of this month, closing a chapter of 39-years of service in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.

As the Zululand District, we will be saying goodbye to the man who has served 24 years and six months in Vryheid, where he operated with a sense of professionalism and expertise. Mr du Plooy came to Vryheid in 1992 to occupy the position of area manager after having served in various positions in Namibia. At this time, there were ‘two dispensations’ in the Department of Education, and he successfully recruited personnel to join Vryheid as the dispensations were fusing to one unit.

He will be remembered by his statement, “I will not promise you a Mercedes Benz or nice cars to join us, but can definitely promise you bicycles, so the decision relies on you, if you want to join bicycles”. His hard work was evident in the excellent performance of the schools under his supervision. That performance was acknowledged by the Provincial Department when they built KwaBhanya and Khanyanjalo in appreciation.

Mr du Plooy then climbed the promotional ladder when he became director of Education Support Services in 1996 to 1997. While holding that position, he also acted as director of Education Provisioning. He was then appointed as director of Education Provisioning, and held the post until 2000.

When Mr Nyembe retired at the district manager in 2000, Mr du Plooy was then appointed as the acting regional chief director. He occupied this position until he was fully and permanently appointed as Zululand District Manager in 2002, a position he has held until now.

Mr du Plooy was responsible for managing 765 schools, 8 789 educators and 292 474 pupils. He has also served in various structures at Provincial level, and has contributed to the upliftment of the education system.

We will miss him at the Zululand District, but we wish him a well-deserved rest at home. He was a one of a kind director, who truly upheld an open door policy. Everyone was 100 percent sure that if you arrive at his office, with or without an appointment, if he was available, you would gladly get his attention. The most common time for non-appointment personnel was 7am when you could be certain you’d have his undivided attention. When you met him in the corridor, he would gladly greet you with a smile and call you, “colleague.”

The District Management Farewell Committee has scheduled a farewell for Mr du Plooy on December 2 at the Landbou Agricultural School. The Zululand business sector and service providers who would like to be part of the event, should contact Mrs Madonsela on 083 967 3556.

Contributions, either financial or in any other form, are welcome and can be directed to Mrs Madonsela.

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