Celebrating two years of internship success

In celebration of two years of the success of its internship programme, Unisa’s Department of Study Material, Production, and Delivery (SMPD) hosted a farewell function on 29 October 2025 to celebrate the journey and growth of interns who served in the department.

In his brief welcome address, Azwianewi Maudu, Director: Despatch, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the interns at the end of their stint with SMPD. ‘’You have been privileged to be part of this internship programme, as you have learned the language of the workers,’’ said Maudu. “I urge you to carry the lessons you have learnt to the next level.”

Dr Trudy Forbay

Delivering a message of support on behalf of the Vice-Principal (VP): Operations and Facilities, Matsiababa Motebele, Dr Trudy Forbay, Acting Executive Director of SMPD, expressed the VP’s sincere gratitude and appreciation for the interns' contributions, noting that their work exemplifies Unisa’s core value of service to humanity.  

She said that the purpose of the internship programme is to provide practical experience by enhancing participants with concepts, principles, and skills in the workplace. “As the first group to have been hosted in SMPD,” she said, “this milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter in our department’s contributions to nurturing and developing talent; thus, shaping futures in the service of humanity.”

Proudly, Forbay maintained that the interns will be able to apply both soft skills and technical core skills in a professional space. She took this opportunity to reflect on her journey with the interns and wished them well in their endeavours.

Giving words of encouragement, Carl Pretorius, Deputy Director: Print Production, noted that the department is thrilled to have successfully hosted the first-ever SMPD internship programme, providing valuable experience to talented individuals. Pretorius took the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work put in by the interns during the First Convention of the National Dialogue of South Africa, held at Unisa on 15 August 2025, where they reported at 3 AM and worked until late into the evening. He said the commitment shown by the interns will serve them well as they transition to permanent employment.

In appreciation of the opportunity given to them, the representative of the interns, Frans Madimetša Mogajanawe, said, “We have amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience during our internship programme, which will be beneficial to us and our future employers."

* By William Thubakgale, Communications Directorate, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Champion Shooheima, Unisa Multimedia Office