UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN-WESTVILLE

the achievement and Phuti said matter-of-factly, "The community would always view
that as a high achievement, but I knew within myself, what it all meant within the
academic circles. I knew the long way I still had in front of me to be established in the
field. People outside viewed it as a really big achievement, but I knew when I was all by
myself what it takes to really make a mark." And what does it take to make a mark in
the scientific world? "You have to work really hard and publish extensively and be well
known. One must generate a reasonable amount of new knowledge in an autonomous
way. The Ph.D. is the training that puts you at a level where you are able to sit down and
plan projects and publish. It gives you a wide variety of skills that will help you move
on in the research field. I see that as a platform."
So why did Phuti gain a Ph.D. when many others did not. He bursts into laughter
saying, "I was stubborn. I did not give up. When I want to do something I will do it
against all odds. I just tell myself - look against all odds - I am going to do this." My
question about what special qualities he has to make him successful in the Ph.D. also
presents a problem and he says, "I really cannot tell you. It is difficult. Once I decide to
do a thing, I make up my mind, sit down and put up plans and do it. Also the people
who I have been living with and who have been close to me have been fairly helpful and
supportive."
From the passion in his voice it is obvious that Phuti loves research and the
research process and I cornnlent about it. While Phuti loves the research process he
indicates that research is a tough life. "It takes special people to be around one and to
support one. I normally talk to my wife about that and also to the people with whom I
work about the support that they require - either from their parents or their partners. We
find that you have to encourage people all the way, all the time to say, 'Let's go on, let's
do it'. There might be lots of factors that might try to distract their attention, particularly
in this environment at UNIN, where the culture ofresearch is not well entrenched. Ifyou
work too hard, maybe people are surprised why you are working so hard when you
could be taking it easy. If yo come here on a Saturday or in the evenings, it looks like
an anomaly - whereas in other places people work on Saturdays or they work in the
evenings and holidays. To work against that type of environment is not easy. You
require the type of people who would be motivated and who would be determined to
work." However Phuti indicates that in research he likes "coming up with new ideas and
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