I turned my back ...

Be warned. If you go away on leave at NMMU, don't expect everything to be the same when you return. Within the three-week recess, the university has completed buildings, staged a new event, launched an electric car, revamped gardens, introduced a major road detour and welcomed new staff members ... 

They say a change is as good as a holiday. In this case, I might as well have stay put because all around me I would have witnessed all sorts of new things evolving. Instead, like most of NMMU's 4 000 temporary and permanent staff members and its 27 000-plus students, I took my holiday elsewhere.

That changes had taken place during the July break should have been evident from the moment a large yellow detour sign sent all NMMU vehicles through the North Campus entrance. Our once-quiet route to the main parking lot is now akin to Cape Road. All 12 000 vehicles now use their alternative route and will do so until the road works have been completed on the South Campus route. This simply entails making "the circle bigger" or possibly not so simple since the original month-long inconvenience has subsequently been extended till well into September.

After the initial first-week frustrations all parties seemed to have re-adjusted, including the taxis and the municipal bus service. Temporary bus stops have been set up to accommodate staff and students. I know because there's one right outside my office.

Also outside my office is a new-look garden or at least the start of a new-look garden. All the large non-indigenous trees and bushes have been cut down and "shredded". That bark is now being used as a mulch elsewhere, like in the new gardens around the brand new human movement science building.

This new R34m investment on South Campus near the sporting facilities is now occupied is the cars in the parking lot are to be believed. There are a few buildings about but to all extents and purposes the HMS Centre is already functioning. A little further up the drag, the R5m extension to the Sports and Aquatics Centre appears to be nearing completion. However, there's no sign of new lights being installed at the stadium. During recess it was discovered that NMMU's lights are not good enough for TV coverage in the Varsity Sport soccer contest. In fact, they need to be replaced, thanks to flood damage and the effects of time.

Heading back to North Campus again, the Careers Fair is on the go. This is where students can go to meet prospective employers. It gets bigger every year.

With all the extra cars about on our campus (North), I couldn't help but think about the cleaner, safer alternative - the electric car. Sadly, in the time I was away NMMU both launched a self-built electric car, eDiba, and had to withdraw the same vehicle from the Formula Student event in Hockenheim, Germany. Concern for the safety of the students intent on driving the first student electric vehicle from Africa saw NMMU withdraw the vehicle at the eleventh hour. I'm told it felt like someone had just died - so sad were those who'd put so much effort into project.

Staying with engineering, we now have a new dean Prof Oswald Franks of  that faculty. He comes with excellent credentials. With 30 000 engineers needed by South Africa by 2014 (it's not going to happen - "we need 100 years to get to the goal of government," - Estelle Gathercole), Prof Franks will be well aware of the critical role he needs to play in growing the country's future.

However, I am encouraged. The land has been mapped out for the new Alumni House building, next to the lake on South Campus, and the new 278-bed student residence is up to the second floor ...

Yes, you turn your back and look what happens.