This afternoon, the Durban University of Technology conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Management Sciences to women empowerment luminary, Dr Gloria T. Serobe, in recognition of her outstanding contribution towards creating social and economic change and for the empowerment and development of women, particularly those in rural areas.

The Honorary Doctorate was presented to Dr Serobe this afternoon (Thursday, 1 September 2016), during the University’s Spring Graduation Ceremony at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, DUT Steve Biko Campus, at 13H00.

DUT Honorary Doctorate degrees are conferred in recognition of the positive work that South Africans have shown in the country. Dr Serobe’s award acknowledges her contribution towards the economic emancipation of women, by creating investment opportunities and developing better business models for local communities.

Delivering her keynote address, Dr Serobe urged graduands to help the country in fixing its micro-economic deficiencies. Congratulating the graduates, Dr Serobe also expressed her concern about the country’s “shortage of intellectual capacity”. “I must congratulate all the graduates and let you know that there is so much to look forward to. I am privileged to deliver a message as an honorary graduate of the Durban University of Technology. Our hopes are placed on you to regain the trust that we have lost and to fix the (country’s) micro-economic deficiencies. We need to fix our shortcomings and that requires intellectual capacities in all departments and sectors. The country is in desperately need of you,” she said.

Serobe first worked as a trainee accountant for the Exxon Corporation in the United States of America. After that, she returned to South Africa to work as an accountant for the Premier Group’s Epic Oils and Munich Reinsurance, then moving into investment and merchant banking with Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank. From there, she successfully took up a post of Group Financial Director for Transnet in 1996 where she worked until 2001, at the same time she and her co-founders worked on creating Withhold – which she co-founded and is currently the Executive Director. 

She has received many accolades and awards throughout her career, she has served on numerous Boards and is a member of the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Advisory Council and an Honorary Life member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa.

– Noxolo Memela

Pictured: DUT Honorary Doctorate latest recipient, Gloria T. Serobe, with Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, DUT Registrar, shortly after officially receiving her Honorary Doctorate.