A third-year Public Relations and Communications Management student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Nompumelelo Sibisi (19) from Inanda Glebe, Durban plans to mentor upcoming female leaders through her Qhakaza Ladies Network.
Sibisi, who is the chairperson of Qhakaza Ladies Network gave a brief description on what the initiative is all about.
“Qhakaza Ladies Network is a space where females can form a chain of sisterhood, where we help each other grow and become strengthened through the various aspects of life which a female encounters at university level. We are based more on the psycho-social part of things which is the most important yet hardly practiced way. A member is groomed to be a better version of herself. All these qualities inherited from Qhakaza are disseminated through programmes that the executive members, residence representatives and DUT resident female students suggest to make the dream work,” said Sibisi.
“My journey has been educational and strengthens my academics, as well as in my social and career life. I believe that I am an ambitious and enthusiastic individual who grabs every opportunity that comes in my way. Ever since I became part of the network my engagement and communication skills have developed so much, I am no longer afraid to stand in front of a crowd,” she said.
She was inspired by the leadership skills of the former chairperson, especially on the way she described the values, goals and aims of the initiative.
“The former chairperson was my motivation and I wanted to be like her and follow in her footsteps, that is why I joined the network. As part of the network, we also got incentives like our own branded Qhakaza Ladies Network T-shirts and certificates that were awarded to the participants. My biggest accomplishment is that my leadership as well as my communications skills have developed immensely,” added Sibisi on why she joined the network.
Sibisi further explained that if one is interested in joining the network, they can obtain registration forms that have been shared on their DUT4LIFE emails. These forms were also shared with the first-year students during the 2023 Orientation week.
Pictured: Nompumelelo Sibisi
Lethukuthula Sifiso Ngubane
