A total of seven Student Representative Council (SRC) members will be graduating at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2023 Autumn Graduation season. The excitement kicked-off earlier this week when graduations commenced at the Indumiso Campus Hall in Pietermaritzburg. The DUT graduation celebrations will resume in Durban on Monday, 22 May 2023, with the last of the 33 ceremonies taking place on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 at the Olive Convention Centre.
Four SRC members from the Midlands campuses have already graduated and three from Durban will graduate next week. First to grace the graduation stage was the Secretary-General, Ntokozo Joyful Gcabashe (26) from Umlazi who obtained his Diploma in Cost Management Accounting on Monday night (15 May 2023). He is proud of himself for making it despite the trials and tribulations he faced during his academic journey.
Representing the women, was the SRC Deputy President, Thandolwethu April (22) from Gcuwa in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, who obtained a Diploma in Accounting on Tuesday morning (16 May 2023). April was very proud of the 2022/23 SRC for showing great leadership and for promoting academic excellence. She wished them well in the future and she is certain that their qualifications will open doors of opportunities for them.
April shared the stage with the SRC Education and Transformation Officer, Gideon Mthembu from KwaNdelu, Umzumbe, who obtained his Advanced Diploma in Human Resources. Mthembu, who is currently enrolled for his Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources, wishes to become an academic as he was inspired by the DUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thandwa Mthembu. He believes if Prof Mthembu, who was once a young man from the village in Nkandla can make it, so can he.
Wrapping it up for the Midlands SRC was the Organisation and Accommodation Officer, Njabulo Nkomonde (27) from eThalaneni, Nkandla, who obtained his Advanced Diploma in Public Administration on Tuesday night (16 May 2023). Nkomonde, also known as Mastende (Landlord), was grateful to have made it despite having a limited time for his studies, due to his main focus being on assisting students with finding accommodation or any other related matter concerning student accommodation.
Three of the Durban SRC members are gearing up to graduate next week. It’s safe to say that excitement has set in and they cannot wait for their turn to grace the graduation stage.
Leading the Durban team will be the Projects Officer, Nonhle Dlamini (20) from Jolivet in Umzinto, who will be graduating for her Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specialising in Business Analysis. She is set to grace the stage next Tuesday evening, 23 May 2023 at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban. She is beaming with excitement and cannot wait for her big moment.
The SRC Treasurer General, Asanda Mngomezulu (22) from Mondlo in Vryheid, will be obtaining his Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specialising in Publication Development. He will be graduating on Wednesday afternoon, 24 May 2023. All is set for his big day and he cannot wait to share it with his loved ones.
The last SRC member to graduate will be the Organisation and Accommodation Officer in Durban, Sibusiso Mbhele (23) from Umzimkhulu. He will be obtaining his Diploma in Management Sciences specialising in Marketing, on Friday evening, 26 May 2023. He hopes his qualification will assist him in being an adaptive graduate who will positively contribute to the economic growth of his community.
In his congratulatory message, the DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane said “I wish to take this opportunity to convey my sincere congratulations to recent past and current members of the SRC, who are graduating during our current Autumn Graduations. I am also aware that several of them are currently pursuing post-graduate studies at different levels and thus, giving credence to their commencement of life-long learning, beyond their terms of office. I am particularly delighted that we have started breeding a different type of student leadership who are conscious of the fact that SRC membership is not a career, and that life awaits them beyond their term of office.”
Pictured: Organisation and Accommodation Officer in Durban, Sibusiso Mbhele, Treasurer-General, Asanda Mngomezulu, Secretary-General, Ntokozo Joyful Gcabashe, DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, Deputy President, Thandolwethu April, Projects Officer in Durban, Nonhle Dlamini, Education and Transformation Officer in Midlands, Gideon Mthembu and Organisation and Accommodation Officer in Midlands, Njabulo Nkomonde.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.
Simangele Zuma
