Graduating for the third time at the Durban University of Technology was Thembinkosi Dlamini who obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation. He made the list of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics’ top flyers at the DUT 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, which took place at the Olive Convention Centre on Thursday, 23 May 2024.
Dlamini is currently employed as a Manager: Internal Audit at the Harry Gwala Districtict Municipality. For him, to be able to graduate Cum Laude for his third qualification meant working in advance to avoid working under pressure. He described his achievement as an indication that consistence and working smart led to academic excellence.
The 29-year-old Dlamini from Nokweja at Ixopo joined DUT in 2013 when he first enrolled for a Diploma in Taxation. In 2016, he enrolled for his BTech in Taxation and returned in 2023 for his Postgraduate Diploma.
His road to academic success was never easy. Sharing some of the challenges he faced, Dlamini said: “The Challenges I faced as a student was that I had to drive a total of 318 kilometres (road trip) from Ixopo (Nokweja location) to ML Sultan campus and return back to Ixopo every weekend to attend Saturday classes. I also had to find a balance between work and school as our afternoon session started at 17h00. Lastly, I had to book accommodation when I was writing tests which happened to consecutive,” shared Dlamini.
His parents are proud of him especially since they did not get a chance to further their studies at university. Dlamini indicated that his father had to drop out of school to look after his family, while his mother got married after matric and could not further her studies.
Speaking about his interest in the Taxation field, Dlamini said it developed when he was in high school as he always had questions about the South Africa tax system. He was eager to learn and understand why companies and South African people had to pay tax on their earnings.
His desire is to become a researcher with the aim to influence people who are coming from rural areas to make positive impact where they are.
Pictured: Thembinkosi Dlamini during his graduation.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.
Simangele Zuma
