Nkanyiso Patric Mchunu, a 23-year-old from Greytown, has achieved outstanding academic success, completing his Bachelor of Journalism degree at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) with Cum Laudeand earning the prestigious Dean’s Merit award, showcasing his resilience and determination in overcoming challenges.
His achievement was celebrated at the Faculty of Arts and Design graduation session, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Tuesday, 20 May 2025.
Mchunu’s life has been marked by frequent moves, having lived in various provinces, including Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng, before settling in Durban for his studies. This nomadic lifestyle has enabled him to become proficient in five languages, a valuable skill that has served him well in his academic and personal life.
His journey at DUT was impressive, with 24 distinctions in 34 modules, making him a strong contender for the Dean’s Merit Award. Mchunu’s success can be attributed to his strong work ethic, time management skills, and dedication to his studies. However, financial struggles were a significant challenge for Mchunu, relying on his father and NSFAS for support.
“Finances were a major struggle in my journey. Living in the city needs money and I am from a super-modest family from the Greytown. My father is an admin clerk with four children, my mother and stepmom are unemployed. So, I only had my father and NSFAS as financial support. Moreover, I made it difficult for myself trying to live beyond my means. I know other students had it worse than I did but I Still think my struggles are valid too,” he explained.
His passion for journalism drives him to continue studying with a hope of eventually becoming a lecturer at DUT. Mchunu’s ultimate goal is to obtain his PhD and make a meaningful contribution to the field of journalism.
“I am currently doing my Honours in Journalism here at DUT. I intend to do my Masters too. Then I am gunning for my PhD and lecturing at DUT. All that for the love of academia and also because my father says school finishes at PhD, otherwise you are a dropout,” chuckled Mchunu.
Pictured: Nkanyiso Mchunu
Thubelihle Dumakude
