The President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Solomzi Zoleka obtained his Advanced Diploma in Business Law at the DUT 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony, which was held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Thursday, 22 May 2025.
As he walked the graduation stage to obtain his second qualification, Zoleka was applauded for promoting academic excellence, marking the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and leadership.
Zoleka (22) from uMzimkhulu is the first SRC President who was elected to serve a two-year term. His graduation came towards the last few months of his term. He described his leadership journey as having been filled with challenges, however, through his desire to lead with purpose, he persevered and managed to juggle both his SRC duties and his studies.
Sharing his excitement after graduating, Zoleka said: “Walking on the graduating stage for the second time was exciting. It has been a long journey, leading and being able to attend classes was challenging. However, I had to find a balance because our main mandate as the SRC is to promote academic excellence. Time management is very important, that is what I have been practising myself, hence I was able to obtain my second belt and I am fighting for the third one. I’m currently pursuing my postgraduate diploma and I am looking forward to graduating once again next year.”
As the SRC President, Zoleka is part of the academic procession that leads the DUT graduations. For Zoleka, this has been his inspiration to further his studies, as he wishes in the future to also become an academic.
“My wish is for me to one day to be like the academic doctors and the professors that I walk with in the red carpet at graduations. My end goal is to reach a PhD level and get to wear the red gown,” shared Zoleka.
His advice to the incoming SRC is to follow in looking up to them and following in their footsteps. He commended the outgoing SRC for their working spirit and dedication in addressing student problems.
“To the SRC that will come after us, they need to remember to consult and not rely on their own understanding. They must have a manner of approach in all that they do. The spirit of fighting must be through ideas and not physical fights. Engage with different stakeholders and remember to put their student issues first,” advised Zoleka.
Amongst the DUT values, he associates with is honesty, as he believes as a leader one needs to be transparent and to be able to account for your actions.
DUT SRC President, Solomzi Zoleka.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini.
Simangele Zuma
