Sthembile Ngcobo, hailing from the Highflats in KwaThathane on the South Coast, proudly graduated with Cum Laude at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre (OCC) on Friday, 23 May 2025. She successfully completed her Advanced Diploma in Operations Management Science, overcoming challenges along the way to achieve this good result.

Ngcobo shared her journey at DUT, where she pursued her Diploma in Operations Management Science at ML Sultan Campus from 2020 to 2022. Later, in 2024, she enrolled for an Advanced Diploma in Operations Management Science at the same campus. Despite facing funding challenges, she did not  let it define  her  instead, it motivated her to study even harder. Her hard work paid off, and she graduated with Cum Laude.

“I am inspired by three DUT living values which are Accountability, Honest and integrity simple because they align with my own personal values. For every action and decision made you must be accountable for outcomes. Being an honest person always make you unique and reliable,” she added.

 Sharing the challenges she faced, she stated that juggling work and university life was demanding. Balancing assignments, exams, and work responsibilities could be tricky at first, but once she found her rhythm, it became more manageable. She emphasised the importance of choosing the right circle of influence, which helped her stay on track. Additionally, she found value in forming study groups and later studying independently to challenge herself.

“I am ecstatic about graduating with Cum Laude, and yet I have mixed emotions about it. Reflecting on the challenges I faced throughout the year, I feel a sense of accomplishment like I have truly conquered them. One moment stands out: during my final exams, I was so ill that I spent the night in the emergency room at Addington Hospital. Despite being discharged just hours before my exam, I chose to write it anyway, and I scored 94%. It was a proud moment, and all those late nights and weekends of studying paid off. Initially, I struggled to process the news myself, finding it surreal, and I didn’t share it with my family right away. When I finally told them, they were overjoyed. As the first graduate in my family, they’ve always been proud of me, but this achievement has brought even greater celebration and pride,” she expressed.

Currently, she is working at Cipla Medpro Manufacturer, Mobeni, as a Quality Assurance Document Reviewer. She was previously employed by this company when she was doing her  internship in 2023.

Ngcobo advised first-year students to keep their eyes on their goals and strive to achieve them, emphasising that this focus would help them avoid distractions. She also highlighted the importance of her circle of influence at university, including lecturers who were there to guide and prepare them for the outside world. Additionally, she encouraged students to take advantage of the various support services offered by the university, which could provide help when needed and prevent them from feeling lost.

Pictured: Sthembile Ngcobo

Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini

Phiwayinkosi Sibiya