Minenhle Mandy Nxumalo, a 28-year-old from Enseleni in Richards Bay, completed her Master’s in Accounting in style, as she got Cum Laude, and the Dean’s Merit award for academic excellence. She graduated at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation ceremony held at the Olive Convention Centre on Saturday, 24 May 2025. Her journey has been challenging and rewarding, marked by significant personal and academic growth.
Her passion for accounting and sustainability drove her to pursue a master’s degree, and she focused her research on ethical investment and financial sustainability with the title of dissertation: Ethical Investment and Financial Sustainability among Resource Extraction Companies in South Africa : The Moderating Role of Disclosure Quality.
Her academic journey was shaped by her values of accountability and excellence. She believes that taking full responsibility for her progress and actions is crucial, and striving for excellence has become a mindset that guides her work ethic.
“To me accountability means taking full responsibility for my progress, actions, and the quality of work that I produce. It has taught me discipline, patience, integrity and the importance of following through on commitments. On the other hand, excellence has become a mindset. Striving to do my best, not just to achieve good results, but to make myself proud and honour the opportunities I have been given. These values shaped my work ethic and will continue to guide me in the future,” said Nxumalo.
As a master’s student, Nxumalo faced the challenge of managing the intensity and independence that postgraduate research demands. However, she learned to be patient with herself, trust the process, and lean on her supervisors and support system when needed.
“Between research deadlines, academic reading and being a full-time mom, there were moments when it felt overwhelming. Additionally, there were moments of self-doubt, writer’s block, and times when progress felt painfully slow, especially after receiving feedback from my supervisor. But through it all, I learned to be patient with myself, to trust the process and lean on my supervisor and my support system when I needed encouragement,” she explained.
Her long-term goal is to become an academic dedicated to research in the accounting field, focusing on the intersection of accounting and sustainability. She aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge that supports ethical, transparent, and responsible business practices.
Pictured: Minenhle Nxumalo
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Thubelihle Dumakude
