From the rural areas of Kwamhlabayalinga in Manguzi, Sinenhlanhla Masinga has risen to academic prominence, achieving a remarkable milestone by completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Information Management with Cum Laude and the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award for outstanding academic excellence.
She graduated during the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics session, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Monday, 26 April 2025.
Having faced challenges in maintaining a balance between academics, her professional life, and personal life, Masinga often sacrificed her leisure time to achieve her goals. Despite these challenges, she persevered and remained committed to her studies. The loss of her father during her postgraduate studies was a significant setback, but her mother’s support and encouragement helped her stay motivated.
“My family was very excited, especially my mother who cried because she knows how happy my father would have been to see me achieve this milestone as it would have been my first time attending a graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, my father passed on during my postgraduate studies and he never got the opportunity to witness me walking on the graduation stage,” she explained.
Masinga’s values of respect, excellence, and accountability have guided her academic and professional journey. She believes in showing respect to those who have helped her, including her lecturers, family, and friends. Her commitment to excellence has enabled her to achieve academic success, while accountability has helped her stay focused on her goals.
“I have consistently strived for excellence and upheld accountability throughout my academic studies and professional roles. I am a person who practices respect throughout my personal and academic life because I understand that you need to show respect to people who helped me in my academic journey including my lecturer who imparted valued knowledge to me as well as my family and friends,” explained Masinga.
Her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to run her own business led her to pursue her Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Information Management. She gained valuable experience by assisting her mother in running her poultry business. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Master’s degree, which will enable her to strive for even greater heights academically and professionally.
Currently, she is employed at Mancosa as an admissions and selection academic, where she is applying the skills and knowledge she has gained from her academic journey. With her commitment to excellence and perseverance, she is poised to achieve even greater heights in her career.
Pictured: Sinenhlanhla Masinga
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Thubelihle Dumakude
