The passing of his father became the driving force behind Khulekani Ndlela’s determination to succeed academically and become the first graduate in his family.

The young man from the deep rural area of Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal was among the graduates conferred with qualifications during the Durban University of Technology Autumn Graduation Ceremony held at the Indumiso Campus Hall in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 11 May 2026.

Proud mother, Ms Zandile Ndlela with her son Khulekani Ndlela.

Beaming with pride, his mother, Zandile Dladla (54), and elder sister, Jabu Ndlela (29), attended the ceremony dressed in vibrant Zulu traditional attire, proudly embracing their heritage while celebrating a historic milestone for their family.

For Khulekani, obtaining his Bachelor of Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching fulfilled a promise he made to his mother following the passing of his father. Among his three older siblings, Khulekani is the only one who managed to attend university and obtain a qualification.

Reflecting on his journey and the significance of breaking generational barriers, Khulekani shared that his father passed away a few years ago while he was in Grade 11. He said his father constantly encouraged him to focus on education, believing it would become the key to transforming their family’s circumstances and lifting them out of poverty.

“I made a promise to my mother when we lost our father that I was going to man up and study so I could take care of my family. I wanted to break barriers and become the first in my family to go to university and become a professional. I wanted to improve the status of my family because my older siblings were not fortunate enough to receive this opportunity,” said Khulekani.

He added that he remains grateful to DUT for giving him an opportunity to pursue higher education and work towards changing his family’s future.

Khulekani dedicated his qualification to his late father, whose memory continued to inspire and motivate him throughout his studies. As the first graduate in his family, he said his achievement carries both significance and responsibility.

Encouraging young people facing adversity to remain hopeful and committed to their dreams, he said:

“Your background and struggles should never stop you from succeeding. Use your pain as motivation to create a better future for yourself and your family.”

His proud mother and sister could not contain their excitement when his name was called during the graduation ceremony. His mother said she wished his father had lived to witness his son’s dream becoming a reality.

“My son’s resilience and determination through hardships have brought me to a university graduation ceremony for the first time. I never imagined I would have a graduate in my family. When his father passed away, Khulekani comforted me and promised that he would study hard to change our lives,” shared his mother.

She explained that she is unemployed and supports the family by selling vegetables from her garden. She expressed pride in her youngest child for honouring his promise and persevering despite the painful loss of his father.

Sharing similar sentiments, Khulekani’s sister commended him for his hard work and dedication, saying the family views his achievement as the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope and opportunity.

Pictured: Khulekani Ndlela with his mother, Zandile Dladla.

Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini.

Simangele Zuma