In the spirit of Women’s Month, Durban University of Technology (DUT) is celebrating its women, their strength, achievements and contributions. Among them is Janelle Govender, an Honours Journalism student who graduated cum laude and received the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award for academic excellence for her Bachelor of Journalism at DUT’s 2026 Autumn Graduation.
For Janelle, the recognition meant more than receiving an award. It was also a proud moment because she knew she had made the people who supported her throughout her academic journey proud.
She was recently recognised again for her academic excellence at the Journalism Awards held on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. She received the Top Achiever in the Journalism Programme Award for 2025, as well as awards for the first semester of the Bachelor of Journalism Honours programme in Media and Society 401 and Multimedia and Journalism 401.
“I honestly find it difficult to put the feeling into words. I was incredibly grateful, but I was also genuinely excited because receiving these awards made me feel recognised for the work I had put in,” she said.
As she continues with her Honours studies this year, Janelle acknowledged that the journey has been challenging. Receiving the awards, however, served as a reminder that the hours she put into her work, the times she pushed through when she was tired and the moments when she questioned whether she was doing enough were all worth it.
Her journey at DUT has been one of growth, self-discovery and becoming more confident in who she is and what she is capable of.
Her love for writing and creativity began at a young age, although she did not know then that it would eventually fuel her passion for journalism.
“As a young child, I loved writing and even participated in essay competitions in primary school. I also loved talking to people, communicating and being creative,” Janelle said.
Like many high school learners, Janelle reached a point where she was unsure about what she wanted to study at university. A friend suggested journalism, and that suggestion stayed with her.
“I eventually applied for Journalism as my first choice, went through the entrance test and interview process, and was accepted for the 2023 academic year,” she shared.
Her time in DUT’s Journalism programme has provided her with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally as an aspiring journalist. She was afforded the opportunity to take part in an overnight field trip with the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, where they toured parts of the Freedom Route.
The experience reminded her that journalism and media are not only about producing content, but are also about people, history, identity and understanding different perspectives.
“I had the opportunity to work with international students through a COIL project and later gained newsroom experience during my final year,” she said.
One of the challenges Janelle has faced is balancing her academic responsibilities with her personal life and making sure that she does not allow her studies to consume all her time.
“University can be exciting, but there are moments when everything feels like it is happening at once. You have assignments, tests and deadlines competing for your attention, while also trying to have a personal life and take care of yourself,” she shared.
She has learnt not to focus on everything at once, while becoming more disciplined with her time and learning how to prioritise her tasks.
“I have also leaned on my faith and the support of my family,” she added.
Her motivation for her work and studies comes from knowing that communication has the power to influence how people understand the world around them.
“If something I create, communicate or contribute to helps someone understand an issue differently, feel represented or make a more informed decision, then I believe that is a meaningful impact,” she explained.
Janelle’s advice to other young women is simple: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
As she continues her journey, she hopes to carry the values instilled in her by DUT; respect, honesty, integrity, compassion, accountability and excellence, wherever she goes.
Pictured: Honours Journalism student, Janelle Govender.
Nosihle Mthembu
