Ntando Majola is grateful to the Durban University of Technology for giving him a chance to improve his marks and get into the Diploma in Accounting programme. He graduated Cum Laude for his Diploma in Accounting at the DUT 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Saturday, 24 May 2025.
The 23-year-old from Clermont in Durban who obtained 29 distinctions out of his 33 modules believes he would not have reached this milestone if it was not for the DUT Financial Accounting Department, which saw the potential in him and afforded him a chance to redeem himself.
“It all began with the Accounting Bridging Course, a programme that was available for a limited time and is no longer offered. After underperforming in my matric year, I was on the verge of taking a gap year, but DUT gave me a chance. They offered me a place in the bridging course, which helped me rebuild my confidence and develop strong fundamentals in accounting,” explained Majola.
He shared that he grabbed the opportunity with both hands and passed all his modules with distinctions. His diligence led to him being accepted into the Diploma in Accounting programme. He credited his academic success to his supportive lectures and academic staff.
“Throughout my diploma, I grew not just in terms of academics but also in a personal sense, I started leading teams, had to learn how to communicate and resolve conflicts in groups. My efforts were rewarded with me graduating Cum Laude. I received 29 distinctions out 33 modules, I also received four academic awards. I had the honour of speaking at the FASSET Research Summit alongside my teammates Busisiwe Mzila and Zanele Zuma about how we could use machine learning in accounting to identify revenue anomalies,” shared Majola.
He indicated that his biggest challenge in his journey at DUT was adopting an innovative mindset. He had to get out of his comfort zone and to learn things outside his curriculum such as coding in python and using it to develop innovative solutions to real life problems.
He highly resonates with the DUT principle of commitment, which he feels aligns with his personal belief of being committed to his plan, being committed to his vision, and working tirelessly until it his dreams become a reality.
He is currently completing an internship at the DUT’s Library as a finance intern. His role involves helping with budgeting, expenditure tracking, dealing with foreign suppliers (mainly about books) and other administrative functions like source document filing.
Majola’s ultimate career goal is to help turn small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into global conglomerates by working closely with them to unlock their full potential. He wants to be part of the process that scales great ideas, strengthens operations, and creates sustainable growth, especially for businesses that just need the right support to thrive. For him, it is not just about investment; it is about impact, transformation, and long-term value creation.
Pictured: Accounting top achiever, Ntando Majola.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini.
Simangele Zuma
