Thenjiwe Pretty Kweyama could not contain her excitement as she took to the stage to receive her Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Information Management, under the faculty of Accounting and Informatics.
Kweyama, who is from Hammarsdale received her PhD at the esteemed the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony at Indumiso Campus Hall in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.
The dedicated academic decided to do her PhD after studying towards her MBA. “It was my dream to pursue this qualification. I believe graduating is a dream of every student. It’s a symbol of your dedication, perseverance and hard work towards your studies,” she beamed.
She happily shared that it was not just a proud moment for her but also for her proud family.
“They were extremely excited and very happy, especially because they could see the hard work and sacrifices I made throughout my study journey,” she relayed.
For Dr Kweyama, DUT, having strong values and principle which she associated with, especially aligning with DUT’s ENVISION2030’s core values and principles are honesty, respect and accountability.
Sharing on her academic dissertation, Dr Kweyama explained that her study critically evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) in selected municipalities within KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa.
“It responds to the persistent challenges of fragmented financial systems that hinder accountability, transparency, and efficient public service delivery. Despite the introduction of the Municipal Standard Chart of Accounts (mSCOA) and various financial reforms, many municipalities still struggle with disjointed systems, manual processes, and unreliable reporting,” she explained.
The findings of her study revealed that there are several barriers to effective implementation, including limited system integration, inadequate training, resistance to change, poor ICT infrastructure, and high levels of unauthorised and wasteful expenditure.
“A key output of the research is a proposed framework for the successful implementation of IFMIS, which aims to enhance decision-making, financial oversight, and service delivery in local government. This framework highlights the need for alignment between technology, organisational capacity, and the broader municipal environment,” she highlighted.
Dr Kweyama indicated that the study offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, municipal managers, and national treasury bodies to support sustainable financial reforms in South African municipalities.
Currently, Dr Kweyama is a Manager Revenue, working in the Finance department for the District Municipality. She is currently in the local government space working in the Finance department for the District Municipality. She has indicated that she would like to grow and work in other spheres of government and venture into the business space.
Also, she is considering looking at doing more academic publications or taking on other short courses to further her career growth as well.
Her advice to first-year-students is to work hard to pursue their career goals and to ensure that they work diligently in achieving their goals.
Pictured: Dr Thenjiwe Pretty Kweyama
Waheeda Peters
