Nondumiso Mndaba’s academic success has proven that indeed, dreams delayed are not dreams denied. After finishing her matric, she had to wait for four years before she could study due to Keratoconus, an eye condition that affected her eyesight. She had to wait to get it cured so that she can enrol in the university.
Long story short, she is finally living her academic dream as she graduated Cum Laude and obtained the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award for her Diploma in Language Practice at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban on Tuesday, 20 May 2025.
Graduating Cum Laude with the Dean’s Merit award was not a surprise to Mndaba as she has been excelling throughout her academic journey.
“It is what I was aiming for from my first year and I worked hard to make sure I graduate with Cum Laude, but Dean’s Merit award on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise,’’ she described.
Her academic excellence shows that this course was her choice of study. She was always drawn to language studies, particularly because of her keen eye for grammatical errors. She always enjoyed identifying and correcting mistakes in sentences structures and grammar. Her passion for language extends to reading, writing, translating, editing and proofreading is undeniable. She is also enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge with others and finds joy in teaching.
Mndaba’s family could not hold their excitement for their daughter who made them proud. From her first year she always displayed stellar performances.
The Durban born revealed that her DUT journey was a rollercoaster, one filled with emotions, from exciting opportunities the institution had granted her- like visiting China in 2023 to endless academic work, which she managed to excel in through dedication.
She highlighted that all DUT’s living values and principles go hand in hand and are vital, however there are two that she associates the most with, which are integrity and excellence. She embodies them because they align with her own personal values as a person of integrity who excels in everything she does.
Managing an academic load was one of her biggest challenges, thanks to her mentors for guidance throughout her academic journey.
To first-year students, she said that they must put in all the effort. They must always remember the reason why they have chosen to study Language Practice, and that the world needs Language Practitioners to facilitate communication and understanding across languages and cultures globally.
Currently she is doing her Advanced Diploma in Language Practice and is planning to continue until she gets her PhD.
Pictured: Nondumiso Mndaba
Vukani Langa
