Former Durban University of Technology students share their experience of being winners at DUT’s Writing Centre’s Creative Writing Competition. These resilient and change-fit graduates have a ‘can-do’ attitude and a willingness to grasp opportunities and change. These sterling graduates have gone on to publish books and make notable strides in their creative writing journeys. They highlight their journeys since winning the competition and how that experience contributed to their development as writers.
Former Writing Centre winner, Miss Nomali Zondi is obsessed with words as they can create ideas that change the world and make it a much better place for everything under the sun. Zondi who is from Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, is a mother and a writer with a passion for telling stories about the lives of her people, especially black women who have had to struggle against the tide to find their place in the sun. She has a background in journalism, and has also graduated in 2023 for her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Screen Arts and Technology. She launched her first novel called The Rusty Tin Hotel whilst still studying at DUT. Zondi also received a first prize award for her short story titled: Rebellion, at the DUT’s Writing Centre competition on the subject of the coronavirus, (#Covid19 #TheNewNormal).
After winning the competition she grew immense confidence in her work and that motivated her to publish her very first novel called The Rusty Tin Hotel. I think every writer will tell you about putting ones work out there. It’s a terrifying process as you are not sure how something that you’ve put your heart and soul into carving will be received. We need a little push and the competition did just that for me,” she reminisced.
“I have currently finished my second book, a compilation of short stories entitled: The journey of a homeless writer and is stealthily working towards getting my book published. I am also doing research for a documentary about Biafra and what really led to that war in Nigeria,” she said.
One personal insight she shared is that not only people that have something to say but the plants, animals and even the soil have a lot to say. “My favourite author is Chinua Achebe and the reason I love his work is his ability to tell the African story. He has the power to awaken a society particularly Africans not to shy away from who they are,” she conveyed.
Adding to the conversation was the dynamic go-getter, 24-year-old farmer graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Management Sciences: Human Resources Management at DUT in 2023. She is an author and founder of a poultry business called “Madame Clucks Alot.” She owns a sustainable and broiler and crop farm that sells free range broiler chicken, grows and sells organically produced leafy greens, and also train individuals interested in the agricultural sector and author of her book called, Letters to whoever needs to hear this: notes from me. She is also a motivational speaker and founder from Edendale in Pietermaritzburg, who owns a business called Madam Clucks A lot Poultry. Madam Clucks A lot Poultry rears broiler chickens and supplies them to the people who live in local communities and surrounding areas. She realised food security is a big instigator of a lot of things, saying that people need to not be hungry and that is when she realised she needed to start her own business.
“I have grown into a multi-faceted entrepreneur, writer, and youth empowerment advocate. Beyond my business, I remain committed to social impact, youth mentorship, and using my story to empower others,” she said.
In terms of her memories of the Writing Centre competition, Mafu shared that she had participated in the competition in 2019 and won second place in the fiction category. The story she had submitted was deeply personal, although written as fiction—it was inspired by her own experiences growing up in a home marked by gender-based violence. “ It was an emotional piece rooted in my truth and winning that award felt like my voice had finally been heard,” she shared.
For Mafu, winning the competition was truly a turning point. She won a tablet and not long after that, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. During lockdown, that very tablet became her safe space. “I used it to write and publish my first book, Letters to Whoever Needs to Hear This: Notes from Me to You. The book explores emotional intelligence, personal growth, and how we can rise beyond our trauma. That process was life changing. The book was absorbed into DUT’s libraries, and through its sales and the conversations it sparked, I was able to build and launch my agriculture business. It all started with that writing competition, and for that, I’ll always be grateful,” she said happily.
One of her writing insights is to write from the truth of who you are. For years, she had writer’s block—juggling life, business, and grief after her father’s passing. “I’ve started creating again. Everything I write and build stems from my lived experience. Madame Clucks Alot was born out of necessity—I became the head of a child-headed household, looking after my siblings when my father passed, and I needed to feed us. That pain birthed purpose. My strength as a writer comes from using my struggles as soil to grow something greater. Authenticity will always connect deeper than perfection,” she explained.
Growing up, Mafu was drawn to the worlds created by authors like Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton. In more recent years, Ishe has found a strong connection to African authors, especially Nigerian writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her honesty, her ability to weave the personal with the political, and her unapologetic storytelling have always resonated with me. “She writes with courage and that’s what I strive to do too,” she indicated.
Siphesihle Mthethwa is a dedicated educator with a strong academic background in Technology Education, having graduated with a B.Ed in Technology Education (majoring in Electrical Technology and Mathematics) in 2019, followed by an Honours in Technology Education (majoring in Engineering Graphics and Design) in 2021. He is currently finalising his Master’s in Adult and Community Education, focusing on Engineering Graphics and Design. His areas of expertise include Technology Education, Electrical Technology, Mathematics, Engineering Graphics and Design, and Adult and Community Education.
Mthethwa has won the writing competition three times in the past. In 2015, he had participated in the Writing Competition held in honour of literary giant Nadine Gordimer, where he secured first prize in the short story category with his piece The Mystery iPad. The following year, in 2016, he entered again this time in honour of literary icon Lewis Nkosi and once more took first place with his short story Boys to Men.
In 2018, the competition honoured the celebrated author Prof. Zakes Mda. On this occasion, Mthethwa won second prize with her short story The Mighty Khabazela’s Repentance.
Reflecting on his journey, he explained that the competition played a vital role in nurturing his passion for short story writing, even though he initially saw herself primarily as a poet none of his poetry submissions were successful. “Creative writing became my therapy; it healed the emotional wounds I carried as a student,” said Mthethwa.
In 2023, at the Faculty of Arts and Design’s Annual Conference, he took a bold step by infusing creative writing into his academic work. His paper, An Artist Within Brings Out the Drawing in Class: A Creative Approach to Teaching and Learning Engineering Graphics and Design, was not the typical academic presentation. It carried imagination and rhythm, weaving artistry into scholarship. The risk was worth it. The paper was published in December 2024 by Noyam Journal, and he was awarded Best Postgraduate Student at the conference, recognition that celebrated his ability to merge creativity with research. This confidence to experiment had first been sparked by the faculty’s Writing Competition, which encouraged him to believe that creativity and academia could live side by side. He often recalls the lesson from the film Ratatouille that anyone can cook translating it into her own philosophy that anyone can write. To him, everyone is a storyteller, and the best writing captures stories as naturally as we tell them to friends and family, shaped and refined through the inspiration of reading.
Dr Nonhlanhla Khumalo, DUT Writing Centre Practitioner said that showcasing past winners of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Writing Centre (WrC) annual creative writing competition demonstrates the tangible impact of nurturing creativity and critical thinking in the students. “Their achievements as thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and community change-makers exemplify the excellence, innovation, and societal impact at the heart of ENVISION2030. By celebrating these success stories, we provide current students with relatable role models who prove that writing is not merely an academic exercise but a powerful catalyst for leadership and meaningful impact. These narratives reinforce our commitment to producing well-rounded graduates who are articulate on pressing social issues and equipped to shape a better future through creative expression.”
Pictured: DUT alumnis share their creative journeys to achieving success.
Waheeda Peters
