The Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals, researchers, and leaders who will make a significant impact in their individual fields.
With a focus on excellence in research and making a positive impact on society is the goal of these goal-driven, adaptive graduates at the first session of the DUT 2026 Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
The four creative and adaptive graduates spoke of their research and how they have nurtured their studies to obtain their doctorates.
Moshibudi Poncho Phafane was over the moon to obtain her Degree of Doctor of Environmental Health at the DUT 2026 Autumn Graduation ceremony.
Dr Phafane’s thesis is titled: Epidemiological and environmental risk factors associated with self-isolation of covid-19 cases in South African households: developing a localised strategy to minimise transmission and improve patient and contact outcomes.
She emphasized that this quantitative repeated cross-sectional study assessed the epidemiological and environmental health risks associated with the self-isolation of COVID-19 cases in South African households, focusing on eThekwini Metro and uMgungundlovu Districts.
“It aimed to develop strategies to reduce household transmission and inform stakeholders for future infectious disease pandemics,” she said.
Her vital study highlights that socioeconomic factors hinder adherence to self-isolation guidelines, calling for more flexible government regulations for low-income households.
“It suggests that future pandemic responses should better support these households and enhance infectious waste management. This work contributes to public health practice, exemplified by a published paper on predictors of long COVID-19 and hospital admissions with other manuscripts in review,” she emphasised.
Another beaming Ph D graduand was the gorgeous 35-year-old Jyotika Basdav, who obtained her Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences at the DUT 2026 Autumn Graduation ceremony.
From her experience of being an National Research Foundation (NRF) intern, being exposed to the different types of research in HIV which is quite a prevalent topic in South Africa, and finding all the HIV prevention methods, and working with different populations, is something that drew her to her topic titled: The evaluation of adherence and effects of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on a cohort of PrEP users in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily tablet used by HIV-negative individuals to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.,” she said.
Dr Basdav indicated that this study highlights the critical role of interpersonal relationships, healthcare professionals, and social media in oral PrEP uptake and continuation. Gendertransformative strategies and expansion through community and university health clinics can reduce HIV incidence in South Africa.
She said her PhD was long but rewarding and advised those wishing to be researchers to give it their all and never give up.
Continuing the journey of obtaining her Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences was 33-year-old, Zinhle Pearl Mdluli from Northen of KwaZulu- Natal Tongaat area.
Her dissertation evaluated the microbial water quality of the uMsunduzi River and established a correlation between exposure to the river and the incidence of diarrheal infections among Dusi Marathon participants. In addition, the study conducted a theoretical assessment of the pre-and post-exposure risk reduction interventions that have the potential to safeguard participants of the canoe race.
Sharing the challenges she had encountered as a postgraduate student; she explained that balancing work and studies at the same time had been difficult. She noted that the scholarship awarded to them was not enough to cover all their expenses, especially because many of them are mature students with additional responsibilities. As a result, managing both financial and academic demands became quite challenging.
She said that she was currently going into clinical practice because she was a homoeopath, but at the same time, she was also a medical doctor.
“I would like to say that God is my rock. He is my refuge, and He is my stronghold. I love Him a lot, and He is the one who has done this for me yet again. Thank you to Jesus Christ,” she added.
Dr Vikesh Singh delved into his thesis which focuses on the physical, psychological and social effects of the 2022 floods on individuals, families and communities in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Natural disasters are one of the most complex global phenomena of the modern era, with catastrophic effects for humankind,” he shared. Guided by an instrumental case study design, he gathered the lived stories of individuals across different communities in KwaZulu-Natal, who were caught within the torrential floods, as well as those of community leaders.
“The study found that there were multifaceted factors that intersected with disaster exposure, including human displacement, family members who were washed away, never to be found and the loss of income for those whose informal employment, was in the areas that were flooded.
Despite the trauma and loss, Dr Singh highlighted that through his research, resilience was fostered through the coordinated efforts of community and spiritual leaders who rallied around to provide food, other material resources and counselling to families.
“The aftermath of the floods, reflected the need for a robust approach related to early warning systems, community support, technological innovation and policy formulation that would create more resilient infrastructure, mitigate effects on humankind and prioritise long term recovery plans,” he explained.
All in all, the academic journey embarked by these adaptive graduates have shaped them into capable, compassionate, creative and adaptive, graduates that they are today.
Pictured: The Four PhD graduates at the first session of the Faculty of Health Sciences on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
Waheeda Peters
