Being adaptive, innovative and creative graduates are what is instilled to the Durban University of Technology (DUT) graduates. For Nothando Khuzwayo, her journey from being a student to dedicating her passion to her creative craft of ‘having a green thumb’ has been a dream come true.
Becoming a horticulturist is what she eats, breathes and lives for. She indicated that career management is certainly a lifelong process and should blend both passion and profit.
“It is through my exposure and experience in the construction industry which navigated me towards a different career outcome that brought me back to nature,” she confessed.
At the age of 29 years, she took a leap of faith and enrolled for a Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Landscaping at DUT.
“I wanted to continue my career journey in an industry that gives back to nature and that will get me more involved in environmental restoration, improving the life of our communities through landscaping,” she said.
She relayed that her heart is filled with immense gratitude towards her lecturers and without a doubt she had the best mentorship in her journey at DUT.
“I appreciate the likes of Dr Jonathan Foley who headed the School of Horticulture (SOH) at DUT for helping students get internships and job placements. His knowledge and expertise is highly appreciated by all who have been mentored by him in industry. I thank him for recommending and believing in me to manage and execute the Ethelbert Child and Youth Centre landscaping project,” she commented.
Speaking of the Ethelbert Child and Youth Centre which is based in Queensburgh, she explained that the project entailed carrying out a landscape design that will provide child friendly spaces and flora.
“We wanted the garden space to be more than aesthetically pleasing but to be more functional for all. We have incorporated natural landscape elements in the garden which makes the space ideal for a youth garden that can encourage reading and butterfly watching. This was a great initiative for us young horticulturist to improve the lives of others through our work,” she stressed.
“I have also worked as a site manager for Leitch Landscapes at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate where I managed the personal gardens of 100 homeowners. As an individual, I aim to achieve my goals with great dedication and to flourish in my career.”
Going forward, she recently joined the Facilities Service Group (FSG) as their KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Landscape Manager.
Pictured: Nothando Khuzwayo
Waheeda Peters
