At 36 years old, Nqobile Mngadi has achieved a milestone she once thought impossible, graduating with a Diploma in Public Administration specialising in Supply Chain Management from the Durban University of Technology (DUT), during the 2026 Autumn Graduation ceremonies. Her journey from cleaner to graduate is a powerful story of resilience, determination and faith, strengthened by her passion for long-distance running.
Beyond academics, running has become a defining part of her inspirational journey. Nqobile has completed four Comrades Marathons, with three of these achieved while representing the DUT Athletics Club.
Nqobile Mngadi during her graduation.
This year she is aiming even higher. Her goal is to complete the 2026 Comrades Marathon in under nine hours after previously finishing in under ten hours. On 3 May 2026 she tested her progress at the Durban International Marathon, completing the 42km race in an impressive 3 hours and 49 minutes, marking a major personal improvement.
She expressed immense gratitude to DUT Road Running Coach Mr Thuso Mosia for his continuous support and motivation, throughout her training journey.
Her path has not been easy but it has shaped her into a woman determined never to give up on her dreams.
She lost her mother at a very young age, while her older sister was only 19 years old at the time. After her mother’s passing, life became extremely difficult. Raised by different members of the community, she faced significant hardships, including sexual abuse and childhood trauma.
Despite these challenges, Nqobile never stopped believing that her life would change for the better.
For her, being accepted at DUT at the age of 33 was a defining moment.
“I was accepted to study Supply Chain Management. To me this was nothing but God’s grace because all I wanted was a chance to change my life through education,” she said.
Before joining DUT, Nqobile worked as a cleaner and later as a petrol attendant. Leaving her job to become a full time student was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made. While working as a cleaner, she said she often cleaned offices occupied by young people, which motivated her to pursue higher education.
“Some would ask me whether I had passed matric and why I had not gone to university. Those questions hurt deeply and many times I cried in silence,” she recalled.
Her academic journey as a mature student came with many challenges. She often sought additional support and became known for attending consultations and asking questions, driven by her determination to succeed. She credits her lecturers for guiding her with patience through assignments, tests and exam preparation.
“Their kindness gave me hope during difficult times and reminded me that I belonged at university just like everyone else. They jokingly call me ‘Gijima Mgijimi’ because of my love for running. But this time I am not only running races, I am running towards a brighter future,” she said.
What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that she is the first person in her family to graduate from a university and to complete the Comrades Marathon.
Pictured: Nqobile Mngadi.
Vukani Langa
