“Nala kungekho qhude khona, kuyasa” (After darkness, comes light) that was the saying Siboniso Kubheka used to describe his feelings as he graduated Cum Laude and obtained the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award with his degree of Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Monday, 20 May 2024.
Being the first in his family to attend university, Kubheka was exceptionally proud to achieve what he came for at DUT. He said this achievement was also the pride of his Lindelani community, in Mpumalanga. All the years he has been at the institution, his eye has been on graduation, as he knew that would make his family and community proud. Even though the 21-year-old graduated Cum Laude, he said he never expected to go that far despite the hard work and many hours he was putting into his work.
“It hits deeper and brings tears of joy when I think of my family background where I come from. Even now, I’m still shocked by such an achievement. Now I can relate, they are right when they say, ‘Where there is no rooster, it dawns anyway’,” says Kubheka.
Kubheka shared that his journey was not a walk in the park. Last year, he succumbed to mental health issues, which halted his studies. He said it was not easy for him to cope when he was on the brink of the examination period. He also dealt with multiple tests and assignments with tight deadlines. Constantly telling himself that no higher mark was impossible kept Kubheka motivated.
“Meeting tight deadlines can be very stressful but I managed to overcome that stress by always trying to do assigned work as early as possible through late night sleep. Sometimes success does not only depend on intelligence but it depends on the focus and sacrifices you make,” he says.
Kubheka is currently in an internship programme at PurpleRain. He said he was being exposed to the practical application of the theory he obtained from the Mechanical Engineering study programme.
“I want to gain practical experience at an early age because I understand that a higher theoretical knowledge with zero practical experience is not enough compared to what is required in industries. So, it is important for me to try and maintain a balance between theory and practical knowledge as I see myself acquiring a project manager position in a company in the near future,” he says.
Kubheka plans to further his studies and become a professional engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Pictured: Siboniso Kubheka
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.
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