The Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is at the forefront of leading in academic excellence having seen 12 Degrees of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences specialising in Public Administration being conferred with their esteemed degrees who exemplify DUT’s Living Values and goals of ENVISION2030.
The academics received their esteemed degrees at the Durban University of Technology 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. The grand ceremony took place at the Olive Convention Centre (OCC) in Durban.
These graduates, Dr Mainga Lee Haabasonda, Dr Premishwar Haripersad, Dr Blessing Hodzi, Dr Frederick Wanjala Maelo, Dr Alexandre Mukendi Mwana-Nteba, Dr Ezechiel Nyabeda, Dr Caroline Chioma Olanrewaju, Dr Sheila Rumutsa, Dr Banzi Semivumbi Philippe, Dr Jo-Anne Romea Pearson, Dr Zolani Tafeni and Dr Kevin James Thompson, have achieved a significant milestone, highlighting the dedication and academic rigour of themselves and the institution.
Some of the sterling and unique research produced by the PhD graduates pertained to gender-based violence, rehabilitation of child inmates, flood risk management in eThekwini, youth violence, peace education, social development role of churches in South Africa to peacebuilding.
Dr Premishwar Haripersad’s academic thesis tackled the social development role of churches in South Africa, with insights from the Kwazulu-Natal Province. Whilst, Dr Frederick Wanjala Maelo focused on reducing long-term communal violence in Isiolo County, northern Kenya.
He examined the conflict for land in one county of northern Kenya which has resulted in considerable violence over many decades.
An extraordinary thesis topic by Dr Alexandre Mukendi Mwana-Nteba looked at the rehabilitation of child inmates in North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The major aim of the study was to assess child inmates’ prison environment and welfare in order to develop structures and awareness programmes susceptible to tackling their existential needs. “Research findings are instrumental in addressing the welfare of such children and making a positive difference in their present and future life,” he said.
With natural disasters an issue in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Olanrewaju focused her study on flood risk management in urban settlements in the eThekwini area.
“Floods account for two-thirds of all-natural hazards, causing extensive damage and affecting millions. In KwaZulu-Natal, particularly eThekwini, flood disasters have become more severe, leading to devastating consequences,” she highlighted.
She commented further that the study identified habitation on “at-risk” land as a major problem, with relocation policies being ineffective.
Looking at peace education as a transformative strategy in a community affected by gang violence was the topic of Dr Pearson’s dissertation.
“Thousands of children in South Africa live in high gang-violence communities. This action research study investigated the experiences and impact of gang violence on younger learners in their preschool years and on their teachers on the Cape Flats, Cape Town, over a two-and-a-half-year period (from 2019 to 2021),” she said.
Dr Pearson’s study explored how can peace education be used to transform a culture of violence to a culture of peace for the preschool community situated in gang affected areas from the perspective of preschool teachers. “Key findings revealed that preschool teachers and young children experienced high levels of gang violence and victimisation on a regular basis, lived in a chronic state of fear, anxiety and hypervigilance. Teachers were desperate for solutions to their plight and used self-taught danger management strategies and trauma-coping methods at school and in communities,” she proffered.
She explained that the thesis argues that, in South Africa, the implications for how peace education and peacebuilding aimed at transformation are conceived and practiced, particularly in high-violence, gang-affected contexts, are considerable.
The general consensus was that DUT graduates are the next generation of leaders, innovators, changemakers and proud ambassadors of DUT.
Pictured: Nine PhD graduates at the Faculty of Management Sciences graduation ceremony.
Waheeda Peters
