Khululekile Ngobese cried tears of joy after receiving her Postgraduate Diploma in Ecotourism at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.
Ngobese (23) who is from Nyamazane village at KwaMaphumulo, grabbed the attention of the other graduates and guests at the ceremony. She attended the ceremony fully dressed in her Zulu maiden traditional attire, which she says was her way of honouring her beauty and virginity. She is currently studying towards her Master’s degree at DUT and Ngobese is also a member of Izimbali Ze-DUT Virgins Club Society.
“This qualification is dedicated to my mother who has always been my pillar of strength. The thought of the hardships that she had to overcome to raise me and provide for me and my siblings, brings so many mixed emotions,” said Ngobese.
She reflected that she had grown up in a family that survived on what was available. That motivated her to develop to be the person she is today. “To see my mother happy motivates me to strive for a better future in order to provide for her,” she expressed.
Commenting on being part of the Izimbali Ze-DUT Virgins Club Society, Ngobese said: “Being part of Izimbali ze-DUT has played an impactful role in my life. It has helped me to stay positive and more focused on my goals. Through this initiative, we learnt a lot about team work, discipline, abstaining from sex and we further groomed one another,” she said.
Her mother, Nonhlanhla Ngobese (59) admitted that she was very proud of how far her daughter has come. “I raised a very smart young lady. My daughter is very appreciative, humble and hardworking. I will continue to support her and I am very happy with her behaviour and I hope she continues to be a great example to her siblings and other young girls within the society,” said the proud Mrs Ngobese.
Ngobese shared her sincere gratitude to the people who continue to support her academic journey.
“I want to thank my mother for her continuous support, my siblings (Zesulile and Zimele Ngobese) who always give me a siblings allowance. I want them to know how much I love and appreciate their gestures. My best friends (Siphiwe Bekwa, Lubanzi Kutshwa and Andiswa Zondi) who have helped me with my academics and those random emergencies. A special thanks goes to the Izimbali ze-DUT as they made me feel at home and encouraged me to always remember my roots,” she concluded.
Pictured: Mrs Nonhlanhla Ngobese with her daughter, Khululekile Ngobese at the DUT 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese
Zanele Mashaba
