Sanele Nkosi credits the impact of the Residence Education Programme at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), and choosing the right friends, as some of the contributing factors that propelled him to achieve academic excellence.

Nkosi graduated today, 09 May 2018 with a National Diploma in Accounting with Cum Laude, having managed to score 25 distinctions out of 31 modules.

“The Residence Education Programme exposed me to excellent tutors and like-minded students who were always pushing me to strive for good academic performance. There was a healthy competition amongst us as a group of students. It also assisted me to create a balance between academic life and personal life, which helped me to grow as a person holistically,” said Nkosi.

The 21-year-old Nkosi from Standerton in Mpumalanga was inspired by his brother to pursue an education. “It was very difficult for my brother to enroll at university because our mother is a domestic worker and my father is disabled, so our family financial position was not stable. When I looked at his academic journey I was also inspired to follow my dreams. I think my brother would be happy to see that I’m following in his footsteps,” added Nkosi.

Nkosi said he was always driven by the ambition to achieve his dream and make his family proud. “As the last born in my family with two brothers and one sister, I’m very happy that my parents will witness my graduation, as that has always been my dream,” said Nkosi.

He believes that coming to DUT and being away from home shaped him as a person. “Within my community most young people generally go to Gauteng for higher education, but I thought it would be good for me to be far away from home so that I can learn to be independent. This also exposed me to different people who shaped my life for the better,” said Nkosi.

Nkosi who is currently pursuing his B-Tech in Cost Management Accounting says his goal is to make a contribution towards jobs creation. “I want to acquire skills that will assist me to create employment opportunities for young people because there is already a serious challenge of limited job opportunities. This economy needs a new generation of innovators and change drivers and that’s where I want to make a contribution,” Nkosi said.

The elated Nkosi encouraged other students to associate themselves with determined people and work hard in order to achieve their dreams.

Pictured: Sanele Nkosi with his parents after graduating today, 09 May 2018.

Nduduzo Ndlovu