Nokwanda Zulu, young dedicated woman from Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal graduated Cum Laude with the prestigious Deans Merit award for her Degree of Master of Health Sciences in Homoeopathy at Durban University of Technology (DUT). The Graduation Ceremony was held at Olive Convention Centre, Durban, on Tuesday, 20 May 2025.
Pursuing her Master’s degree for Zulu, came with various hurdles. There were moments where she felt like giving up, times when she was overwhelmed with demotivation, and hopelessness. However, through perseverance she prevailed in remarkable style.
“I know how hard I worked and how much I pushed myself. Therefore, when I learned that I would be graduatingwith merit excellence, I was both shocked and deeply grateful,’’ she expressed.
Surprisingly, Homoeopathy was not her first choice, actually it was the only programme that had accepted her on time. Initially, she had planned to transfer to another course, but everything changed when she started attending lectures.
“I became fascinated by the concept of holistic healing and the principles of Homoeopathy, which were unfamiliar yet deeply interesting. I developed a genuine passion for the field, and that passion led me to pursue it to the Masters level,’’ she explained.
Through perseverance and faith, she was able to present her research at both an international conference and the DUT Faculty Research Days for the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) and the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). By God’s grace she also achieved two academic publications, which is something she never imagined.
Zulu’s research focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness of Streptococcus pneumoniae nosode (6CH, 9CH, 30CH, and 200CH) on the growth of S. pneumoniae. The study investigated the potential effectiveness of homoeopathic nosodes on the actual pathogen using various potencies. These are homeopathic remedies prepared from inactivated microorganisms or disease fluids.
One of her biggest hurdles came during her first year of the Master’s programme. She struggled to find supervisors. This setback cost her more than a year of progress, as her research had to be put on hold. It was not until midway through her second year, with the help of the Faculty Dean, Prof Mnchunu, she was finally assigned the supervisors. Furthermore, she encountered a delay due to lengthy procurement processes.
She expressed endless gratitude to her supervisors, Dr Naidu and Dr Majola, for their unwavering support and guidance. Her mentors Dr Mpangase, Dr Xaba, and Virginia Mustafa, and the invaluable technical support from Dr Sirpal, the laboratory technician, the homeopathy department staff. Also, her family and friends, who were steadfast pillars of emotional support throughout her journey.
Additionally, she also extended a special thanks to her family and mother, who has kept her in her prayers since day one. “They have been my greatest motivation throughout my journey. Seeing them happy made all the struggles worth it,’’ she added.
One of the DUT Living Values and Principles she resonate deeply with is compassion. She said it gives one the willingness to listen, support, and show kindness to others. She further said life is difficult, and sometimes people simply need to feel heard and understood.
To first years Zulu said “Life is full of obstacles, especially in our profession, more so if you come from a disadvantaged background. Even when you feel stuck as if the world is falling apart, keep praying and pushing forward. Perseverance is the key,’’ she advised.
Pictured: Nokwanda Zulu
Photographer: Thobela Khumalo
Vukani Langa
