The Durban University of Technology (DUT) continues to commend all its essential workers for their dedication and commitment in providing services to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. DUT’s Communications team’s Waheeda Peters spoke to Mzwandile Khumalo, Teaching, Learning and Development Practitioner and Coordinator of the Student Support and Development Unit at DUT’s Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching (CELT).

Q. Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?

A. “I am currently employed as the Teaching, Learning and Development Practitioner and Coordinator of the Student Support and Development Unit at CELT. My primary work includes academic advising, coordination of Residence Educational Programmes (REP), First Year Student Experience (FYSE), and training and capacity building of all Tutor-Mentor-Advisors(TMAs). I am also leading the student segment of the Moving the Middle (Hambisa) and a member of the Student Success Task Team, a member of the Sikusekele Task Team, responsible for the curation and implementation of the Vuna Leadership Academy and other programmes responsible for the holistic support and development of student institutionally.”

Q. How long have you been in that role?

A. “I started working at DUT in 2017, as a TMA then was employed by CELT as the Coordinator for the FYSE and REP programmes in Durban. in 202, the post was converted to Teaching, Learning and Development Practitioner and the Coordinator for the SSDU until current.”

Q. Please describe yourself in a few words?

A. “I am a young, vibrant and liberated, life-long student. I am a Jazz vocalist and musician, which is something many people don’t know. I am a National Social Cohesion Advocate. A thriving entrepreneur. Born in a small town called Piet Retief in the Mpumalanga Province. Raised by a single mother, 2nd of 4 siblings. I am a person of many talents, but most importantly humble and not bound by the conventional ways of doing things, but creativity and with a mindset of always doing new things and excel in them. My outlook in life is always about breaking the limitation.”

Q. How has it been like working during COVID-19?

A. “One had to quickly adapt to the new ways of doing things. I never really understand the concept of ‘new normal’ because the question that I always ask myself is, what was the normal, was the narrative of a normative ever a factor? I had to quickly adapt and make sure we reach to the students and support them as they transition to the online and technology driven ways of doing things. Things are different but we are pushing to ensure the same effectiveness and impact.”

Q. How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus?

A. “This has probably been the hardest time of my life. My side hustles are mainly dependant on people and social gatherings. I have lost close friends and family members but I believe that it is always on God who controls our lives, so it was pretty pre-ordained by God, so I believe. One thing that drives me is the fact that, time is the only luxury and we live within the boundaries of time. It’s always about keeping a positive mind-set and being able to control what I can control and live everything else to the man above.”

Q. What is your daily motivation?

A. “I always tell myself, ‘there’s a little bit of Lamborghini in everything I do’ I always thrive to achieve more, with the understanding that I won’t always win. I keep trying and keep pushing. The uncertainty of life and our quest to self-discover, to reach our full potential, is all that drives me. I probably have failed many times, been surfing a wave of depression, mainly due to my own expectation and what life really presents. But I always land on my daily affirmation there’s more greatness in me, there’s more to life than just these little things I see as my goals now. I always aim higher.”

Q. Please take me through a normal day in your life?

A. “I begin my day with my daily affirmation, I tell myself “I’m great”7 times. I then check my to-do list, which I would’ve drafted a day before. With meetings and all activities for the day. Short breaks in between with a lot of snacks. I rest between 16:30-18:00 for my social youth full things I do. Then finish my daily tasks, personal commitments outside DUT and prepare for the following day. My day start at 4:30-5:00 in the morning and ends at 22:00. I don’t have much of a social life, so its mainly work and research as I have informally started on my PhD work, which I will register in the following year.”

Q. What are your thoughts about the vaccine and its importance to students and staff?

A. “I am conflicted to tell you the truth. I believe more in our own ways of developing immunity. I have not done much research on this vaccination so I would reserve my opinion. But the past year and a few months have given us a glimpse of how much unequal our societies are. So for us to quickly return to the so called normal that we were thriving in, for us to go back to the socially inclusive and cohesive society, with little or less inequalities at all levels. I would strongly suggest we vaccinate. There’s many theories and myths around it, I don’t believe in many of them but more on the positives of this vaccine.”

Q. What do you like to do in your spare time?

A. “A lot! I compose, rearrange songs and perform, I do my community outreach and development programmes. I love traveling as well, visiting different places I don’t know. Socialize with friends. Or just read books.”

Q. If you had one wish what would it be?

A. “My wish is for all of us, those my age and younger, to make it in life. I wish we could change the black culture and understand that being great and being confident is not bad and should never be confused with arrogance or pride. I wish we would just change the narrative and be the greatness we all can be.”