Walking across the stage at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Spring Graduation on Thursday, 17 September 2026, will be more than the culmination of years of hard work for Simangele Zuma. It will be a deeply personal full-circle moment.
A Media Officer in DUT’s Communications Unit, Simangele has spent years telling the stories of students and graduates while helping to share the university’s achievements with the broader community. This time, she will become the subject of a graduation story herself.
The mother of two boys, originally from Umlazi and now residing in Sydenham, Durban, will graduate with her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at DUT’s 2026 Spring Graduation ceremonies at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
Her journey at DUT began in 2006 when she enrolled for the National Diploma in Journalism.
“At the time, I could not have imagined how profoundly DUT would shape both my academic and professional development,” she said.
After obtaining her Diploma in Journalism in 2009, Simangele worked as a journalist at several media houses, including Xpress Times, Tabloid Newspapers, Daily Sun and Isolezwe.
Her passion for journalism and continuous learning saw her return to academia, where she obtained a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Journalism in 2013.
In April 2020, she returned to DUT once again, this time as a staff member. Since then, she has played an important role in telling the university’s stories and serving as a link between DUT and the media.
Her academic journey continued alongside her professional career. In 2021, she enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration through the DUT Business School before progressing to the MBA she will now graduate with.
This journey has given Simangele the rare opportunity to experience DUT from three different perspectives: first as a student, then as a professional, and now as a staff member who helps tell the stories of others.
“My journey has therefore been one of continuous growth, learning and reinvention. DUT has not only provided me with academic qualifications, but has also played a significant role in shaping the professional that I have become,” she said.
Obtaining her MBA is an emotional achievement for Simangele, particularly because the journey took longer than she had anticipated.
Returning to university as a working professional and mother meant navigating competing demands between her career, family and studies.
“Obtaining my MBA marks a step closer to achieving my dream of becoming the first PhD holder in my family. Returning to university as a working professional and a mother came with its own challenges. There were moments when I had to balance work responsibilities, family commitments and academic demands, but I remained committed to completing what I had started,” she said.
There were also moments of exhaustion and self-doubt.
“I had missed four graduations and being left behind was heartbreaking, yet I remained hopeful that my turn would come,” she reflected.
That moment has now arrived.
Simangele credits her family, colleagues, supervisors and everyone who supported her throughout the journey.
Her family was particularly proud and excited to see her reach this milestone, having witnessed the sacrifices, tears and commitment that went into completing the qualification.
As a mother, she is particularly proud that her two sons have watched her pursue her goals despite the challenges.
“I hope that my journey teaches them that education is valuable and that they should never be afraid to dream big. Their support and encouragement have been an important source of motivation throughout my academic journey,” she said.
Simangele’s MBA mini-dissertation, titled Student Development Strategies at innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, examined the effectiveness of student development strategies implemented by the Centre.
The study focused on how these initiatives contribute to students’ entrepreneurial development and potential success.
“Previous studies on entrepreneurship development amongst university students have yielded valuable findings, but there is a lack of agreement on the elements that motivate students to become entrepreneurs at DUT,” she explained.
Her research found that student entrepreneurs at innobiz DUT demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the development strategies available to them. These include experiential learning in entrepreneurship education, the integration of design thinking and project-based learning, and support mechanisms for student entrepreneurs.
“These strategies effectively empower students to develop self-sufficiency and establish their businesses while pursuing their studies. Nevertheless, entrepreneurial development efforts should offer more pragmatic advice on maintaining their businesses in the long term,” she said.
She believes the findings can assist innobiz DUT in strengthening and refining its student development strategies to ensure that they remain relevant and effective.
For Simangele, her time at DUT has been about more than academic achievement. The university’s values have also influenced her personal and professional growth.
“I strongly associate with respect, excellence and integrity,” she said.
“Respect is important to me because I believe in treating people with dignity, regardless of their position, background or circumstances. Working in media and communications requires me to engage with a diverse range of people, and I believe that listening to others, valuing their perspectives and treating everyone with courtesy are essential to building meaningful relationships.”
She said excellence and integrity also guide her professional approach.
“I believe in fulfilling every responsibility to the best of my ability through continuous improvement rather than perfection. In media work, I prioritise honesty, credibility and ethical conduct to responsibly tell stories and represent institutions.”
Balancing these responsibilities was not always easy.
“As a working mother of two, time was always precious. There were days when I had to move between professional responsibilities, family commitments and academic deadlines. I learned the importance of asking for support when necessary and, most importantly, of believing in myself even when the journey became difficult,” she said.
For Simangele, journalism was never a backup plan. It was always her first choice.
Her journey began in 2006, driven by a belief in the power of storytelling and the responsibility of the media to inform the public.
Over the years, she has expanded her career into corporate communications, media relations and reputation management. Yet the foundations of journalism remain central to her work.
Her journalism background taught her to ask questions, listen carefully, tell compelling stories and communicate information accurately. These skills continue to shape her approach as a communications professional.
Looking ahead, Simangele wants to continue her academic journey and become the first PhD holder in her family.
“I believe strongly in lifelong learning and developing myself, whether through formal education, professional development or research,” she said.
Her professional ambition is to grow as a strategic communications practitioner and take on greater leadership responsibilities within the communications and media environment.
“I want to contribute meaningfully to strategic communication, reputation management, stakeholder engagement and institutional storytelling. I am particularly passionate about using communication to demonstrate the impact that institutions such as DUT have on students, communities and society,” she said.
Ultimately, she hopes to occupy a leadership position where she can draw on her experience in journalism, media relations and corporate communications, together with the knowledge gained through her MBA, to contribute to organisational strategy and transformation.
Her advice to students considering a career in journalism and communications is simple: take their studies seriously, remain curious and never stop learning.
“Journalism and communications are constantly evolving, particularly with the growth of digital media, social media and new technologies. Do not limit yourself to what is taught in the classroom. Read widely, ask questions, attend events, build relationships and look for opportunities to gain practical experience.
“I would also encourage students to develop strong writing, research, communication and interpersonal skills. Your qualification may open the door, but your attitude, work ethic and willingness to learn will help you progress.”
Perhaps the most meaningful part of Simangele’s graduation is the perspective she brings to it.
As a Media Officer, she has interviewed graduates, written their success stories, captured their achievements and helped share their journeys with the DUT community.
Now, she is experiencing that moment herself.
“This graduation feels like a beautiful full-circle moment for me, from being a DUT Journalism student in 2006, to becoming part of the team that tells DUT’s stories, and now becoming one of the graduates whose story is being told. It is incredibly special,” she said.
“Being on the other side of the table has given me a completely different perspective. We interview graduates, write their success stories, capture their achievements and help share their journeys with the broader DUT community. This time, I am also one of those graduates.”
Nearly two decades after first walking through DUT’s doors as a Journalism student, Simangele returns to the graduation stage with a story of perseverance, professional growth and lifelong learning.
Her journey has not followed a straight line. It has included career changes, motherhood, professional responsibilities, missed graduations, academic challenges and moments of doubt. But each chapter has contributed to the person and professional she has become.
“I hope my story inspires other students, particularly those who may be balancing studies with work and family responsibilities, to keep going. Sometimes the journey takes longer than expected, but that does not make the achievement any less valuable,” she said.
Communications Manager, Tiyani Mboweni, congratulated Simangele on her achievement, saying her MBA is a significant milestone not only for her personally, but also for the Communications Unit.
“Congratulations, Simangele, on achieving your MBA from DUT. Balancing the intense workload of an MBA while maintaining your high performance here at DUT is an enormous achievement. It takes incredible dedication, time management and resilience to accomplish what you have done.
Your achievement is particularly meaningful because we have seen your commitment not only to your studies, but also to your work and to telling DUT’s stories. We are already seeing the impact of your advanced strategic thinking and leadership skills within the team, and I am excited to see how you continue to apply your new knowledge and experience to our work.
This is a well-deserved milestone, and I hope you take a moment to appreciate how far you have come. Enjoy this special occasion with your family and friends. We are incredibly proud to have you on the team and look forward to seeing the contribution you will continue to make to DUT.”
Pictured: Simangele Zuma
Waheeda Peters
