It was indeed a day filled with mixed emotions as six employees from the Innobiz centre of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) graduated at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, 27 July 2022.

Nonthethelo Mzizi, Thintani Dlamini, Hlengiwe Vundla and Khotatso Memela graduated for their

Thobani Thusi, Student Business Advisor and Liaison Co-Ordinator at the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Advanced Diploma in Management Sciences: Public Relations and Communications Management, Thobani Thusi graduated for his Advanced Diploma in Business Administration and Asande Zuma graduated for her Diploma in Management Sciences: Public Relations and Communication Management.

The emotional Ms Zuma expressed that she lost her mother at the beginning of 2022 which made it a struggle to be working, studying, and running her small business.

“I am the older sister of four siblings and a mother to one son, after losing my mother I had to take some responsibilities to help my father with running the household which made me have less time for myself, but through God and the support from my family and colleagues I managed to pass” she said.

Vundla stated that this qualification means the world to her and she plans to further her studies as she believes that education is the key to success.

Mzizi, who is currently studying towards her Postgraduate diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management mentioned that her journey of studying and working at DUT has been amazing and she is looking forward to what the future has ahead.

Memela gave special thanks to his parents for the emotional and financial support that he received from them.

innobiz Durban University of Technology (DUT) Centre for Entrepreneurship Manager: Ms Ntokozo Ngcobo expressed words of gratitude to her team.

“I want to congratulate the team for the job well done, especially for the ability to balance both their academic and office work without compromise and I want to encourage them to continue developing themselves to the best of their ability. Our office is highly demanding on its own, but I have never felt any lack in terms of performance and for that I thank them all”, she said.

Pictured: Graduates from the Innobiz centre.

Photography: Khulasande Tshayile

Zanele Mashaba