It was a day filled with so many mixed emotions for Siyanda Khanyile as she graduated Cum Laude for the Degree of Bachelor of Education: Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching in Natural Science, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation which was held at the Indumiso Main Hall on Monday, 13 May 2024.
Khanyile was born and bred at Nquthu at a small area called KwaMaceba. When sharing her background Khanyile mentioned that she grew up in an unprivileged background and that motivated her to work hard in order to provide for her family.
“In 2020 I was successfully offered the opportunity to study at DUT. The news was very exciting yet overwhelming since I did not know how I will obtain the finances for my studies because I was raised by a single mother working as a domestic worker. Fortunately, I was awarded with a Funza Lushaka Bursary right after my registration. That gave me such relief and better focus on my studies because the bursary covered all my expenses,” she said.
Khanyile highlighted that her father passed on when she was only 10 years old and her mother played a vital role in raising her. She made the decision to focus and ensure that she finishes school and further her studies.
“It is such a great honour to be graduating with Cum Laude, these are the results of my devotion and dedication to my studies. I pray that this achievement will also bring plenty of opportunities. The journey was definitely not easy because during the year I had registered South Africa was faced with COVID-19, during these times I felt depressed and almost lost focus well on my study. Another challenge was the delays with the student meal allowance and it was difficult to focus on an empty stomach. Through it all I still persevered and succeeded,” she emphasized.
Her mother, Bonisiwe Mtshali expressed how happy she was to see her daughter being awarded on stage as she is the first graduate within the family.
Nkabinde wishes to further her studies until she obtains her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and further becomes a lecturer. She advised students to stay focused in their books and never forget their background.
Pictured: Siyanda Khanyile.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese
Zanele Mashaba
