Ms S’thembile Mjadu has spent much of her career supporting people through difficult moments and helping them find the confidence to move forward.

As Interim Director: Student Services in the Midlands at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), she plays a key role in ensuring that students have access to the support they need throughout their university journey.

Her work covers mental health and counselling support, student health, accommodation, career development, food security, wellness initiatives and programmes that promote belonging and personal growth.

Born in rural Empangeni and Mtunzini on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Mjadu joined DUT in 2020 as a Senior Psychologist in the Student Counselling Unit on the Midlands Campuses. Since January 2025, she has served in the interim leadership role of Director: Student Services in the Midlands.

The Student Services office oversees a range of critical support units, including Student Counselling, Campus Health Services, the Disability Rights Unit, Student Governance, Student Housing and Residence Life, as well as Sports Administration.

Mjadu brings her experience as a psychologist to the role, together with a strong belief that students need more than academic support to succeed.

“I have worked in a number of environments including research in academia, Correctional Services and Support Services. The space that captured my heart is student support as I believe it offers all of us working within the space an opportunity to contribute to the future of our nation through nurturing the young people who are our future workforce, business people and leaders in different spheres,” she said.

Her journey into Psychology was not initially part of her plan. Having initially been drawn to Zoology, she found herself exploring alternative career options after disagreements with her parents.

Her father directed her to the local library in Mtunzini to research other careers. It was there that she discovered Psychology and developed an interest in the profession.

“I have come to believe over the years that it was meant to be as it has afforded me the opportunity to impact on so many lives while simultaneously helping me evolve on a personal level,” she said.

With a touch of humour, she added: “I believe the animals that I initially wanted to study are doing just fine without me.”

Her career has since taken her into research, academia, Correctional Services and student support, but it is working with students that has become particularly meaningful to her.

One of the things she values most is hearing from former students and learning about how they are progressing in their careers and personal lives.

Her move from Senior Psychologist to Interim Director has also changed the scale of her responsibility. Instead of focusing primarily on individual students, she now has to consider the wider student community and the teams responsible for supporting them.

One of the challenges she has faced in the role has been maintaining stability during a period of restructuring, staffing changes and increasing student needs.

The experience has reinforced her belief that leadership requires more than making decisions. It requires listening, understanding that people respond differently to change and being willing to acknowledge when you do not have all the answers.

She believes that student success cannot be measured by academic performance alone.

“Student success is influenced not only by academic performance, but also by mental health, physical health, accommodation, food security, safety, belonging and meaningful engagement,” she said.

This has encouraged greater collaboration across Student Services and a stronger focus on ensuring that students can access the right support when they need it.

Mjadu also recognises that the people providing support need support themselves.

In student services, the needs of students do not always fit neatly into office hours, and staff can easily find themselves giving so much to others that they forget to look after themselves.

“One of the lessons I have learned is that self-care cannot simply be something we recommend to others; it must become something we practise ourselves,” she shared.

She encourages her teams to take time to rest and recharge, particularly during demanding periods, while also recognising and celebrating the small victories along the way.

Women’s Month has given Mjadu another opportunity to reflect on the experiences of women and the different paths they take in life.

Over the years, she has been invited to women’s gatherings to speak about issues ranging from marriage and finances to relationships and personal growth. Initially, she questioned why she was being asked to speak about such personal matters.

She later realised that the invitations were not necessarily about being an expert. They were about being someone whose experiences and perspective could contribute to conversations around healing, reflection, courage and growth.

“Women’s Month has become a reminder of the incredible possibilities that exist for women. It reminds me that we can become whoever we desire to be, and that our journeys do not have to follow a predetermined script,” she said.

She believes women should feel free to lead, serve, create, change direction, start again and occupy spaces that previous generations could only dream of.

Her mother remains one of the biggest influences on how she sees life and opportunity.

Despite facing numerous challenges, her mother remained willing to recognise and pursue opportunities. Through hard work, resourcefulness and an enterprising spirit, she created an environment in which her children did not feel deprived.

“She taught us that poverty is not simply about what you have; sometimes, it is about whether you can see possibility in what you do have,” shared Mjadu.

That lesson continues to shape Mjadu’s approach to her work and the people she encounters.

At DUT, she wants to contribute to a psychologically safe environment where students and staff feel comfortable speaking, asking for help, expressing themselves and disagreeing respectfully without fear of judgement or retaliation.

“People perform and thrive when they feel valued, respected and safe to be themselves,” she explained.

For Mjadu, creating such an environment is part of creating a university where people can grow and perform at their best.

Her work in Student Services is ultimately about making sure that students know that they do not have to face every challenge alone and that there are people and services available to support them.

Pictured: Ms S’thembile Mjadu, Interim Director: Student Services in the Midlands.

Photo: S’bonelo Dlamini

Simangele Zuma