Mr Dumoluhle Sibanda, son of the Dean and Head of the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Professor Mabutho Sibanda, graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Law.
‘With my father being so passionate about commerce, I was exposed to the Discipline from a very young age,’ said Dumoluhle, who feels his newly-acquired qualification gives him an understanding of the basics of South African Law and global supply chain systems, which will be an advantage in his quest to become a global maritime specialist.
‘It was a rollercoaster of a journey – from adjusting to living alone, to making new friends in a new city after moving from Durban to study in Pietermaritzburg, as well as adapting to the new norm presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The course was challenging but the amount of support I received from my family and friends made it bearable,’ said Dumoluhle.
Professor Sibanda expressed how proud he and his family are of Dumoluhle’s achievement, saying: ‘We will be very happy to see him get his doctorate in the near future. Being the oldest, he has set a good example for his siblings and certainly, the sky is the limit for him!’
Dumoluhle says his parents were his mentors and his greatest advisors through his academic journey. Seeing how proud they were (of him) kept him going over the years and encouraged him to be the best he could be.
Currently an intern (in maritime) and pursuing a postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Studies, Dumokuhle hopes to break into the international maritime field and move overseas as a maritime specialist.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Supplied