07 May 2026
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
Decoding Durban’s car crime syndicates is the focus of Dr Lennox Luzipo’s PhD.

Inside the Organised Networks Behind Vehicle Crime in Durban

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The organised nature of motor vehicle crime is not new, but how it operates is less understood.

Twinning is winning! Sisters, Ms Silungile and Lungiswa Hlongwane, celebrate their Bachelor of Social Work degrees.

Twin Sisters Graduate Together, Committed to Serving Communities

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Some academic journeys are shared in ways that make the destination even more meaningful.

Ms Tarryn Joubert’s master’s research uncovers the silent scars of child neglect and mental health.

Master’s Study Explores the Hidden Emotional Cost of Child Neglect

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Nine years of persistence and a deeply personal calling to be a voice for children whose pain was so often overlooked shaped Ms Tarryn Joubert, a Johannesburg-based single mother whose master’s dissertation, ‘Unseen Wounds: Exploring the Nexus of Child Neglect on Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being’, culminated in a meaningful study under the supervision of Dr Sachet Valjee.

Dr Yanga Futshane’s study reimagines support for students with quadriplegia.

Bridging the Gap for Students with Quadriplegia

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Committed to contributing meaningfully to understanding people’s lived challenges and crafting practical, humane solutions, Dr Yanga Futshane’s PhD study explores how students with quadriplegia and their assistants experience daily life within selected Higher Education Institutions.

Celebrating his PhD, Dr Tanaka Jere’s research centres indigenous knowledge in community development.

How a Double Setback Paved the Way for Impressive Academic Success

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What once felt like rejection has become the foundation of Dr Tanaka Jere’s academic success.

Ms Nolwazi Qwabe describes completing her master’s degree in Psychology at UKZN this year as her proudest achievement.

UKZN Psychology Graduate Tackles Substance Abuse Among South African Youth

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For Master of Social Science in Psychology graduate Ms Nolwazi Qwabe, academic success is closely tied to purpose, which is why this graduation is her “proudest achievement.”

Advancing inclusion for Deaf communities is a passion for Ms Londeka Phakathi as she graduates with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

A Journey of Resilience for Deaf Graduate Dedicated to Professional Advocacy

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Access to services often depends on whether people are understood. For Ms Londeka Phakathi, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work degree represents more than an academic achievement.

Novel research by master’s graduate, Ms Shannon Mayo, examines how anxiety shapes learning among adolescents in KZN.

Master’s Graduate Investigates How Anxiety Shapes Learning Among Adolescents

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Understanding how anxiety affects young people’s ability to learn is critical in a province where many adolescents face persistent social and economic pressures.

A standout achievement, Ms Nqobile Mkhize celebrates her BA Honours degree, awarded cum laude.

Cum Laude for Research Highlighting Single Mothers’ Role in Driving First Generation Student Success

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The research topic, ‘An Exploratory Study of the Lived Experiences of Single Mothers Raising First-generation Students in South Africa: A Case of Inanda’, achieved cum laude, was undertaken as part of a BA Honours degree by recent graduate, Ms Nqobile Mkhize.

Moving with the times: Dr Zwanani Jeza challenges cultural normalcy.

PhD Study Encourages More Inclusive Perspective on Tradition and Sexuality

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A personal experience, fuelled by determination to challenge misconceptions, prompted dialogue and introduced evidence-based perspectives into spaces where such discussions are often avoided.

Ms Naledi Molife who graduated with a Master’s in Criminology and Forensic Studies.

What Durban’s Street-Involved Youth Want Us to See

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Ms Naledi Molife says of herself: “I am a young woman who is full of dreams and hopes, driven by the desire to make my parents proud, while also fulfilling my own sense of purpose and ambition.”

Ms Nauratha Singh has bagged her Master’s in Psychology cum laude.

Master’s Cum Laude Graduate Explores How Complex Trauma Shapes the Developing Brain

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Understanding how prolonged trauma affects children requires searching beyond behaviour and into the biological changes that shape development.

Ms Shubnum Mthembu’s master’s study brings siblings of autistic individuals into focus.

Autism Through the Family Lens: Exploring the Quiet Sacrifices of Siblings

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Autism is most often understood through the eyes of parents or the child who is diagnosed, but far less is said about the sibling who grows up alongside it.

Insightful PhD study by Dr Eunice Kyabaishiki looks at young mothers navigating realities of repeat pregnancy.

A Closer Look at Social and Structural Realities of Repeat Pregnancy for Young Mothers

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Dr Eunice Kyabaishiki’s doctoral research in Population Studies, ‘Repeat Pregnancy and Contraceptive Use: The Experiences of Teenage Mothers in King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa’, moves beyond statistics.

Dr Kershia David’s compelling PhD shows alliances subtly sustain inequality, amid motherhood and loss.

Dr Kershia David’s Journey of Motherhood, Loss, and Meaningful Research

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Dr Kershia David’s graduation with a PhD in Psychology is more than an academic achievement; it is a deeply human story of resilience, loss and the powerful integration of motherhood and academia.

All smiles for master’s graduate Mr Lutho Mbabane who has researched child malnutrition in households receiving child support grants.

Understanding Child Malnutrition in Households Receiving Child Support Grants

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At just 23, Mr Lutho Mbabane is already demonstrating how personal experience can shape purposeful scholarship.

Hearty celebrations as master’s graduate Ms Karen Ann Aaron’s research advances workplace wellness strategies for South African organisations.

Master’s Graduate Advances Research on Workplace Wellness in SA Organisations

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Across South Africa’s workplaces, employees continue to navigate high levels of stress, burnout and psychological strain, often in environments where support systems are uneven or difficult to access.

Ms Martha Moagi’s dynamic master’s research breaks the silence on men’s mental health stigma and support gaps.

Study Calls for Stronger Mental Health Support for Young Men

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Understanding how young men experience mental health is critical in building more inclusive and responsive support systems in South Africa.

A proud moment as Dr Mashimane Maphumulo receives his PhD.

PhD Study Focuses on Establishing a Model for Small Harbour Development

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Driven by both the limitations of Operation Phakisa’s small harbour development initiatives and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to his hometown of Port Shepstone, Dr Mashimane Maphumulo has achieved a significant academic milestone.

Going for gold: Ms Fanelesibonge celebrates summa cum laude Honours, reflecting excellence in her journey.

Summa Cum Laude Study Explores Mental Health as a Key to Civic Responsibility

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“We agree on what we want as a society, but how people reason internally and behave often diverges from that.”

The struggles of young motherhood and education in Inanda is captured in Ms Samkelisiwe Ndlovu’s master’s study.

“When the Baby Sleeps, I Study”

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For many of the young women in Inanda, north of Durban, education does not pause for motherhood - it happens in between. 

Thumbs up to UKZN staffer, Mr Kaya Macetyana.

Motherhood in Prison and the Strain of Absence

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A child arrives at a prison gate to see their mother and leaves with more questions than the visit could answer.