Star power! Bachelor of Social Sciences graduate, Mr Siyabonga Khumalo achieves summa cum laude excellence.For Mr Siyabonga Khumalo, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is more than just an academic milestone; it is a story of persistence, purpose, and quiet determination.
Dr Phumelele Basi, the youngest PhD graduate at UKZN this season.
Dr Sethenjwa Nduli’s study identifies the critical gap in the parole system.
Resilience and self-belief have driven the success of Ms Philile Shezi as she celebrates her graduation.
A master’s study undertaken by Ms Yamiska Jagesur (pictured) and Ms Shakira Latiff explored teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with ADHD conditions.
Cheers to Dr Pranitha Chunder on achieving her PhD! Her study explores equitable digital learning in under-resourced classrooms.
A jubilant Mr Qiniso Sbonile Zwane celebrates graduating, his study shining a spotlight on the hidden toll of classroom violence on teacher well-being and learning.
Mr Jaden Thurston who explored how male university students in absent-father households navigate masculinity, resilience and identity.
A beaming Ms Parishka Govender’s BSS degree focused on Psychology and Criminology.Motivated by the wide range of opportunities within her field and a strong desire to help others, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) graduate Ms Parishka Govender completed her Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree, majoring in Psychology and Criminology, disciplines that reflect her deep interest in understanding human behaviour.
Passionate about justice and mental wellness, Dr Thandanani Ngidi explored support systems for South African police officers in her doctoral research.Graduating with a PhD in Criminology and Forensic Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is not only a pinnacle of academic success for Dr Thandanani Ngidi, but also a deeply personal and purposeful journey rooted in justice, compassion and her own lived experience.
Ms Angela Aigbokhabho brings science lessons closer to home, showing how African Indigenous Knowledge can be rooted in everyday community wisdom.
Ms Nonduduzo Nkosisthandile Maphumulo.
Building bridges between homes and classrooms, Ms Nosibulele Mantenetya is championing stronger family partnerships in early learning.Early childhood education does not happen in classrooms in isolation. It develops through relationships between teachers, families and communities working together to support young children during some of the most important years of their development.
A radiant and overjoyed Ms Zizile Sikhosana celebrates a milestone achievement in advancing sustainability education in South African science classrooms.
PhD achieved: Dr Nonhlanhla Dube has conducted significant research examining how adolescent girls construct love within unequal social contexts.In her PhD thesis, ‘Girls’ Constructions of Love in Dating Relationships: A Narrative Study in a Rural KwaZulu-Natal Secondary School’, Dr Nonhlanhla Dube reads adolescent romance not as innocence, but as a socially produced language shaped by inequality, expectations, and survival.
Mr Ntuthuko Mathenjwa graduated with his master’s exploring education in correctional centres and its role in reshaping identity and futures.
Dr Nerisha Deveduthras celebrates reaching the finish line.Dr Nerisha Deveduthras recently earned her PhD, exploring how system readiness emerged in Higher Education during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), under the supervision of Dr Ruwayda Petrus and Dr Shanya Reuben.
From toil to triumph, Dr Ntokozo Vundla achieved his PhD which explores food, identity and Indigenous Knowledge.
Bridging practice and scholarship, Dr Jothie Perumal uncovers what shapes educational success for youth in foster care.After more than three decades working in child protection services, including 22 years managing the foster care programme at the Child and Family Welfare Society of Pietermaritzburg, Dr Jothie Perumal brought extensive professional insight to her doctoral research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
As Dr Vincent Hlatshwayo celebrates graduating with his PhD in Curriculum Studies at UKZN, he hopes his research will contribute to meaningful change in South Africa’s education system.After nearly three decades in education, Dr Vincent Lungani Hlatshwayo has reached a significant milestone, earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). This is not just an academic achievement for Hlatshwayo but a culmination of years spent grappling with the realities of school leadership and a commitment to improving the quality of education in South Africa.
Dr Presley Dube celebrates his PhD exploring school-parent collaboration to reduce school violence and improve learner safety.
Cum laude for Ms Namhla Ngcefa who examined the experiences of teachers working with learners from communities affected by poverty-related mental health challenges.
On bended knee, UKZN academic Dr Sachet Valjee declares his devotion to powerhouse Mrs Jyothi Valjee as she graduates summa cum laude.
Shaping futures: Cum laude graduate, Ms Nokwethemba Zikalala, is inspiring a lifelong love for reading.
A proud milestone for UKZN academic, Dr Precious Nolwazi Ntuli, whose doctoral research examined child justice in South Africa.For Dr Precious Nolwazi Ntuli, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Forensic Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) marks the culmination of a rigorous academic journey grounded in purpose, justice and a commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
A legacy of excellence: UKZN Criminology and Forensic PhD graduates, Dr Mbaliyethemba Shezi, Dr Thule Sithole, and Dr Sanele Shabane.The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Discipline of Criminology and Forensic Studies continues to demonstrate its role as a leading academic hub producing high-level research that responds directly to South Africa’s complex crime and justice landscape.
From insight to impact: Dr Manchoko Phatela celebrates her PhD graduation.
A testament to resilience and discipline: Ms Ritikka Ramkissoon earns her BSS.
Keeping success in the family: Cum laude graduate, Ms Phumla Mngwevu, celebrates a journey shaped by discipline, resilience and her sister’s inspiration.
Focusing on teenage parenthood in Welbedacht East, cum laude achiever, Ms Tsapelo Mchunu unpacks how poverty, gender norms and inequality shape young lives and futures.
