Education and Religion a Winning Combination for Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies Graduate

BY: .

Reverend Sthembiso Ndlela of uMsinga’s Gordon Memorial Congregation graduated with a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies. 

The Church minister and social entrepreneur, has aspirations of using this newly acquired qualification to enhance his leadership skills and holistically serve the local community. 

‘This qualification enhanced my career in a great way. Currently, I have been able to develop a strategy for the rural congregation that I am serving. I have also started a project for rural spaza shops and informal traders in 2022 and a social enterprise company called Sibambisene Rural Entrepreneurs Pty LTD in 2020. This degree is a must for those who are in leadership positions. Its coursework modules are structured in a way that opens one’s mind and empowers you as a leader,’ he said. 

Through his research which examined the role of social entrepreneurship in the Impendle Local Municipality, Ndlela sought to gather insights into the role social entrepreneurship works as a funding mobilisation tool for rural Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Professor Cecile Gerwel Proches supervised the study. 

‘My view is that preaching is not enough to empower people, hence my study’s findings and recommendations will assist rural municipalities to develop a model that can enhance entrepreneurship in rural communities. I have also started my PhD in Theology with the intention of pursuing research on the role of Christian education and entrepreneurship intentions construct.’ 

Ndlela is grateful to the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa and his family for supporting his academic pursuits. ‘Financially, pursuing this qualification was a huge sacrifice! Even though the Church did help financially, I still had to pay 80% of the fees from my pocket but my faith in Jesus Christ is what keeps me going. My family is very happy about this achievement, especially my daughter who is a first-year student here at UKZN. She is so inspired that she even promised to further her studies going into master’s level… I am proud to have done something significant as a father to inspire my daughter.’   

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan