DVC Scholarship Recipient Dedicates Achievement to Her Family

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Amid academic excellence and a promising legal career, third-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) student Ms Bianca Lee Govender was awarded the esteemed College Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, recognising her as one of the top three undergraduate achievers in the College of Law and Management Studies (CLMS).

For Govender, the scholarship is a recognition not only of her hard work and dedication, but also of the resilience born from profound grief following the loss of her mother in February 2023.

“Losing my mum in the midst of everything was an incredibly tough and emotional journey. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through and there were moments I didn’t think I could continue. But I kept going because I knew she would’ve wanted me to.”

“She is not here physically, but I feel her with me every step of the way,” she said.

Govender dedicates much of her success to her family who have played a major role in shaping her into the woman she is today.

“My family has been my rock. Their belief in me, especially during the times I doubted myself, helped me stay grounded and focused. This achievement is as much theirs as it is mine,” she said.

A proud product of Durban Girls’ High School, Govender matriculated with six distinctions and continues to uphold a standard of excellence in her LLB studies - a path inspired in part by her two older sisters, both of whom work in the legal profession.

“I remember being curious about their work. Eventually I realised that Law was the field where I could find both personal fulfilment and the kind of intellectual challenge I was seeking,” she recalled.

“Receiving the DVC Scholarship means more than words can express. It is not just an academic achievement, but recognition of my hard work, dedication, and resilience. All the sleepless nights finally paid off,” she said.

Looking ahead, Govender plans to continue working hard to maintain the standard she has set for herself.

“I have recently signed articles with a firm in Sandton - a journey I am extremely excited about. The qualification I am pursuing will give me the skills and knowledge I need to navigate the legal world and eventually make a meaningful impact through my work. The ultimate goal is to become an admitted attorney, committed to legal excellence,” she said.

Words: Ayanda Radebe 

Photograph: Andile Ndlovu