Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School graduate, Ms Sibongekile Madlopha, is leading a career guidance initiative to support disadvantaged youth from rural areas in accessing higher education.
Hailing from Nkonjeni, near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal, Madlopha is an accountant at uMhlathuze Local Municipality and a seasoned local government professional with 18 years of experience. Her strong academic foundation as an adaptive graduate from DUT includes a National Diploma in Accounting, a Bachelor of Technology in Taxation, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Sciences: Business Administration and most recently, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the DUT Business School, which she earned in 2024.
Her MBA dissertation was titled: Factors influencing the provision of water services at uMhlathuze Local Municipality.The study examined the provision of basic water services, identified the challenges in water service delivery and recommended strategies to improve water service delivery at the uMhlathuze Local Municipality. She is currently converting her dissertation into a journal article while exploring PhD opportunities in Leadership or Business Administration.
Madlopha, who believes that education is a powerful weapon to fight poverty, dedicates her time to helping high school learners to make the right career choices and to apply at universities. She strongly feels that learners from disadvantage backgrounds have lot of potential but that many of them, lack guidance and support. Madlopha believes education is the primary driver for personal growth, which requires a lot of sacrifices and compromises.
Amongst the DUT Living Values, Madlopha shared that she associated mostly with ‘accountability.’ She believes people must take responsibility for their actions and refrain from wasting time and resources on distracting activities and other ineffective habits.
She also serves as a member of the DUT Business School Advisory Board, which consists of a dynamic group of industry leaders and experts committed to shaping the future of business education. Her expertise and guidance is expected to drive innovation and success at the DUT Business School.
Besides being passionate about education, Madlopha is also big on women empowerment. She is a committee member of Cebuk Women Empowerment, a Non-Profit Organisation committed to addressing gender-based violence and economic inequality in KwaZulu-Natal. Through mentorship and skills development, Madlopha continues to drive positive change in her community.
The Advancement and Alumni Relations unit at DUT recently recognised Madlopha as the Alumna of the month of February 2025.
Pictured: MBA graduate, Ms Sibongekile Madlopha.
Simangele Zuma/Swelihle Shoba
