Motivated by her upbringing and wanting to change the future for her children is what encouraged Nomthandazo Sibiya to work hard in obtaining a Dean’s Merit Award for her Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.
Sibiya graduated from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Faculty of Engineering and The Built Environment on Monday, 22 May 2023 at the Olive Convention Centre. Her research title is: Treatment of Industrial Effluent Using Specialized Magnetized Coagulants.
Sibiya graduated Cum Laude for Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in 2018 and is very ecstatic to have also received her Master’s degree with a Deans Merit Award. She shared that she did not expect it and was overwhelmed when she received the good news. It was proof that hard work and dedication does pay off.
In 2021, she received a five-month scholarship in Spain, although it was difficult to leave her family, she received courage from her husband and supervisor and made sure to utilise the opportunity she had been granted.
Some of her accolades include six published journal articles, five oral presentations, with one being in Thailand. She is currently planning to pursue her PhD and has also received an NRF-DAAD scholarship.
The NRF-DAAD In-Country Scholarship is jointly awarded by the DAAD and the NRF to full-time Master and PhD students in South Africa in all fields of study at any South African university.
She is the first of three siblings, and was raised by her grandparents in Mangamanzini Township in Folweni. She grew up in humble beginnings and wanted to change the future for her children.
“I don’t want my children to grow up the way I grew up. I am working hard so I can be a better generation than the generation of my parents. I want to build an even better legacy for my children,” said Sibiya.
Although her journey has not always been an easy one for her as she had faced many hurdles whilst she was studying towards her Master’s degree, but she never allowed the challenges to derail her from excelling on her studies. She detailed that doing her Master’s during the COVID-19 pandemic was one the challenges that she faced as she experienced some delays in procurement processes, facilities were closed and she could not use the labs freely because of the lockdown restrictions that were implemented.
In the midst of juggling her personal life and studies and the disruptions brought by COVID -19, Sibiya was diagnosed with severe depression. She thanks her friend and fellow Master’s degree recipient Ms Gloria Amo-Duduodu, who stuck by her side and helped through her difficult time. She further extended her deepest gratitude to her supervisor Professor Sudesh Rathilal who has been her support structure and mentor.
“Prof Rathilal has been with me since day one, from the time I wanted to enrol for my Master’s degree, normally supervisors or leaders always belittle you because of the knowledge they have, but with Prof Rathilal it was different. He will give you a chance to express your innovation and as much as he is there to support you, he encourages you to work independently,” she said proudly.
She further added Prof Rathilal being the best supervisor in the world and also shared that she would love to have him as her supervisor for her PhD.
Through it all, she thanked her husband Khanyisani Dlomo for being her biggest support system, breaking all cultural norms and making sure that she had time to focus on her school work while he took care of the home.
Pictured: Nomthandazo Sibiya
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Phumeza Msongelwa /Lethukuthula Ngubane
