Academic Excellence Powers 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award Recipient

Consistent academic excellence is the success recipe for 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award recipient, Ms Ziphozenkosi Mntambo.

The third-year Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting student was recognised as one of the Matric top achievers in 2023. She was ranked third nationally for quintile three schools, and number one in the King Cetshwayo District. This achievement earned her the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) prestigious Frene Ginwala Scholarship – awarded to top-performing female students entering their first year at UKZN – in 2024.

Fast-forward to 2026, and the top achiever was awarded the 50th Anniversary Scholarship – granted to a senior undergraduate from each of UKZN’s four Colleges.

“During my first year, I was invited to the Scholarship Awards event to receive the Frene Ginwala Scholarship for my outstanding matric results which was a turning point for me. It motivated me to work even harder so that one day I could return to the awards ceremony and be recognised among the best students in my course or College. The most rewarding part of my academic journey so far is being recognised for my hard work through excellence awards as it motivates me to keep striving for more,” said Mntambo.

After excelling in accounting throughout high school, Mntambo of Empangeni knew she was destined for a career in the field. Her commitment to maintaining consistency in her studies has continued to yield excellent results.

“This scholarship means a lot to me as it will help reduce my tuition debt. More than that, it feels like recognition for my hard work. It shows me that all the effort I have put in has finally paid off,” she said.

With plans to pursue her honours degree next year, Mntambo is grateful to her family for their support which has been vital in getting her this far.

Said Mntambo: “My family has supported me emotionally through all the challenges of university life. They were extremely happy and proud when they heard about my achievements, especially as they saw how hard I worked last year, and witnessed the stress and tears involved. I plan to build a strong foundation in accounting so that I can contribute meaningfully to my profession and my community.”

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini