Cum Laude Students Reflect on their Plans for the Future
A group of dedicated and academically-minded students recently graduated at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with cum laude distinction.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students Ms Manelisi Sikhakhane, Ms Andrea Kemraj, Ms Cora-Lee Nathan, Ms Alicia Mavundla, Ms Samukelisiwe Mthethwa and Mr Yasteel Bhimma, as well as Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) student, Mr Muhammed Raja, scored high throughout their academic studies, earning their degrees cum laude.
Twenty-two-year-old Ms Manelisi Sikhakhane of eNdayini in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, is currently focused on pursuing postgraduate studies. Sikhakhane is thankful for the support of her loved ones while reading for her degree and looks forward to making a difference in the lives of those around her. “To me, graduating is more than just a personal achievement; it is a tribute to my family’s unwavering support and a way to inspire those back home in eNdayini. It represents the successful conclusion of one journey and the opening of a new chapter where I can finally apply my knowledge to make a meaningful difference,” said Sikhakhane.
The UKZN alumna said: “By God’s grace, I was able to achieve my degree cum laude. It was an overwhelming and surreal moment for me; honestly, it took a while for the news to truly sink in. I feel incredibly honoured and humbled to see my efforts recognised this way. I achieved this through consistent discipline – staying on top of my modules from day one and maintaining a focused mindset,” said Sikhakhane. “It required many sacrifices, but I know that it was God’s strength and guidance that carried me through the pressure. Seeing ‘Cum Laude’ next to my name is a testimony to what is possible through faith and hard work.”
While focused on completing her postgraduate studies and expanding her knowledge as much as possible, she is eager to “step into the professional world and take on new challenges that will allow me to grow and reach my full potential. I am excited to see where this journey takes me and to continue building a career that I can be truly proud of.”
Said Sikhakhane: “I express my deepest gratitude to my family for their endless love and support; I truly would not be here without them. Most importantly, I thank God for His guidance and for giving me the strength to persevere throughout my studies. I live by Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me’. This achievement is a testament to the fact that with faith and dedication, no goal is out of reach,” she said.
Durbanite Ms Andrea Kemraj is currently exploring employment opportunities within the business field. “My current goal is to build on my practical experience. However, I do plan to expand my career by furthering my studies next year.”
Kemraj is overjoyed at achieving one of her ambitions. “Graduating means a lot because to me, it’s a sense of achievement of a major goal in life. It also means that all the hard work and the sacrifices that I put in were well worth it,” she said.
She is grateful for achieving distinctions during her studies and credits her family for being supportive throughout her time at the University. “I’m extremely proud of achieving cum laude results. University is quite an adjustment as it comes with many changes and difficulties,” she said. “Academically, there were a lot of new aspects introduced, some more challenging than others. I had to put in a lot of extra work aside from my lectures to navigate these challenges. My family also helped a lot, always there to motivate and support me,” she added.
What’s next for Kemraj? She wants to further her studies and has set her sights on attaining a master’s degree in the near future.
Twenty-one-year-old Ms Cora-Lee Nathan from Durban is putting her degree to good use working for a financial technology company, Lesaka Technology.
Said Nathan: “Graduating is a very meaningful milestone for me and I thank God for everything thus far. It represents years of hard work, discipline, and growth – not just academically, but personally as well. It’s a moment of pride for both myself and my family, and it marks the beginning of a new chapter where I can apply what I’ve learned in the real world.
“Achieving my degree cum laude is something I’m incredibly grateful for. It feels rewarding to see my efforts pay off. I put God first and I stayed consistent with my studies, managed my time carefully, and made sure I understood my work rather than just memorising it. There were definitely challenges along the way, but staying focused and disciplined helped me push through,” she said.
Nathan is grateful for the support received from family, friends, and lecturers throughout her journey. “This achievement is not just mine – it’s shared with everyone who has encouraged and supported me along the way.”
What’s on the cards for this business-minded young woman? “In the long-term, I pray I build a strong career in business, possibly specialising further through postgraduate studies, and eventually take on leadership roles where I can make a meaningful impact,” she said.
Ms Alicia Mavundla (21), currently pursuing postgraduate studies said: “Graduating means everything to me. It represents years of discipline, late nights, and proving to myself that I could finish what I started. It’s not just a certificate; it’s proof that I can set a goal and see it through, no matter the challenges. It also means I can now step into industry and start contributing meaningfully.”
She is delighted at attaining her degree cum laude. “I’m incredibly proud and honestly a bit relieved! Achieving cum laude came down to consistency. Fun fact: I didn’t think I’d qualify for it, so when I did, I was thrilled! It’s all thanks to my Lord, Jesus Christ, and my hard work,” she said. “I attended almost every lecture, started assignments early, and made sure I understood the ‘why’ behind concepts, not just the definitions. Group study sessions and asking lecturers questions when I was stuck made a huge difference. It taught me that excellence is just a habit you build daily,” said Mavundla.
She is indulging in one of her passions – Logistics and Supply Chain by furthering her studies. “My immediate plan is to join a dynamic company in the logistics and supply chain space, ideally in inbound or distribution centre operations. Long-term, I want to grow into an operations or supply chain management role where I can use data and process improvement to help businesses run leaner and smarter. I’m especially excited about e-commerce and retail logistics because of the scale and pace.”
Mavundla is passionate about continuous learning and believes in doing work with integrity. “Outside academics, I enjoy content creation, even though I never post it on my socials. I’m working on changing that. I’m grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ, family, and friends for their support throughout this journey,” she added.
Junior Supply Planner Mr Muhammed Raja is also just 21 years old and hails from Durban.
Graduating represents a significant personal achievement for Raja it tested his resilience and commitment. “Graduating is a milestone that demands more than intelligence – it requires consistency, sacrifice and mental endurance. I’m proud not just of the result but of the process,” he said.
“Achieving cum laude was not something I took for granted and if I’m honest, it still feels surreal. I’m very proud of such an achievement as it required consistent effort and mental resilience, particularly in the final semester when the pressure was at its heaviest. I approached my studies by focusing on genuinely understanding the material rather than simply memorising it,” said Raja.
He acknowledged his family’s support in attaining his results. “My family’s support was a driving force and this degree is as much a reflection of their investment in me as it is of my own effort.”
What are his plans for the future? “My immediate focus is on deepening my understanding of supply chain operations through hands-on experience in my current role not simply to become proficient, but to build a foundation from which I can evolve and take on increasingly complex challenges.”
Looking back at his time spent on campus, Raja is thankful for the friendships he has forged. “What I’m most grateful for from my time spent here on campus are the people I met along the way. The friendships I built here have shaped who I am just as much as any course did… There’s a particular kind of bond that forms when you’re navigating the same pressures, the same deadlines, the same uncertainty.”
Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
Photographs: Sethu Dlamini
