UKZN’s Winning Formula: Producing World-Class Graduates and Athletes

Two Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences (BELS) alumni, who are South African Women’s Rugby Team players, were the focus of attention at a meet-and-greet session at the University.

Ms Sizophila Solontsi and Ms Mary Zulu interacted with staff and students in the session hosted by BELS on the Westville campus, sharing how their upbringing and UKZN degrees shaped them into becoming focused and resilient.

Loose-forward, Solontsi of Clermont, Durban, said her Sport Science degree had contributed significantly to her understanding physical strength and agility.

She joined UKZN’s women’s rugby team and was later granted a University Sports Scholarship.

Solontsi secured a Postgraduate Certificate in Education on the Edgewood campus and enrolled for her master’s degree but put that on hold after getting a contract with the SA Rugby Sevens Academy in Stellenbosch.

Solontsi encouraged young people saying: “Your passion and reality can coexist!” She plans to continue with rugby as well as sport in general.

Fly-half and back line player, Zulu of Mandeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal, said she started playing rugby with her siblings from a young age later joining a local team near her home where she played with and against male players. Her talent was soon recognised at UKZN and she progressed to join the University’s women’s team in 2023.

Zulu said she loved rugby, saying if she had a daughter, she would insist she play rugby, or any other sport that promotes physical exercise.

Zulu’s sentiments were shared by Solontsi who said contact sport was definitely also for women. “Sport should not be categorised by gender because the same rules and regulations apply.”

Zulu, also a UKZN Sports Scholarship recipient, said she graduated from BELS last year and looked forward to an illustrious career in sport and furthering her education. She said her experience at UKZN grew beyond obtaining a qualification to please her parents. “Varsity equipped me with the know-how of how to excel on the field.”

The two rugby stars, who received a warm welcome from their alma mater, encouraged students to focus on their dreams and push themselves to the limit.

BELS Alumni Athlete Tracking Programme Co-ordinator, Dr Siphamandla Nyawose, said: “These alumni are not just elite performers, they are role models who embody the values of resilience, education and community upliftment. The dual career path of being both a student and an athlete is demanding and often overwhelming, yet the achievements of these two women show that dedication and perseverance can overcome even the toughest challenges.”

Said BELS Academic Leader, Professor Rowena Naidoo: “The meet-and-greet was more than just a celebratory event – it was a powerful reminder of the transformative role Higher Education can play in shaping elite athletes and resilient leaders. As BELS, we remain deeply committed to producing world-class graduates who are not only technically skilled but socially conscious and ready to make a meaningful impact in sport, health and beyond.”

Words: Lunga Memela

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini