“It was not easy at all!” This is how Philile Dladla begins her story about how she was able to do better than all the students in the Faculty of Engineering and obtained cum laude and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award. Dladla graduated with a Diploma in Building on 24 April 2025. Graduating was a proud moment for Dladla, she said. “I’ve been through a lot personally. There were times I felt like I was falling behind in life. I was hard on myself because of the delays I faced in reaching certain goals, but even through that, I ensured I did not lose focus on my studies. I was more afraid of failing my modules than anything else happening around me,” said Dladla. Inspired by Khezlitha Cekwane, her paternal grandmother, who raised her, Dladla stayed disciplined and pushed herself. Dladla said her grandmother’s love, support, and constant prayers gave her peace and comfort. “I want to make her proud and be in a position to take care of her one day, anytime she needs me,” Dladla said.
Dladla also credits her friends for her success. She said she had a strong support system in her team. “We formed a study group that helped all of us. We encouraged one another and stayed focused. Studying together made the journey easier and less lonely,” Dladla said. Now, she plans to continue with her studies and work towards becoming a Professional Quantity Surveyor in a field that she is “very passionate” about, in which she believes she can make a positive and lasting impact.
The 26-year-old Dladla also wants to inspire others who are going through hard times and show them that with determination and the right support, they can achieve their goals. Dladla hails from Mqatsheni, Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal. She attended Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School in Umlazi Township. At present, Dladla is doing an internship with a consulting company.