At just 22 years of age, Phumelelo Mbatha can now boldly say that she has achieved something big. Mbatha knew that enrolling with MUT was her first step to success, and there were no two ways about it. Mbatha’s journey at the University is a story of a young woman who has matured beyond her tender age. The journey is a study of maturity personified. “It is about determination, zeal, poise, and knowing what you want in life and formulating a plan to achieve it,” she said. On 22 April 2025, Mbatha, from Chatsworth, Durban, not only graduated with cum laude for her Diploma in Marketing; she was also the top achiever in the Faculty of Management Sciences. This level of academic excellence earned Mbatha the Vice-Chancellor’s Award. Such an achievement overwhelmed her mother, Ntombifuthi Mbatha.
Mbatha’s journey to stardom has been marked by discipline, faith, and immense support. “From the beginning, I understood that academic excellence would require more than intelligence; it demanded consistency, resilience, and commitment to my studies. I approached each module with curiosity and a commitment to not just pass but to understand and apply what I was learning,” Mbatha said. Mbatha understood that being a university student comes with lots of peer pressure; she had counterbalanced that with discipline.
Mbatha said she was fortunate to be surrounded by people who genuinely believed in her. “My lecturers played a crucial role in shaping my thinking and encouraging me to push beyond my limits. They created an environment where I felt challenged but also supported. My close friends and I met at MUT and became my second family. We shared knowledge, uplifted each other during difficult times, and celebrated every small win together,” Mbatha said.
Mbatha also got support from her family. She said that her family’s belief in education kept her grounded. Their sacrifices and emotional support gave her the strength to persevere, especially when the workload felt overwhelming. Mbatha said that spiritually, she leaned heavily on her faith. “Prayer kept me centred and helped me navigate the pressure with a sense of calm and gratitude,” Mbatha said.
Looking ahead, she is currently studying towards an Advanced Diploma in Marketing. Mbatha attended Meadowlands Technical High School in Chatsworth.