Durban — It was a double celebration in the Mkhize home as twin sisters Zanele and Zandile graduated together at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Spring Graduation at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Thursday.

The Mkhize twins, aged 24, from Pietermaritzburg, have made a breakthrough in their academic success.

Zandile, a former Students Representative Council (SRC) member, graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Public Management and Administration, and Zanele obtained her Advanced Diploma in Public Management specialising in Supply Chain Management.

Zanele said graduating with her twin on the same day was an amazing and unforgettable moment.

She said their family were overjoyed to learn of their achievement.

“When I shared the news with my family, they were overjoyed and incredibly supportive. Having my family by my side, and celebrating this achievement with my twin sister, made the experience even more unforgettable. I am grateful for their love and support, this moment was a cherished memory for all of us,” Zanele said.

According to the twins, their time at DUT has been a mix of rewarding experiences and challenges. And they have learnt a lot and grown significantly. Despite the hurdles, through support their journey has been truly positive and transformative.

Zandile said she was fortunate to have strong support from the university, where she had access to people who could assist and advise.

“I was lucky to have support from my family, who supported me financially, and emotionally. My family was not surprised at all when they heard about my graduation, because they always believed in me, and I am proud to have met their expectations,” Zandile said.

She also said this was not her choice of study but as time went by, she developed a love for her course, and she is keen on furthering her studies at DUT.

“Things did not go exactly as planned; I trust that everything happened according to God’s will. I am planning on furthering my studies with DUT,” Zandile added.

The twins are currently employed as order processing specialists. They strongly associate with some of the DUT ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles which are transparency, honesty, respect, accountability and excellence.

Zanele, who is currently employed by an international company, fell in love with the field after completing her higher certificate in 2019, and since then she has become increasingly passionate about the field and decided to further her studies.

“Studying Public Management and Administration indeed was my choice, and I am passionate about it. I chose this field because I am driven by a desire to make a difference in my community and contribute to the greater good. I am interested in understanding how policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated, and how public institutions can be managed efficiently and effectively,” Zanele said.

She said together, DUT ENVISION2030 values and principles are central to who they are and how they strive to contribute positively to the world around us.

Advising first-year students in the same field, the twins explained that the field is all about making a tangible impact and ensuring that public services and resources are delivered efficiently to communities.

In the long term, Zanele aspires to become a renowned expert in public administration, contributing to academic research, publishing articles, and speaking at conferences.

“I would also like to explore opportunities in international development, helping governments and organisations improve their public administration capacity and achieve their goals,” Zanele said.

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