Accounting and Auditing Department’s Bright Mind Graduates at the Top of her Faculty

University of Zululand graduate Snethemba Bayanda Zulu exemplifies what academic excellence is.

The 21-year-old from Sibonelo area in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal graduated with BCom Accounting degree during the second session of the Faculty of Commerce Law and Administration graduation ceremonies. Not only did Zulu obtain her qualification with distinction, she also was the top student within her faculty for the year 2023.

Owing to her outstanding academic performance, Zulu, together with four other graduates who were also part of the faculty’s highfliers, received a special prize from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

According to Zulu, despite her family’s poor living conditions and the fact that she is the first one in her family to study at a university, she was resolute on pursuing her goals.

Excellence being common practice for her, Zulu matriculated with three distinctions from Tholokuhle High School, where Accounting formed part of her subject package.

“I made a promise to myself that I want to achieve higher results than my matric results to be what I want to be,” Zulu said who believes that even the tiniest of improvements made by her is worthy of celebration.

Zulu recalled that she once missed some of her lessons due to being unwell and had to return home. Notwithstanding this, she made sure to finish all the chapters when she returned to campus. She affirmed that perseverance and hard work truly does pay off. She took a conscious decision to prioritise her education above her personal life. She emphasized that “you must do something you’ve never done before to achieve something you’ve never had”.

“It’s possible; don’t let other people’s thoughts change your willingness, saying accounting is hard and you can’t pass. Give yourself time to study,” the graduate added.

Zulu intends to qualify as a chartered accountant soon, hence her aim to pursue postgraduate studies.

She said she is grateful to her lecturers for their dedication to her academic journey and for their unwavering support even when she repetitively requested one-on-one consultations.

• Pamela Mlaba

Caption

UNIZULU Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Xoliswa Mtose (second from the right) is pictured with four of five top graduates in the Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law. Snethemba Zulu (third from left) achieved the highest aggregate in the faculty.