Oshwashweni is a small village located in the area of KwaMthethwa at Empangeni. It is a deep rural area known for its strong commitment to education, particularly the outstanding performance of its schools when it comes to matric results. The schools usually rank number one or two in the province. It is a close-knit community where many learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds but still achieve excellent academic results.
Mmeli Advocate Luthuli, a 23-year-old, was born in this village and wants to be the first PhD holder in his community. He completed his matric at Kwalebasha High School. In 2021, he enrolled at the University of Zululand’s (UNIZULU) Richards Bay Campus for a Diploma in Public Relations Management in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He graduated with merit, then proceeded to an Advanced Diploma in Communication Science, where he shone as a top achiever in the 2025 Dean’s Student Excellence Awards with an impressive 87% overall pass. Building on this success, he completed his Bachelor of Arts Honours in Communication Science with a 75% overall pass. His passion for academia drove him to pursue a master’s degree in communication science, which he registered for in 2026.
“I am driven by my background and want to be the first PhD holder in my community,” Luthuli shared. He dreams of obtaining this qualification because he has not seen anyone in his community study beyond an undergraduate degree. Therefore, he wants to go against this trend.
As Colin Powell once said, a dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. Luthuli is a perfect example of this. When asked about how he aims to achieve his goal of attaining a doctoral degree, the student shared his winning strategy.
“I am not a smart person, naturally; excelling in my academics is the result of hard work. I always consult and ask questions where I do not understand, and group study discussions are incredibly effective for gaining knowledge from others while sharing what I know.”
In his opinion, anyone can become a top achiever, but it requires dedicating more time and more attention to your studies. He urged his fellow students to never miss a class and avoid activities that distract their progress. He also emphasised the importance of consultation hours to get clarity of what they missed in lecture halls, and he told them not to be shy to ask questions should anything be unclear.
Throughout his studies, Luthuli did not only focus on his academic life. He participated in extramural activities within the University, including the peer helping programme and serving as a tutor for the Digital Communication module.
– Philani Bhengu
Picture: Samkele Sokhela
