Who would have imagined that a routine visit from the electricity department would inspire the daughter of a sugarcane field worker to pursue a career in electrical engineering? This is exactly what happened to University of Zululand (UNIZULU) graduate, Mpumelelo Wandile Mkhwanazi.
As a young girl, Mkhwanazi watched in fascination when a woman from the electricity department came to her home to install the power supply. She followed her closely, asking questions and assisting where she could. Witnessing the woman work confidently in a field that was male dominated left a lasting impression, sparking Mkhwanazi’s curiosity and passion for electrical systems. That moment set her on a path to choose the science stream in school and ultimately study Electrical Engineering.
Raised in Nkombose area in Mtubatuba, Mkhwanazi is the 22-year-old daughter of a single mother who worked tirelessly in the sugarcane fields to provide for her and her five siblings. When her mother could no longer work, the family relied on social grants.
Mkhwanazi joined UNIZULU in 2022, as part of the second intake of engineering students. In 2025, she was awarded the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers Award for the best final-year electrical engineering student at UNIZULU, an award that affirmed her hard work, dedication, and perseverance. That same year, she was among the first four students to present in the University’s Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering Symposium, hosted by the Computer Science Department at the Richards Bay Campus, which boosted her confidence in presenting across disciplines.
Her final-year project, supervised by Best Khoza, was developed into a conference paper and accepted for presentation at the South African Universities Power Engineering Conference which will be held in Durban in June 2026. This makes it one of the first two student-led conference papers from the Department of Engineering. Co-authored with Dr Oluwagbenga Apata, the paper reflects the mentorship and scholarly guidance that helped Mkhwanazi sharpen her research and analytical skills.
Currently, she is an Engineer in Training at Eskom in Pietermaritzburg. She graduated top of her class after completing her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering in record time.
Her journey, however, was not without hardship. She lost her grandmother during a crucial exam period in her first year and in her final year her mother broke her leg during the June exams – events that required her attention and caused her emotional stress, making it difficult to fully concentrate on her studies.
Through it all, Mkhwanazi leaned on her faith. “Prayer and attending church services on campus gave me the strength, peace, and motivation to keep going. I was also inspired by other students who were performing well academically, which pushed me to keep on improving,” she said.
Her fondest memories include the strong sense of unity and determination she shared with fellow students, especially the overnight study sessions during the exam period.
These experiences taught her the value of resilience, teamwork, and faith. “Working with others is often more beneficial than working alone, as you gain perspective and support from people who think differently,” she reiterated.
Now a graduate, Mkhwanazi looks forward to applying her knowledge to real-life problems. “I am eager to learn from experienced professionals, gain practical experience, and contribute meaningful engineering solutions that can make a difference in society,” she added.
Her message to fellow students is both heartfelt and practical: “Believe in yourself and stay committed to your goals. Do not be discouraged by challenges – they are part of the journey. Cry when you must, then get back to work. Stay disciplined, ask for help, never lose sight of why you started in the first place and always remember to pray.”
Looking ahead, Mkhwanazi plans to gain practical experience in the engineering industry while furthering her studies, as she believes that continuous learning is key to growth and becoming a professional engineer.
– Nomusa Mangxa
Pictures: Xolani Ncube
