University of Zululand (UNIZULU) graduate Ntandokazi Khumalo’s academic experience can be summed in three words: resilience, determination and gratitude. Unlike most of her fellow students, she did not secure financial aid for her undergraduate degree. Cognisant of the financial burden this placed on her mother, Khumalo was propelled to study hard so that she could make her family proud.
On Wednesday, 7 May 2025 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology qualification during the first graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Khumalo describes herself as a kind, firm and outspoken Zulu girl who comes from a family deeply rooted in cultural practices and spirituality. Her decision to preserve her virginity tallies with this upbringing. When she enrolled for her course, she joined Ubuhlebezwe, a society comprised of female students who share her ideals concerning purity and virginity testing.
Khumalo said obtaining her degree while still a maiden carries a powerful message that academic excellence and cultural integrity can coexist. It proves that you don’t have to compromise your values to achieve greatness. In fact, staying true to who she is gave her the clarity, focus, and inner strength she needed to succeed.
“In essence, obtaining my degree while still a maiden is a mark of respect for my elders and ancestors. It also is a way of showing gratitude to my ancestors for their protection and guidance throughout my academic journey,” emphasised Khumalo.
Ahead of obtaining her degree, Khumalo was diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition that required her to make serious changes to her lifestyle and diet. This not only added emotional weight but also increased her financial burden. Even so, she never gave up. Instead of allowing these circumstances to break her, she made a conscious decision to stop seeing them as setbacks and start viewing them as stepping stones.
Khumalo and her three brothers grew up in oHwebedeni village in the rural outskirts of uMnambithi, KwaZulu-Natal. She considers herself the “Mkabayi” of her clan because like the Zulu princess, she intends to be a pillar for her family and effect notable changes.
“Princess Mkabayi was a woman of strength, strategy, and unwavering purpose in a time when women’s voices were often silenced. By invoking her name, I remind myself that I carry the same power, courage, and responsibility. My names are not just labels; they are ancestral echoes that ground me, push me, and remind me that I’m never walking alone. This mantra reminds me daily that I am built from strength, that I represent and carry with me people who are in the spiritual realm, and that I have a legacy to honour and uplift,” she proudly said.
Not having funding pushed her to work harder. She stayed focused on her goals and reminded herself daily why she started, because one day she wishes to give her mother the financial freedom she deserves. Her health condition taught her to take better care of herself, which has helped her become more disciplined and balanced in every aspect of her life.
“Now, as I pursue my Honours degree, I carry with me the lessons of resilience, gratitude, and determination. This qualification is more than just a degree to me – it’s a testament to the power of purpose and the strength that comes from believing in something bigger than yourself.”
– Sbahle Dumakude
Picture: Xolani Ncube
