Parents and graduates dressed in their finery are expected to descend on the University’s Sports Centre at the Westville Campus to celebrate their achievements.
Image: Supplied
A semi-retired Catholic priest aged 83, an award-winning jazz pianist, and a 27-year-old applied mathematics prodigy are among the 247 doctoral candidates who will receive their PhDs at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) graduation ceremonies at the Westville Campus this week.
This year’s ceremonies, which will run across 14 sessions until Friday May 16, celebrate the success of 8116 students who will be conferred with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Of these, 5161 are undergraduate degrees, while 2955 are postgraduate — comprising 247 PhDs and 629 Master’s qualifications.
Standing out among this remarkable cohort is Father Pheko Matthews Thinane, UKZN’s oldest PhD graduate at 83. A semi-retired priest from Gauteng, Father Thinane remains active in the church. He earned his doctorate from the School of Religion and Social Transformation after completing his memoirs. His thesis explores a comparative study of healing in the Gospel of Mark and the testimony of Meshack Hadebe, offering valuable insight into African Theology.
Another remarkable scholar is acclaimed jazz pianist and UKZN lecturer, Sibusiso “Mash” Mashiloane, who has completed his PhD focusing on the identity of South African jazz. Known for his award-winning contributions to the local music scene, Mashiloane’s research highlights the richness of South Africa’s musical heritage and how it reflects the country’s cultural diversity. His recitals, infused with local flair and storytelling, became both a scholarly and artistic exploration of jazz as a living, evolving language.
On the other end of the age spectrum is Shavani Naicker, just 27 years old and the youngest PhD graduate in this year’s cohort. Her doctoral research in Applied Mathematics focuses on the Dynamics of Spherically Symmetric Spacetimes in Lovelock Gravity, earned through the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science.
This year also sees a significant milestone in gender representation — women make up 65.91% of all graduates, a 4% increase from the previous year. Additionally, women comprise 65.47% of the elite group of approximately 500 graduates who will receive their degrees Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude. The University also celebrates the accomplishments of 103 graduates with disabilities, underlining its commitment to inclusion and excellence.
Adding another dimension of achievement, the youngest undergraduate to graduate this year is 20-year-old Lusanda Thandolwenkosi Madondo from the College of Humanities.
“Graduation ceremonies are longstanding rituals of passage that acknowledge the past, celebrate the present, and propel graduates towards a future filled with purpose and possibility. The University wishes all students every success in all their endeavours,” said Normah Zondo, UKZN’s executive director of Corporate Relations Division.