DUT Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management

Congratulations to our own Mr Lungisa Phakathi 🥳🥳👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Dear BA graduates, kindly check your DUT4Life emails for an exciting opportunity from Student Governance and Development.

Applications are now open for part-time internship posts based in Durban and Midlands. If you have a background in Business Administration and are passionate about student development, administration, and leadership, this could be a great opportunity to gain valuable experience within the university environment.

Please check your emails carefully so that you can click on the application link and submit your documents before the closing date: 31 May 2026.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to grow, contribute and build your professional journey. ✨

Today, we celebrate the beautiful Ms Nomzamo Ngcobo on her graduation as she proudly earns her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration through the Business School in the Faculty of Management Sciences.

Nomzamo serves as a lecturer assistant in the Department of Entrepreneurial Studies & Management. She is a breath of fresh air; her vivacious personality, humility, intelligence and warmth have brought such a lively energy into our department. She carries herself with grace and confidence that inspires both staff and students alike.

There is something incredibly special about watching a young woman pursue her dreams with such determination while remaining grounded and kind-hearted. Your future, Nomzamo is undeniably bright. This achievement is only the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary journey.

May you continue to rise, continue to shine and continue to become everything you were destined to be. The Department of Entrepreneurial Studies is proud of you, celebrates you, and wishes you nothing but success and happiness in all that lies ahead.

Congratulations, MaNgcobo ❤️. Your light is impossible to ignore. ✨🤩🤩

Tonight, we celebrate a woman whose presence has become the heartbeat of our department. ❤️

Congratulations to our very own Ms Nonhlanhla Mdakane on graduating with a Master’s Degree in Management Sciences specialising in Business Administration. What a beautiful and deserving milestone MaMdakane! 👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️

Some people work in departments.
But then there are people like Ms Mdakane who become the department itself. The quiet strength behind the scenes. The steady hands when things fall apart. The voice of reason. The warmth. The wisdom. The shelter.

You have poured so much of yourself into the Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management; into students, into staff, into spaces where people needed encouragement, direction and hope. And somehow, you always did it with grace.

The seeds you planted over the years are alive in the confidence of our students, in the growth of our department and in the hearts of those privileged enough to work alongside you. Your impact cannot be measured by titles or qualifications alone because your work has always been deeply human. Deeply intentional. Deeply felt.❤️

And tonight, as you walked across that stage, know that you did not walk alone. You carried all of us with you, every life you touched, every person you uplifted, every soul you strengthened.

We are so proud of you, Ndlunkulu.
May this achievement remind you that even those who spend their lives pouring into others also deserve moments where the world pauses and pours flowers back into them. 🌸

Congratulations, MaMdakane! ❤️🥳🥳🥳
Your crown was always there. Tonight, the world simply witnessed it. 🎓

We proudly celebrate one of our own from the Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Mr Nhlanhla Manana on his graduation for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business & Information Management. 🎓

This milestone is a personal victory and also a reminder that growth never stops when purpose and perseverance lead the way. May this qualification open even greater doors for you and mark the beginning of many more accomplishments ahead.

Congratulations once again, Nhlanhla we are incredibly proud of you! 🌟🥳🥳👏🏾👏🏾

🚨 CALLING ALL STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS! 🚀🌍

Do you have:
💡 A business idea?
🌾 An agriculture solution?
🍔 A food business?
🏥 A health & wellness concept?

This is YOUR opportunity to turn your idea into impact and possibly secure funding! 💰🔥

Join the 2026 Harmony Food & Health Security, Employability & Entrepreneurship Enactus Challenge in partnership with Enactus South Africa 🇿🇦

✅ Build your business
✅ Gain mentorship & exposure
✅ Create real community impact
✅ Stand a chance to win a share of R30 000 in funding

📍 Visit the Enactus DUT activation stand, innobiz offices, or contact the Enactus DUT team for more information.

⏳ Deadline: 15 May 2026 (Tomorrow)

TO APPLY: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0TAZS_QStUC0jL2GEXQp2FRPHXxSyUVPjyvTllxguTFUM04yMktPTzVQQkY2WVY3NVJDQVZZM1czSC4u

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟏𝟔 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 – 𝟐𝟐 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

The EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity 2026 is a national competition that recognises and showcases top student entrepreneurs from South Africa’s 26 public universities.

Under the theme Entrepreneurship in Action, students are encouraged to turn innovative ideas, research, and businesses into real solutions that create social and economic impact.
Who can apply?

Undergraduate and postgraduate students (full-time or part-time) from all 26 public universities.
Categories:
✔ Existing Business – Tech
✔ Existing Business – Social Impact
✔ Existing Business – General
✔ Commercialisation of Academic Research
✔ Innovative Industries

Participants gain access to:
• National exposure
• Mentorship opportunities
• Funding opportunities
• Skills development and recognition
Apply now via the QR code on the poster or visit www.edhe.co.za.

The Department celebrates a remarkable academic milestone and honours an equally remarkable woman, Dr. Nelisiwe Mchunu, lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, on the successful completion of her Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Information Management.

Her thesis, ‘ Institutional Resilience Strategies, Administrative Practices, and Disaster Risk Management by KwaZulu-Natal Municipalities,’ is a timely body of work that speaks to the realities of governance, resilience, leadership, as well as community survival in South Africa. Through rigorous qualitative inquiry and critical analysis, Dr. Mchunu has contributed meaningfully to the discourse on institutional resilience and adaptive governance within municipalities.

Behind every thesis is sacrifice invisible to the world; long nights, emotional exhaustion, self-doubt, perseverance, discipline and the courage to continue even when the finish line feels distant. A PhD is never just an academic qualification but a reflection of resilience and commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.

Congratulations, Dr. Mchunu. May this achievement deepen your impact and inspire many young academics, particularly women in higher education, to believe that excellence is possible despite the odds.

The Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management is richer because of your presence and your contribution. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🥳🥳🥳🤩🤩🤩