For Simlindile Ngubane, growing up in Ofafa, a small village in Ixopo, taught her one thing early: if you want doors to open, you have to keep knocking.
That determination took her all the way to the University of Zululand, where she earned a Diploma in Media Studies and an Advanced Diploma in Communication Science.
It wasn’t just a qualification she was after. For her, media was personal.
“My passion for media comes from my love of interacting with people. I’ve never been afraid to express myself or connect with others,” she says. “I wanted to turn that into a career.”
Her journey started in 2020 on a high — funded by NSFAS, ready to learn, ready for campus life. Then COVID-19 hit. As a first-year student, she had to navigate online classes, load-shedding, and all the uncertainty that came with it. She pushed through and finished her Diploma in record time.
She wasn’t done. She enrolled for her Advanced Diploma, but this time the challenge was different: no funding.
“My family carried me,” she says. “Their sacrifices made it possible. I didn’t want to let them down.”
She completed her second qualification, determined to make their belief count.
Like many young graduates in South Africa, the job market has been tough. But instead of waiting, Simlindile started creating her own opportunity. Since January 2025, she has been running her own small fragrance and perfume business while still pursuing her dream role in media and communications.
It’s that mix — communicator and entrepreneur — that defines her.
From a small village in KwaZulu-Natal to two university qualifications and running her own hustle, Simlindile proves that resilience is a skill on its own.
Her advice to students starting out now?
“Your journey won’t always be easy. There will be times you feel like giving up. Always remember why you started and who sacrificed for you to be there. Stay focused, be patient, and never stop believing in yourself. The challenges you face today are preparing you for tomorrow.”
By Msizi Ndlovu
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