12 April 2025 | Story: Qhawekazi Memani | Photo: Sifiso Nomzaza.
2 minutes read time.
On 11 April 2025, Miss Sisamkele Mdoda graduated with a Master’s in Travel and Tourism Services Management during the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Faculty of Human Sciences graduation ceremony. Her research focused on localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in selected Cape Town hotels, an area inspired by her deep passion for sustainability and tourism.
Born in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, raised in Sasolburg, and educated in Vanderbijlpark, Sisamkele describes herself as a product of three provinces: the Eastern Cape, Free State and Gauteng, each contributing to her growth and identity. Her academic path was shaped by a formative experience during her Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in 2017. According to Ms Mdoda, it was there that she developed a love for South Africa’s natural spaces and an ambition to play a role in their sustainable preservation.
This graduation is not just a personal victory but a tribute to her late mother’s sacrifices and an affirmation of a promise she made to her sister to pursue postgraduate studies up to PhD level. With a Master’s and MBA between them, the sisters see education as a powerful and lasting legacy.
Ms Mdoda’s journey at VUT began with a curious mind and an open heart. Though initially unsure of her career path, her Diploma in Ecotourism confirmed her commitment to the tourism sector. Her academic experience was enriched by practical learning opportunities, including field trips that brought textbook concepts to life and friendships with peers equally driven to succeed.
Her time at university was not limited to the classroom. She arrived at VUT as an aspiring model and soon began collaborating with Fashion students to showcase their designs. In 2014, she was crowned Miss VUT FM, a turning point that gave her the confidence to enter Miss South Africa 2019, where she became the first semi-finalist from Sasolburg.
Ms Mdoda describes her academic journey as one that taught her the value of discipline when motivation fades. Her resilience and hard work earned her notable milestones, including presenting her thesis at her first international conference in 2023 and participating in a panel discussion during the VUT Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) collaboration. In December 2024, she published her first journal article, Tackling Water and Waste Management Challenges Within the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective.
With graduation behind her, Ms Mdoda looks forward to continuing her academic journey through publishing, research and pursuing a PhD. Her commitment to tourism and sustainability remains unwavering, and her story is one of perseverance, purpose and promise fulfilled.
