“Kholofelo Mr Ndaba, former and Interim SRC Deputy President at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), celebrates his graduation with an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology, reflecting a journey defined by leadership, resilience, and academic discipline.”
20 April 2026 | Story by: Sadiki Siphiwe | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
3 minutes read time.
At the Desmond Tutu Great Hall, where applause often marks the end of an academic journey, for Mr Kholofelo Mr Ndaba it signified something deeper, a moment shaped by years of service, sacrifice, and quiet determination.
Graduating with an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Mr Ndaba’s achievement carries a story that stretches far beyond the classroom. It is a story of a young man who did not wait to be called into leadership but stepped forward when it mattered most.
A former Student Representative Council Deputy President, and now serving as Interim SRC Deputy President, Mr Ndaba has spent much of his university life at the intersection of responsibility and ambition. While many students focus solely on their studies, he carried the weight of representing others, often navigating complex student challenges while ensuring his own academic journey remained intact.
His introduction to leadership was not planned. It came early, unexpectedly, and with urgency.
“Joining the SRC was never really a career choice,” he reflects. “It felt like leadership chose me. Before I was even fully registered, I found myself speaking up, advocating not just for myself, but for other students facing challenges.”
That moment, fleeting as it may have seemed, became a defining thread in his university experience. It opened a path that demanded courage, patience, and an evolving understanding of what it truly means to lead.
Through his time in student governance, Mr Ndaba developed more than leadership skills. He built relationships, strengthened his sense of accountability, and learnt to navigate the delicate balance between listening and acting.
“Leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room,” he says. “It is about making sure every voice is heard.”
It is a philosophy that guided him through moments that required difficult decisions, often under pressure and scrutiny. Yet, it is also in the quieter moments that he found meaning, assisting students during registration, helping resolve accommodation challenges, or simply offering a listening ear.
“For me, impact is not always about headlines,” he explains. “It is about knowing that someone’s journey became a little easier because you were there.”
Balancing these responsibilities with academic demands was no small task. There were days when the weight of leadership mirrored that of a full-time occupation, layered onto the expectations of his studies. Discipline, structure, and sacrifice became essential companions.
Now pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology, Mr Ndaba stands as a two-time graduate while still in active leadership, a reality that underscores his belief in the power of consistency and focus.
As he reflects on this milestone, his message to fellow students is both simple and profound.
“You do not need to have everything figured out to begin,” he says. “Your background, your struggles, your story, they are not limitations. They are your strength.”
His journey continues, shaped by purpose and possibility. In Mr Ndaba’s story, there is a quiet but powerful reminder, that leadership and personal success are not opposing paths, but can, with intention and resilience, walk side by side.