“Ndaba Bonginkosi Emmanuel earns a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), overcoming hearing challenges through resilience, support, and determination.”
22 April 2026 | Story by: Reabetswe Matsiliso| Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
3 minutes read time.
For Ndaba Bonginkosi Emmanuel, the world of sound has never been complete. Conversations fade, lectures blur, and silence often arrives where clarity is expected. Yet, against this quiet resistance, he has built a story that speaks louder than words.
A graduate from Mbalenhle, Secunda, Mpumalanga, Mr Ndaba Bonginkosi Emmanuel has completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). His journey is not only one of academic achievement, but of courage, adaptation, and the strength to keep moving forward when the path feels isolating.
He is deaf in his right ear and lives with tinnitus in the other, a condition he only came to fully understand in his final year of high school. For many, such a reality might have drawn limits around possibility. For him, it became a challenge to navigate, not a reason to stop.
His path into engineering was not straightforward. Initially drawn to Mechanical Engineering, he was guided towards Industrial Engineering. What began as uncertainty slowly transformed into purpose.
“At first, I was doing it to make my family proud, but now I am doing it for myself,” he said. “It is the passion that keeps me going and motivates me to learn more and apply the knowledge I gain.”
University life brought its own trials. Lecture halls, often designed for those who can hear without strain, became spaces of constant adjustment. Following discussions, keeping pace, and fully engaging required effort beyond the academic.
In those moments, people became his bridge. His roommate and classmates stood beside him, helping him navigate both the academic and social environment. Their support turned isolation into connection, reminding him that he did not have to face the journey alone.
There were setbacks along the way. Academic challenges and financial exclusion threatened to interrupt his progress. But through the Social Justice and Transformation Services at VUT, he found renewed footing. With the support of dedicated staff members, including Mr David and Malcolm, he was able to return, rebuild, and continue. “They supported me in many ways, including assisting with academic engagement and ensuring that I received the help I needed when I could not hear properly,” he said.
Through it all, he has learnt that strength is not found in silence, but in reaching out. “Do not isolate yourself. When you speak to people about your situation, they will understand and try to assist you,” he said.
Today, his achievement stands as more than a qualification. It is a quiet victory, shaped by resilience, community, and the courage to ask for help. It is proof that even when the world is not built for you, you can still find your way through it