“Governance expert Mr Nqobani Mzizi delivers a powerful address at VUT Graduation 2026, urging accounting graduates of the 60th generation to lead with integrity, purpose, and responsibility.”
20 April 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Keitumetsi Mokgope
4 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Faculty of Management Sciences continued its 2026 graduation celebrations on 22 April, marking a defining moment for the University’s 60th generation of graduates, with a powerful and thought-provoking address to Cost and Management Accounting graduates. The message was clear, technical excellence alone is not enough, leadership must be anchored in integrity, purpose, and courage.
Delivering the keynote in the second session was Mr Nqobani Mzizi, a seasoned governance expert, public sector executive, and academic whose career spans more than two decades in finance, leadership, and institutional development. His presence reflected a life grounded in discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to ethical leadership.
Currently serving in a senior leadership role within local government, Mr Mzizi leads critical initiatives in revenue assurance, financial oversight, and organisational improvement, work that directly advances accountability and public value. A Professional Accountant (SA), Professional Tax Specialist (SA), Certified Director, and academic, he is also shaping the profession through his role on the board of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA).
Yet it was not only his credentials that resonated with the 60th generation, but his story.
In a deeply honest reflection, Mr Mzizi shared his academic journey, marked not by perfection but by persistence. “It took me 12 years to complete my first degree,” he revealed. “I failed CTA three times. There were moments when continuing felt unreasonable.”
His words struck a powerful chord, reminding graduates that success is rarely linear. It is forged through endurance, discipline, and the quiet resolve to continue when the path becomes uncertain.
Positioning the graduates within a broader societal context, Mr Mzizi drew attention to the historical and ethical weight of leadership, referencing South Africa’s past and the consequences of failed governance. “Your qualification is not the destination,” he said.
“It is permission to enter rooms of influence, to participate in decisions, and to shape outcomes.”
For the 60th generation of VUT graduates, this message carried added significance. They graduate at a milestone moment in the University’s history, not only inheriting its legacy, but also shaping what its next chapter will become.
But with that permission comes responsibility. Graduates entering the fields of accounting, finance, and management are stepping into positions of trust, roles where decisions ripple far beyond boardrooms into communities and livelihoods.
One of the most compelling messages of the address was the distinction between qualification and character. “The key will get you in,” he explained, “but your reputation will keep you there, and your integrity will ultimately define you.”
In a world where ethical dilemmas are inevitable, he challenged graduates to reflect deeply on their values. Would they speak up when something is wrong? Would they choose principle over convenience? “It is not what you know that will guide you in those moments,” he said. “It is who you are.”
Encouraging graduates to think beyond conventional career paths, Mr Mzizi urged them not to chase titles or status, but alignment and contribution. “Do not chase growth, chase purpose,” he advised. “When you align with who you are, your work becomes meaningful, and your success becomes bigger than yourself.”
He also highlighted the importance of self-awareness, noting that personal growth and introspection transformed his own career trajectory and sense of purpose.
In a country facing complex socio-economic challenges, Mr Mzizi emphasised the urgent need for professionals who are not only technically skilled but ethically grounded. “We cannot afford professionals who are technically strong but ethically weak,” he stated.
He called on the 60th generation to become custodians of financial truth, governance, and accountability, individuals who act with integrity even when no one is watching.
Acknowledging the realities of unemployment and economic pressure, he encouraged graduates to consider entrepreneurship and innovation as pathways to impact. “Do not only seek opportunities, but also create them,” he urged. “In building something of your own, you do not only change your life, but the lives of others.”
Mr Mzizi left graduates with a powerful and enduring question: “What will your name come to represent?”
It was a question that transcended the moment, inviting each graduate to think beyond the celebration and consider the legacy they will build. For the 60th generation of VUT graduates, that legacy is not distant, it begins now. “Long after today is forgotten,” he concluded, “your conduct will be remembered.”
The address transformed the ceremony from a moment of celebration into one of reflection and responsibility. For the 60th generation, it was not merely a farewell to university life, but a call to lead with integrity, purpose, and impact in a world that demands nothing less.