{"id":42978,"date":"2026-09-16T04:43:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T04:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=42978"},"modified":"2026-09-16T07:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T07:51:08","slug":"from-the-billboard-to-the-graduation-stage-thandolwethu-khumalo-celebrates-her-vut-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/from-the-billboard-to-the-graduation-stage-thandolwethu-khumalo-celebrates-her-vut-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"From the billboard to the graduation stage: Uthandolwethu Khumalo celebrates her VUT milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Known to many as one of the faces of VUT, Uthandolwethu Khumalo has graduated with a Diploma in Public Relations Management, proving the value of patience, resilience and meaningful connections.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16 September 2026 | Story by:<\/strong> Tayron Mhlongo| Picture:<\/strong> Keitumetse Mokgope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n
\nMs Uthandolwethu Khumalo, once a familiar face on VUT billboards, now steps into the spotlight as a proud graduate with a Diploma in Public Relations Management. \n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For many students, staff members and visitors to the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Ms Uthandolwethu Khumalo is a familiar face. Featured on billboards and promotional material across campus, she became one of the recognisable ambassadors of the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During VUT’s Spring Graduation ceremonies on 14 September 2026, however, Ms Khumalo stepped into a different spotlight. Instead of representing the institution on billboards, she crossed the stage at the Desmond Tutu Hall to receive her Diploma in Public Relations Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Sebokeng-born graduate, the achievement represents years of growth, patience and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on her journey, Ms Khumalo believes many of the lessons that shaped her success began long before she arrived at university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Not getting the things I wanted when I wanted them taught me patience and showed me that what I eventually achieved was often more than what I first imagined. Those childhood tribulations really shaped me,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she adjusted easily to student life, visibility on campus brought unexpected challenges. Serving as a class representative for three consecutive years and later becoming one of the faces of the University meant many people knew her long before she knew them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There were people who knew me whom I did not know, and that comes with pressure because everybody is looking at you and you are forced to behave,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the attention, Ms Khumalo remained grounded through the support of family and friends, as well as the values that had been instilled in her from an early age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in front of a camera, however, never intimidated her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I have always loved the camera. I have always been friends with the camera,” she laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her confidence stems from childhood memories of taking photographs with her father during school holidays. What could have been a daunting experience for others felt natural to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To be honest, I have always believed in myself. I believe I can go even further if I put my mind and attention to it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most significant turning points in her academic journey came during her Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placement. While many students focus on completing the requirement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as quickly as possible, Ms Khumalo realised that her first placement was not giving her the practical experience she needed to develop professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was not doing the work I was supposed to be doing, so I was not growing in that environment,” she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with a difficult decision, she chose growth over convenience. Rather than remain in a position that offered limited development, she left and secured placement at a public relations firm where she could gain meaningful industry experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision delayed her graduation, but she has no regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That is why I am graduating in the spring season and not in April, because I did not want to compromise my WIL experience. What you learn in the classroom is absolutely different from what you actually get to do on the ground. I am glad I took that decision,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Khumalo, the experience reinforced an important lesson: success is not simply about completing a qualification; it is about ensuring that every step of the journey contributes to personal and professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she celebrated her graduation, she reflected on what she would tell her younger self and current students navigating their own university journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice is simple but powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Build your network. Build healthy relationships. You do not move as if it is an island, as if you are the only person,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You are not going to do it alone. Absolutely not. You have to build a network, and that is what is going to get you going.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As VUT marks its 60th anniversary and celebrates another class of graduates, Ms Khumalo’s story serves as a reminder that success is built not only through hard work and determination, but also through the relationships we cultivate along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having spent years representing the University on billboards and promotional campaigns, Ms Khumalo now leaves with something even more significant: a qualification, valuable industry experience and a deeper understanding of the person she has become through her VUT journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch the full experience on Flickr <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Known to many as one of the faces of VUT, Uthandolwethu Khumalo has graduated with a Diploma in Public Relations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":42986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t