“Meet VUT student Berlinah Mazibuko, selected for the 60th graduation catering team and gaining valuable experience in large-scale food service.”
13 October 2026 | Story by: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
Nako ea ho bala metsotso e 3.
For Ms Berlinah Mazibuko, hospitality is about more than preparing food. It is about creating experiences, working as part of a team and ensuring that everything comes together behind the scenes to serve guests at the highest standard.
Originally from KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, Ms Mazibuko is a second-year Food Service Management student at Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Her passion for working with food, combined with an interest in managing food service operations, inspired her to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
“I love working with food and managing food service operations.”
She describes her journey at VUT as both challenging and rewarding, saying the experience has helped her grow in confidence while developing valuable professional skills.
Her hard work and dedication in the classroom recently earned her an opportunity to be part of the team responsible for preparing food during VUT’s 60th Graduation Celebrations. She was selected by her lecturer based on her discipline, consistency and practical performance throughout the year.
For the graduation events, Ms Mazibuko worked alongside fellow students to prepare a wide range of menu items, including proteins, vegetables, starches and desserts. Her responsibilities included food preparation, plating and ensuring that strict hygiene standards were maintained throughout the process.
While the experience was demanding, it also provided a glimpse into the realities of large-scale catering.
“It was both exciting and challenging.”
Working in a fast-paced environment taught her the importance of teamwork, time management and remaining focused under pressure, qualities that are essential in the hospitality sector.
For Ms Mazibuko, one of the most memorable moments was seeing guests enjoy the meals she had helped prepare.
“It feels amazing and rewarding. Seeing guests enjoying the food I prepared with so much effort makes all the hard work worth it.”
Beyond the practical aspects of cooking and service, the experience strengthened her understanding of stock control, food safety and maintaining quality standards when preparing food for large numbers of people.
She is particularly proud of contributing to a successful event while working professionally as part of a team.
Looking ahead, Ms Mazibuko hopes to gain further industry experience, sharpen her management skills and build a career in large-scale catering operations.
Her ultimate goal is to become a Food Service Manager, leading teams and ensuring that guests receive excellent service and quality meals.
For Ms Mazibuko, every practical opportunity is another step towards that goal, transforming classroom knowledge into real-world experience and bringing her closer to the career she has envisioned for herself.