Page 8 - DUT CONNECT - Spring 2024

Siphuxolo Mazwi
From Local Roots to Global Platforms: The Power of Connection in a Woman’s Journey
Siphuxolo Mazwi is an ultra-motivated and driven person who embodies the old adage “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do”. Proudly South African, there is not much this young DUT alumna cannot do. Siphuxolo is a marketing specialist, goal setting coach, sustainable tourism development facilitator, and inspirational speaker.
Siphuxolo was motivated in her education from an early age by her mother, a former school principal, who believed that education is the key to success. Her father, a community animal healthcare worker (livestock dipper), motivated her community spirit. Her passion for travel and tourism was ignited in high school. Being the only child in her family who had not studied outside Mount Frere, she vowed to explore the world. This determination led her to pursue a diploma in Tourism Management at the Durban University of Technology.
“I took tourism as a career because it taught me that there is more education in traveling experiences than just academic studies,” Siphuxolo relates. The travel enthusiast believes that travelling is the greatest teacher about life and has the ability to foster understanding about humanity and contribute towards global peace.
Life at DUT was not without challenges. Initially struggling with English, Siphuxolo found her voice through writing, and then later gained confidence in speaking. Her academic excellence was recognised when she was nominated to present her mini- dissertation at the Tourism Educators South Africa conference and awarded an academic achievement award for her B-Tech research project. Part-time work at events such as Africa’s Travel Indaba, tourism careers expo and the DUT hotel school restaurant provided Siphuxolo with practical industry experience.
Furthering her studies after DUT, Siphuxolo has completed a BCom Honours in Marketing Management and an MBA through MANCOSA. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Business Management Sciences:Tourism Management at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Siphuxolo says that DUT played a pivotal role in shaping her career and she remains grateful to her lecturers for their support and encouragement.
In her professional life, Siphuxolo is the Head of Department for Marketing and Tourism for the Robben Island Museum. Her ambition is to promote both international and domestic tourism and these marketing efforts have successfully increased domestic tourist visits. Emphasising the importance of exploring South Africa’s natural and cultural diversity, Siphuxolo urges,“Sustainable tourism needs to be inclusive, we should not promote South Africa’s tourist attractions for only international visitors.”
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