Page 7 - The Edge Newsletter Sept 2023

VOX POPS
Masibulele Nako - Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design
Q: Do you think people still celebrate Heritage month like before?
A: “I don’t think people take Heritage month serious anymore because they are more focused on how they should dress, which they dress in their own fashion way.They have made traditional attire into fashion which makes it irrelevant from their cultural backgrounds. For example, you find a Xhosa person wearing a Zulu cultural attire and vice versa.”
Raneè Premandham - Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Food Science and Technology
Q: How do you normally celebrate Heritage month?
A: “My birthday is a day before Heritage Day. So, I usually celebrate my birthday and Heritage Day together with my family and friends where we braai and celebrate. I love the food that we prepare as a family, the conversations that we have and the new knowledge I get to receive from my elders about our culture.”
In the spirit of celebrating Heritage month, we know people pride themselves in celebrating their cultures with their families and friends. We acknowledge the importance of celebrating Heritage month. DUT Communications’ editorial team member, Sibahle Ngcobo asked DUT students about their opinions on Heritage month are and how they will be celebrating Heritage Day.
Manelisi Nene - Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications Design
Q: “Do you think Heritage month is still relevant?
A: “Yes, I do. Some people still believe in their cultures, and they embrace them. People still have pride in their culture and tradition. I am proud of my cultural background and traditional.”
Snenhlanhla Thusi - Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Information Management
Q: What does Heritage Day mean to you?
A: “Heritage Day to me means a day of celebrating our cultures, a day to remember our backgrounds, a day to remember where we come from, and we should pride ourselves in our cultures. Heritage Day is very important so that a person can know where they come from and not lose their tradition.”
VOX POPS
7
DUT’S GUGULETHU MNGOMEZULU IS SELECTED TO GO TO JAPAN AS ONE OF THE TOP SEVEN FEMALE FIGHTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Karate coach and athlete Gugulethu Mngomezulu was recently selected as one of seven females who will travel to Tokyo in Japan to represent South Africa. The tournament will be held from 16th November 2023 to 19th November 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.
“I feel so amazed and happy, this has shown me that I am strong, dedicated and I can overcome any obstacles that comes my way,” she said.
Mngomezulu is a driven, ambitious athlete that strives for the best in every area of life and in sports. She was born and raised in Empangeni, currently residing in Durban due to education and sport purposes. “I grew up around supportive parents, my family as a whole played an amazing role in my life,” she confessed.
Mngomezulu holds a National Diploma in ICT: Application Technology in the field of Information Technology and graduated in 2021.This year she also engaged in furthering her studies, and is currently doing her Advanced Diploma in ICT: Application Technology. Mngomezulu started doing karate at a tender age of six years. “My father was my mentor and trainer. I grew up fighting and with repetition and determination, resulting in me travelling around the province during my primary and high school years,” she said.
When she was 13 years old, she was awarded by the King Cetshwayo District as the Best Female Player of The Year; and she also performed exceptionally well in her district Salga Games when she was between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.
“When I came to DUT during 2018, I had a pleasant experience to train with sensei Themba Shibase and he mentored and inspired me to learn a lot from him and I am currently still doing so,” she conveyed.
Her recent tournaments for 2023 include the provincial tournament in the Pietermaritzburg selection for South Africa, USSA tournament in East London, and the South African tournament in East London. “Till this day, I am proud to say that I will never stop working hard and training myself to be better,” she added.
The talented coach and athlete said that she is balancing her work and coaching and it all comes down to time management and discipline because it plays a major role. “I have to show up in every activity and it requires me to preserve myself and distribute my time towards everything,” she said.
She further encourages students to join karate because this sport is not all about fighting, as there is aspects on learning self-defence which teaches students how to protect themselves and be disciplined enough to see which situations requires them to react.
The Sport Administration Unit congratulated Gugulethu Mngomezulu and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
Pictured: Gugulethu Mngomezulu Sinethemba Njoko