A Son’s Tears, A Mother’s Legacy
With tears streaming down his face, UKZN graduate Thembisani Mntungwa honoured the woman whose sacrifices carried him to the finish line.
With tears streaming down his face, Thembisani Mntungwa honoured his late mother on the graduation stage, holding up a T-shirt paying tribute to the woman he described as his “biggest cheerleader” and the reason he was able to reach the milestone despite her passing less than two months ago.
Reflecting on the passing of his mother, Nondumiso Mntungwa, in March, he spoke of the deep void left behind, “I wish she could embrace this moment with me. We had imagined it and spoken about how we would celebrate. This was as much my moment as it was hers. She wasn’t just my mum, she was my friend and my biggest supporter.”
Mntungwa received a Bachelor of Social Science in Criminology and Forensic Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 6 May 2026.
In choosing to honour her on stage, he turned grief into gratitude. “I wanted the world to know that this achievement belongs to her too. When I walked up on that stage, I wanted to share the moment with her. I feel she was there in spirit with me. She deserved to be there with me.”
Mntungwa says his mother made immense sacrifices to ensure that he and his three younger siblings were well cared for, “She worked as a domestic worker and, at times, as a street vendor to make sure there was always food on the table at home and that we had lunch money for school. This was the deepest and most encouraging way she showed her support.”
Mntungwa credits his mother’s unwavering support for keeping him motivated throughout his studies, “During the course of my degree she’d always call to check on me and ask about my marks. Those were the little things that mattered and at difficult moments when I wanted to give up, I would remember that I had someone at home who believed in me and took great pride in seeing me achieve this milestone of becoming a graduate.”
Among those proudly cheering for Mntungwa were his father and maternal grandmother, who attended the ceremony.
Mntungwa, who grew up in Malukazi, is currently pursuing an Honours degree at UKZN and is appealing for financial assistance to help cover his tuition and accommodation costs.
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