A proud moment for Dr Silindile Gumede.
Image: Supplied.
In 2010 Silindile Gumede was excluded from UKZN after struggling academically, this week, she returned to the very same institution to graduate with a PhD in engineering.
Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears while reflecting on her full circle moment.
“I'm so proud. When I reflect on the journey, where I come from and how I pushed to get here, it wasn't easy, it really wasn't easy.”
Gumede hails from a rural village in Mtubatuba, where she didn’t have access to water or electricity. Despite this, she was one of the top achievers in the school district. And then she got into UKZN.
Silindile Gumede graduated with a PhD in engineering from UKZN this week.
Image: Supplied
For her first test she scored an A, and then the next one came. Surrounded by classmates from technical schools who already had practical experience, she failed her first major assessment.
“Then there was a module called technical drawing, I had no knowledge. I had never used a drawing board. And I had never touched those big rulers.”
“That was the first test I failed in university, and I got 14%.”
She never told her family because she didn't want them to feel ashamed or disappointed.
“I was devastated. For someone who's not used to failure, in an environment where you're afraid to speak up, ask for assistance, I think that's what killed me.”
Her struggle was not only academic, but social and structural too.
“I was too intimidated to approach people or ask how to navigate the system,” she said. “I didn’t know how to consult, I didn’t know about SRC, I didn’t know how to get help.”
She said that students from rural backgrounds often arrive at university unprepared for the systems and expectations.
“There were language barriers. And students from backgrounds like mine are often not prepared for the life changes, limited resources and unfamiliar systems.”
After struggling academically, she was excluded from UKZN, but didn't have the courage to challenge the decision.
Despite the setback, she was still determined to become a chemical engineer. Gumede used the credits she got from UKZN and enrolled at DUT where she completed both her undergraduate and Master's degrees with distinction.
“I then got to understand the system better and I became more confident,” she said.
For her PhD, she focused on recovering valuable metals from industrial waste; specifically spent refinery catalysts used in oil refining processes. These catalysts help convert crude oil into fuels such as petrol and diesel, but lose effectiveness over time and are usually discarded.
Gumede’s research explored how to recover valuable metals such as vanadium and nickel from this waste using a process called leaching extraction.
“In simple terms, I’m turning industrial waste into valuable resources,” she said. “This not only reduces environmental pollution but also helps conserve natural resources and contributes to advancing cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.”
Her earlier Master’s research in wastewater treatment and heavy metals helped shape this direction and sparked a passion for practical environmental solutions.
Looking ahead, Gumede hopes to expand her work into industrial applications and collaborate with industry partners on sustainable technologies.
However, her transformation wasn't only academic but also personal. Gumede who is now a lecturer says her experience directly shapes how she supports students.
“If they are struggling, I’m able to intervene and assist the way I can, because I know how much of a headache it can get.”
Her mom’s support played a significant role in her journey and remains her greatest source of inspiration. “Her belief in me laid the foundation for everything I have achieved,” she said.
As a working mother who was doing her PhD, Gumede relied on discipline and routine to get through the programme. .
“I would go to the gym, I would run — those moments helped me reset and stay focused,” she said.
Today she wants those undergoing similar challenges to know that nothing is impossible, and that her achievements are proof of that.
“I would like my story to serve as a reminder that setbacks are not the end of the journey,” said Gumede. “You will encounter the most difficult moments of your life, but they may become a turning point and teach you resilience.”
From dropout to doctor, returning to graduate from UKZN this week was a huge achievement.
For now, she is enjoying the moment she once thought she might never reach and enjoying her new title following the graduation.
“Even my kids, I told them they should address me as Dr Mum,” she chuckles.