Established in 2018, the Ndebele Students Association aims to represent, preserve and promote Ndebele cultural heritage and traditions within the higher education sector.
The NSA Academic Awards are hosted annually to recognise excellence in tertiary education. Students are eligible to enter if they achieve distinctions (75% and above) in their studies and demonstrate commitment to honouring their cultural heritage.
Ms Sifundza received first place in the Postgraduate Excellence category and ranked seventh overall among top-performing students from universities across the country. Her achievement adds to a growing list of academic milestones.
In 2024, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in isiNdebele, achieving an 85.5% average and earning recognition at UMP’s Academic Excellence Awards as the top achiever in the Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma and Honours category.
Following her NSA win, Ms Sifundza says the competition has strengthened her commitment to advancing isiNdebele scholarship.
“The win means a lot to me because my work, effort, and dedication have been recognised and celebrated. It inspires me to do more for even greater achievements. It also elevates the language's status and makes it competitive with other developed languages, and I am thankful to my lecturers and supervisor for their support.”
She further explains that joining the NSA in 2024 exposed her to a national network of young isiNdebele scholars who continue to inspire her.
“I believe this award will motivate other students to achieve higher marks that are competitive with students from other institutions. The development of the language cannot be achieved by an individual, so increasing interest and commitment from students contributes to its growth and visibility,”
Her passion for isiNdebele is rooted in her academic journey at UMP, where she first enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2020. She received a merit award in her second year and, through consistent dedication, shaped her path as a language scholar.
Her work also extends internationally. She collaborated with the International Christian University in Tokyo, translating English content into isiNdebele and transcribing for the African Next Voices Project.
Ms Sifundza’s recent achievement at the NSA Awards reflects her ongoing academic growth at UMP. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in isiNdebele and serves as a tutor in the discipline, where she continues to contribute to the development and visibility of the language.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Picture supplied. Copyright © UMP