graduate

23-year-old Sithembile Mthembu graduated from the Durban University of Technology after she wrote her final exam whilst in labour. Image via Pixabay

‘I had no other option’: University graduate writes her exam while in labour

Sithembile Mthembu, a 23-year-old from the Durban University of Technology, completed her final exam minutes before giving birth.

graduate

23-year-old Sithembile Mthembu graduated from the Durban University of Technology after she wrote her final exam whilst in labour. Image via Pixabay

Sithembile Mthembu, a Durban University of Technology (DUT) graduate, was minutes away from giving birth to her baby girl but opted to write her final exam before pushing out her baby girl. Speaking to DailySun, Mthembu said the doctors were not pleased with her decision, but she says the exam was the only thing on her mind. 

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SITHEMBILE MTHEMBU CHOOSES EXAMS FIRST 

Sithembile Mthembu is from Mayville, Durban, and was doing her diploma in Library and Information Studies at DUT. The 23-year-old was one of the many students affected by online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic and faced connectivity challenges due to network issues. 

On 24 June, Mthembu was admitted to Addington Hospital on South Beach on the same day as her ICT Innovation and Emerging Technology exam. 

“I had to push for my test before pushing the baby out. I had no other option because I was funded by NSFAS and had to make sure I pass all my modules so I graduate in time,” she explained to DailySun.

GIVING BIRTH TO HER BOUNCING BABY GIRL 

The Durban native told the publication that the doctors were not pleased when she chose to write her exam while in labour. 

“The doctors shouted at me, accusing me of stressing the baby, but I continued. I wanted to make sure I excelled in my exams,” Mthembu said. 

After successfully completing the exam, the 23-year-old gave birth to her baby girl, Siphosethu Qoza, who is now three weeks old. 

Mthembu officially walked the stage as a graduate on Friday 15 July and hopes to reach PhD level and publish a book. 

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GRADUATING AGAINST ALL ODDS

Nicoleen Moorcroft, was excited to graduate in April 2022 after completing her third qualification, an LLB degree. The University of Free State graduate overcame brain surgery to graduate with distinction. 

“My declining health and intense medical treatment, unfortunately, meant that I had to stop studying. In 2016, I underwent Chiari decompression surgery to relive the pressure on my brain; this significantly improve my health and mental capabilities,” explained Moorcroft. 

In 2009, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and the following year she obtained a Social Sciences Honoured degree majoring in Psychology.