College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

Getting back up and trying again is what counts

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Sizwe Andries Moloi

Sizwe Andries Moloi, also known as "Gatsheni", graduated with a BSc Honours in Environmental Management in Durban on 11 June 2025. He grew up in the Geluksburg farmlands in Bergville. He attended the Maswazi Primary School from 1998 to 2005 and moved to the Egqumaweni Intermediate School. He started high school in 2008 at Ngcongcosi High.

Having failed matric in 2010, he opted to rewrite in 2011 and suffered the same fate again. However, the motivation and support he got at home steered him towards rewriting the exams in 2012 and attaining his National Senior Certificate. Having written matric three times, there was no way he would let those hurdles be for nothing. In the second semester of 2014, he started with his academic quest at Unisa, pursuing a Diploma in Nature Conservation, which he completed in 2017. He attended his first-ever tertiary graduation ceremony in May 2018.

Having a BSc Honours degree in Environmental Management conferred on him was a blessing and a milestone marked by jubilation and excitement. As Moloi said, "This milestone excites me and makes me hungry for more academic and life success. This was a proud moment for me and those around me, and it took time to sink in, as I continuously checked myUnisa for the 'Qualification completed' status, even though the academic transcript had shown me." He struggles to find the exact words to describe how he feels, but he certainly feels better than before this qualification, and that feeling is out of this world.

He chose this qualification because he recognised a gap in his daily operations, and that it would be the tool to help him fill the gap and grow in his career as a junior manager, for the benefit of himself, his colleagues and his subordinates. It would also ensure compliance with all rules, regulations and laws. This practical qualification enables one to be a proactive manager, especially in the Project, Planning and Management Unit (PPMU), where performance is judged based on targets achieved. "The qualification grows you as a manager and individual. Because the project unit is complex and ever-changing, one needs to be flexible and able to adjust and manage the changing project culture," he says. The qualification unifies three business spheres (environmental, social, and economic), enabling Moloi to analyse situations from all angles and make informed decisions.

Although Moloi has always encountered conflict and safety issues in his workspace, there was limited information on how to resolve them. Now, with his Honours in Environmental Management, he is a manager who is more capable of addressing them than before. The qualification was demanding for him and tested his perseverance and resistance. Also, it ignited critical thinking, which is at the core of his work role, to overcome obstacles or challenges. The qualification places him in a favourable position to serve in bigger and more fulfilling positions in South Africa and on the global stage.

Environmental management looks into the environmental side of operations and incorporates the social and economic spheres into it, helping one to grow and better manage the environment holistically. The qualification exposes one to different career paths. This was enriching for Moloi, who had no financial/economic career background. His successful studies and achieving his goal in his workspace proved to him that he is resilient and purpose-driven. Studying is stressful. However, Moloi says that one needs to find a way to relieve stress and re-focus on the course to learn as much as possible to complete it.

He has always dreamed of attaining a master's degree, and now he is closer to achieving it. He intends to continue his studies in 2026, when he will apply for master's studies.

Moloi concludes: "At Unisa, you are given all the tools and resources to be successful. However, your success is also in your hands, and no one will run after you or remind you what you should do."

Environmental management needs people who are open-minded and willing to unlearn and relearn. A resilient mentality is key. Moloi encourages other students, saying that this qualification is doable – he is living proof of that; you just need to have the will and work hard for it, to be victorious.

Moloi is currently serving in the junior manager role of Assistant Project Manager in the PPMU unit at Ezemvelo KZNWildlife, Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, Mtubatuba. His role in the park is to assess invasive plant infestations within and outside the park, put measures in place to eradicate, reduce and manage infestations, and comply with all the rules and regulations stipulated for protected areas and the environment. He is also tasked with overseeing safety in the unit.

* By Sakhile Mtshali, Communication and Marketing Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Region

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Publish date: 2025-07-18 00:00:00.0

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