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From the streets to a PhD: Declek Magubane’s remarkable journey at UKZN
A life once defined by loss
For most people, a doctoral gown symbolises years of study, but for 31-year-old Declek Khwazi Magubane, it tells a story of survival. Long before graduating with a PhD in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Magubane knew the realities of hardship. Raised in KwaMpumuza and Hanniville in the Mgungundlovu District, his childhood was cut short by the loss of his legal guardians. Moving between orphanages eventually left him on the streets of Pietermaritzburg’s CBD, unsure of what his future would hold.
A turning point in faith
December 2007 changed everything. Magubane was taken in by Zoleka and Bee Ngcobo, who became his spiritual and parental anchors. With their support and his renewed faith, he returned to school from Grade 8 and committed himself to building a life defined by purpose rather than circumstance. His words reflect that shift: once he chose resilience and education, he never looked back.
The long road to a doctorate
The path to his doctorate was anything but easy. Alongside the personal weight of his past, Magubane faced struggles with mental health and the daunting task of defining a PhD research topic that could stand up to academic scrutiny. Identifying a research problem that was both relevant and researchable proved his toughest challenge. Yet, with the steady guidance of his supervisors, Professor Phocenah Nyantanga and Dr Ntokozo Nzimande, he found his footing.
Research that reaches across borders
His doctoral thesis, Cross-Country Macroprudential Coordination and Financial Stability in Advanced and Systemic Middle-Income Economies, explored one of the most pressing questions in global economics: how countries can work together to regulate financial systems while preserving independence. He studied both advanced economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan, and middle-income countries like South Africa.
The findings emphasised the importance of collaboration without compromising national autonomy, a lesson as relevant for global financial markets as it is for individuals navigating their own struggles.
More than a degree
For Magubane, the victory lies not only in the title of Doctor but in what it represents. His life story shows that resilience, faith, and education can rewrite even the bleakest of beginnings. From sleeping on the streets to presenting research that speaks to international financial stability, his journey has become a powerful reminder of what perseverance can achieve.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Adobe Stock
