On any given afternoon at the Durban University of Technology, 23-year-old Smangaliso Mduduzi Hintsho can be found juggling assignments and business deals. While many students are worrying about overdue submissions and readings, Hintsho is reviewing luxury cars for thousands of followers online.

“We are an automotive reviewing company. I am an automotive reviewer,” he explained. “I started it back in 2020, but I hadn’t started filming. I started filming in 2021, that was when there was COVID… I got a lot of time on my hands and decided to start filming, and that’s how I started Bonabay Universe.”

Hintsho’s company, Bonabay Universe, trading as Bonabay Cars (Pty) Ltd, has grown into more than just a hobby. With a TikTok following of 42,700, Facebook 33,000, and YouTube 3,000 subscribers, his reviews have reached an audience far beyond campus.

“Oh, very important, if it weren’t for TikTok, I wouldn’t be relevant, nobody would know me,” he admitted.

For Hintsho, his side hustle wasn’t born out of financial desperation, but out of childhood passion.

“I grew up watching Top Gear and I always wanted to be Jeremy Clarkson, always wanted to be Richard Hammond and James May. It was the coolest job in the world … I just did it for the little boy inside of me who got so excited seeing these three men talking about cars, seemingly doing what they enjoy most.”

His passion soon became profitable. Through dealership sponsorships, Bonabay Universe earns enough to cover Hintsho’s essentials like groceries and clothing. He spends about six hours a day working on his business.

“My camera guys get paid, and I get paid. That helps with groceries and clothes and food … it helps,” he explained.

But behind the glossy cars and exciting test drives lies a challenge faced by many students with side hustles, which is balancing academics and business.

“It’s very hard to balance my studies and hustle, I’m not going to lie. The very reason I’m doing my second year for the second time. My work overpowers school, and I’m just left behind … falling short and just dropping ridiculous marks.”

While Hintsho dreams of one day working for the BBC’s Top Gear or having his own motoring show on SABC 3 for everyone to be able to watch, for now, he admits that his business often overshadows his studies.

Across South Africa, many students are turning to side hustles to supplement their NSFAS stipends and cover the rising costs of living. From selling baked goods to reviewing cars, side hustles are no longer optional luxuries but rather tools of survival.

“I feel very sad that students need side hustles to survive,” Hintsho said. “The NSFAS money that we get is not entirely enough … imagine somebody who is not getting money from home, it must be very, very tough for them.”

For Hintsho, his hustle is both survival and self-fulfilment. His most rewarding moment so far? Not the money, not the recognition, but driving his dream car.

“My most rewarding moment so far was driving one of my dream cars, the Mercedes AMG C63s. That moment to me was the greatest by far.”

Despite the struggles, he encourages fellow students to start something of their own:

“My advice to a student trying to start a side hustle is go for it! 100% go for it! Just ensure you don’t leave your studies behind … give yourself some school time and then give yourself some business time.”

For Hintsho, Bonabay Universe is more than a hustle. It is an “empire in progress.” And while he admits his academics have taken a hit, he remains committed to chasing both a degree and a dream, one review at a time.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post DUT STUDENT BALANCES STUDIES WITH GROWING CAR REVIEW BUSINESS appeared first on MDNtv.

Student leadership is the heartbeat of campus democracy, where vision meets action and voices shape the future.

This week the Durban University of Technology (DUT) held their Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.

The institution continues to face longstanding challenges, including concerns around the condition of some student residences. In addition, several students did not receive their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) monthly allowances this year, reportedly due to delays in submitting registration details to NSFAS.

Students from institutions of higher education face a plethora of challenges starting from securing their spots to navigating issues around accommodation and funding. In the context of elections, engaging with representatives from various political organisations and understanding their manifestos can help students make informed choices during SRC elections.

The South African Conversation by DUT Journalism podcast held a pre-election discussion between the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC), uMkhonto weSizwe Students’ Movement (MKSM) and the South African Students’ Congress (SASCO) representatives to delve into why they are running for SRC, what student leadership means to them and to hear more about how they plan to bring their manifestos to reality.

“As the EFF members, when we signed the membership, we committed ourselves to serve, suffer and sacrifice for all the students’ issues,” said Sthandwa “Wise” Ndlovu, EFFYC (DUT) Chairperson.

 

The basis of student politics is advocacy, giving students a voice and promote change on campus.

> “Running for SRC doesn’t start with having interest in contesting the elections, but it starts win the challenges that you face as a student within the institution. We need dedicated leadership who will have different ideas to resolve student issues because we also need to be at a level whereby we change the system that is oppressing us. We need to come with new ideas because they have mastered dealing with students in a way that allows them to get away without addressing those issues,” stated Enerst Manogara, uMkhonto weSizwe Student Movement (DUT) Chairperson.

Despite their different views, all candidates share a focus on advocacy, highlighting why student politics matter. As the SRC elections come to an end, the spotlight remains on student leadership as a vital force for representation and reform.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Inside the movement: What this week meant for DUT students appeared first on MDNtv.

Entrepreneurship has been a steady aspect of promoting and motivating citizens in the country to seek opportunities that could allow them to start their own businesses with 31% of population in the country comprising of the youth they play a significant role in uplifting the economy, a feat that some of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) students have taken up whilst being full time students. 

Samkelisiwe Mngadi shares her experience in being a part time vendor, baking and selling cakes, stating that capital was the biggest challenge going into entrepreneurship.

“I cannot secure government funds as they require the owner of the business to be fully on hand with the business.”

Asanda Vilakazi, second year, Public Relations student started her own construction company, Matjili Cleaners Pty/Ltd in 2021 in her community, Sweet Waters Area in Pietermaritzburg.

“The main aim of starting a business was to create more job opportunities and make something of myself, so if ever life does not go as planned, I have something solid to fall back on.”

Vilakazi also spoke on the challenges of being a young black female entrepreneur in an industry most suited to men, highlighting that because of her age, people did not take her ideas or knowledge on the industry seriously.

“At first financially I wasn’t that stable much to get the machines I needed for my construction company but as time went by, I was able to sacrifice for the greatness that I have today.”

With her company she was granted a tender to fix the road in her community in 2023.

According to Statistics South Africa(StatsSA), the percentage of the youth actively seeking for employment with no luck went from 36,8% (2014) to 45,5% (2024) quickly putting into perspective the level in which the economy is progressing in, motivating people to look locally and see what can be done.

Lusanda Ndlovu currently studying Beng Tech in Mechanical Engineering at the Steve Biko campus chose to venture in Landscaping from taking care of his family’s lawn and explained that it grew into a passion from the exposure to the various equipment that could do a better job.

“With this business I target to employ many Horticulture students since in this country we are facing a high unemployment rate, and their speciality is in landscaping; we aim to bring in other job opportunities.”

With a staff of one permanent and four part time employees they have worked on improving houses in Amanzimtoti, Adams Mission.

“Our location is situated in a developing area which is good for our business because we are aiming to provide beautiful landscapes in people’s homes,” adds Ndlovu.

With initiatives like Envision2030 and Entrepreneurial Edge at DUT, there is hope that students will be equipped and taught the skills they need to migrate to entrepreneurship.

“Additionally, I think our youth is not well educated about entrepreneurship if we can spread the gospel of entrepreneurship starting with the kids in primary school because they are the future youth, youth development would be much easier and more optimal,” said Mnagdi.

“It is very devastating to see young people like me living just for the purpose of breathing but not making something of themselves.” – Asanda Vilakazi

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post “We’re Alive, But Not Living”: Young Entrepreneurs Fight for Purpose Amid High Youth Unemployment appeared first on MDNtv.