WeeklySA_AdminDEDICATION: From a Pietermaritzburg classroom to the world’s most prestigious academic stage at Oxford, actuarial scientist Ntando Dube is a testament to resilience and talent…
By WSAM Reporter
University of Pretoria alumna Ntando Dube has been awarded the KwaZulu-Natal Rhodes Scholarship for 2026, adding to a long list of academic achievements that began in her childhood and propelled her onto the global stage.
Dube, who grew up in eMbali township in Pietermaritzburg, describes the award as deeply personal.
“When you’re one of the few who understand what day-to-day life looks like for the South African who isn’t part of the top 1%, you learn early that where you come from often determines where you end up,” she says. “Being selected is a way to show other kids in my community that privilege should never be the sole determinant of success. Hard work and dedication matter.”
A high achiever from an early age, Dube excelled across subjects in primary school before becoming Head Girl at St John’s Diocesan School for Girls. She later earned a Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award at the University of Pretoria, where she completed a BSc in Actuarial and Financial Mathematics cum laude and an honours degree in Actuarial Science.
Her path toward actuarial science was sparked by an unexpected opportunity. Dube’s mother, who works at a bank, entered her into a Liberty programme for young mathematicians—even after Ntando initially declined. The experience opened her eyes to the lack of representation in the actuarial field, particularly for young black women.
“At the conference, I realised the issue wasn’t ability—it was visibility,” she recalls. “Not seeing people who look like you has a huge impact.”
A remark from male peers who doubted women’s capabilities in the field only fuelled her determination. “I told them, ‘I’m going to pursue this field. Watch how far I go.’”
During her studies, Dube completed internships at Merrill Lynch South Africa, Bank of America, and the Harvard Business School Africa Research Centre. Her time at Harvard shifted how she viewed the continent.
“As Africans, we often view Africa through a lens of need rather than potential,” she says. “But when you study our industries—our tech innovation, climate solutions, or the taxi industry as its own economy—you see resilience that other regions might not survive.”
This growing interest in reframing Africa’s narrative inspired her decision to pursue African Studies at Oxford. “This continent is indomitable; it’s resilient. I want to bring an African lens to global discussions on equity and economics.”
Now an actuarial associate at Ernst & Young, Dube says her professional journey has been equally affirming. “The deal volume and exposure have been incredible.
My team is young and dynamic, and the partners are warm, open, and supportive. They’ve trusted me with engagements that genuinely excite me.”
For Dube, the Rhodes Scholarship is not just a personal milestone—it is a symbol of what is possible for young people from townships like eMbali. Her journey continues, driven by ambition, purpose and an unshakeable belief in the resilience of Africa.
