As part of the research for his master's degree, the head of traffic of the Thulamela Municipality, Thinandavha Munwana, presented a paper at the Makerere University in Uganda in 2010.
The theme of the paper was accidents in the Thulamela Municipality area.
Last Friday, Munwana received a PhD during the graduation ceremony of the University of Venda.
The 46-year-old said he was proud of his qualification and wanted his peers to emulate him. He was one of the 11 candidates who received their doctoral degrees.
“I have fulfilled my long-standing cherished dream of achieving a doctorate," he said.
His thesis wis entitled Developing a model to integrate LDVs into rural passenger transport in the Vhembe District municipality.
"Road safety has always been close to my heart and coming up with new ideas of saving lives on our roads is the ultimate goal. I knew that this could only be achieved through studying," he said.
He said that, besides being a personal achievement or a stepping stone towards greener pastures, his thesis, if implemented, could benefit the community and the government as far as informal and formal transport are concerned. "This is not my ultimate goal as I am busy writing papers to be used in journals, so as to be in touch with people on the ground. This would go a long way in educating communities in order to save lives on our roads," he said.
Munwana added that he did not stop studying, so that he could be a role model in his career. "As a leader in the traffic section, I have to lead from the front and be a good example that with education we can achieve great things," he said.
At the ceremony, the principal of Univen, Prof Peter Mbati, said the university placed a high premium on academic projects and it was for this reason that, for the past eight years, they had invested about one billion rand in infrastructure development for quality education.
During the ceremony, 584 recipients were awarded qualifications. "We are also conferring 11 doctoral degrees, the largest number at a single graduation ceremony, 79 master's degrees, 84 honours degrees, 331 bachelors and professional degrees, and 79 diplomas and certificates."
The other resipients of doctorates are Lufuno Mavhandu, Naledzani Rasila, Ntsieni Stella Mashau, Fhatuwani Ravhuhali, Thizwilondi Mudau, Harry Mukwevho, Thakhani Takalani, Nkhangweleni Nemukula, Thinandavha Munwana, Zwodangani Mudau and Mpho Tshitangoni
