"I think that he is doing this for my late mother. She said, on her death bed, 'you must read your books get your degrees because I won't be here tomorrow'."
"I think that he is doing this for my late mother. She said, on her death bed, 'you must read your books get your degrees because I won't be here tomorrow'."
The words of proud mother, Bulelwa Mdoko, of her son, Simamkele Gayika, who graduated from Rhodes this weekend with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She's joined in her celebrations by Nocawa Mzembe whose daughter, Ziyanda Ntlokwana, also graduated on the same day with a Masters in Social Science (MSS).
Both young graduates are Grahamstown residents whose successes are testament to their hard work and determination to make the most of the opportunities close to them.
"I grew up in Grahamstown and always aspired to go to Rhodes and I am very pleased and humbled to be graduating from here and fulfilling my dream," said Simamkele.
Bulelwa describes her son as a respectful and quiet child "who does not like to do bad things". She adds that during his high school years he was a hard worker who was dedicated to his studies and who wanted to fulfil his goals in life. Simamkele was tutored by student volunteers who helped him pass his matric with 36 points.
He was then accepted into the Extended Studies course, a foundation course run by Rhodes – also using student mentors – that takes matrics who show potential – largely from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds – and gives them the grounding to tackle a Rhodes degree course. Simamkele says he wants to study further and do Honours in Development Theory and Policy at Wits but, "I want this only after working in a branding or advertising agency”.
Ziyanda Ntlokwana matriculated from Victoria Girls’ High School in 2010 and came to Rhodes in 2011 where she was placed in the humanities foundation, getting a degree majoring in sociology and politics in 2014. She then did honours in industrial psychology and completed her MSS last year.
Ziyanda said her role model is Dr Babalwa Magoqwana, a black academic. “It is so intimidating being in a ‘white space’ [and]the presence of a fairly young black woman is, in a sense, motivating,” she explains.
Nocawa says it is her daughter's determination that has got her so far. "She likes to finish what she starts." She also advises parents and learners from Grahamstown to come directly to Rhodes for information about studying there.
She says that many people think it is unaffordable but, if people approach the university directly, they will put them in touch with financial resources such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Ziyanda hasn't finished yet. She says, "In the next five years I want to have completed my Phd and possibly be a lecturer or researcher.”
