Publications
Partners
- Sebenzile Ntuli, the mother of Durban University of Technology graduate student Nontokozo Ntuli, could not hold back her tears when her daughter received her degree.
- The pair has endured many hardships over the years, before Nontokozo could achieve her degree in education.
- Nontokozo had to drop out of college at one point because of financial hardships they faced at home, but despite a 10-year journey, she qualified this week.
Emotions ran high for Sebenzile Ntuli and her daughter, Nontokozo, as they recalled the hardships and struggles their family endured, just so she could complete her teaching degree.
Nontokozo achieved her Bachelor's degree in teaching at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and was overcome with emotion at her graduation at the Royal Show Grounds in Pietermaritzburg.
Sebenzile, a resident of Sweetwaters in Pietermaritzburg, also experienced a flurry of emotions, bursting into tears as Nontokozo collected her degree.
Screaming loudly as her daughter graced the stage, Sebenzile could barely contain her excitement.
Speaking of their struggles, she said finances were tight while Nontokozo worked to obtain her degree.
She said:
"She could not even focus on her studies, I even lost count of how many years it took for her to finish this degree," Sebenzile added.
While financial troubles continued for the Ntulis, in her final year, Nontokozo managed to obtain a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) bursary.
"God came through for me," she said as she thanked her mother and family for their ongoing support.
"I also want to pass my gratitude to my husband who helped me with my studies whenever I struggled. I will also want to thank my late father who would be so proud of me today if he was still alive," said Nontokozo.
Currently, she is working as a teacher at Mlulama Secondary School in Hopewell.
'The journey we undertook'
Speaking to News24, Nontokozo said she was never academically inclined, but resolved to push through her studies so she could support her family.
"When I finished matric, I was not academically inclined and I had no money to register."
She added the love from her mother and late father shone through in that moment.
READ | FEEL GOOD: Businessman 'moved' by Dumisani Ngobese's resilience, offers the student a permanent job
"My mum took a taxi to town; she sat at the steps of a municipality building not knowing where to find money. Some woman came asking why she was sitting there, she said her child passed matric, but cannot go to college.
"The woman gave her R50, the only money she had, and my mum returned home. She used the money to buy airtime to call my late father's boss, a metered taxi owner."
Nontokozo said her late father's boss gave her a loan and she managed to register as a student at DUT.
But despite registering, things did not become easier.
"I couldn't get NSFAS funding and even health wise, there was a [two-year gap when] I was not well. I was always sick. During exams, I was always admitted to hospital."
After her father died, her family could barely make ends meet.
"I had to drop out again and find a job where I earned R3 500 per month, but I had to do something for my family. Later, when I got a bursary, I managed to get back to my studies."
Nontokozo said most of her R3 500 salary went to family expenses.
ALSO READ | FEEL GOOD: Meet the woman who survived 4 heart surgeries and just graduated with an honours degree
"It was not easy, by the time I took my salary home, I have to pay rent, buy food, clothes, I couldn't buy my things."
She added the godsend in her life was her husband.
"God sent my husband, he helped me finish my studies, he married me and helped me with everything, including actual studying."
Nontokozo said while her family struggled financially, they were still wealthy.
"We are a poor family, but we are so rich with love, we have something that most families don't have. They value money and material things; we value each other so much and love each other."
