The Unisa alumni are a vibrant group of graduates who contribute towards an Alumni Fund that is utilised towards worthy causes identified by the university. In 2021, the Alumni Relations Office realised that, due to outstanding fees, a group of 175 students could not graduate, although they had passed their final exams. To assist these students, money from the Alumni Fund was made available to settle the outstanding amounts, allowing the students to graduate.

Three beneficiaries share how the fund changed their lives.

"Am I dreaming?"

Iris Mosima Chokwe

Iris Mosima Chokwe says: "One Saturday morning, upon checking my Unisa account, I realised I had a zero balance. I thought I was dreaming." She logged into myUnisa to view her results and thought she could miraculously access her results; thankfully, Chokwe also found she had passed all her subjects. She says, "I thank God and am grateful for the opportunity provided to me. Thank you to the Unisa alumni for everything." She continues: "You have made it possible for me to realise my dreams."

Chokwe is a mother of two who grew up in the village of Ga-Mamadila, just outside Polokwane, Limpopo. She registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Senior Phase and FET) in 2020. She had previously registered for another course with Unisa in 2018. "Unisa is internationally recognised, and because it is an open distance learning institution, my studies do not interfere with my day-to-day work," she says.

She graduated with a BCom degree in Accounting from the University of Limpopo and did articles at the Office of the Auditor General, Polokwane. She later moved to Pretoria to work as an Assistant Director: Internal Audit at the Department of Correctional Services. When her work contract ended, she used the time to further her studies with the university and registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Today, she joins Unisa's illustrious list of alumni.

"Kwande apho nithatha khona, Camagu!"

Cebo Lihlikamvalakhe Sicwebu

Cebo Lihlikamvalakhe Sicwebu enrolled for a Bachelor of Law degree in 2014 and completed his studies in 2020. However, he only graduated on 6 July 2022, thanks to Unisa alumni. He says: "My message to the Unisa alumni is, thank you. Kwande apho nithatha khona, Camagu!" Sicwebu's childhood was spent in his rural hometown of Sterkspruit, in the Eastern Cape, where he began his primary schooling. His mother, who single-handily raised him and his brother, found work as a domestic worker in Johannesburg. The well-known family for whom she worked decided to enrol her children at a private school in the city.

From that experience, Sicebu explains: "The family's opulent lifestyle motivated me to further my studies, and I decided to pursue an LLB degree because I knew it would be a way out of poverty." He says he applied to study at another university, where he was provisionally accepted. However, owing to financial constraints, he chose Unisa. Sicwebu says he is grateful for choosing Unisa as a university of choice. "Studying through Unisa equipped me with the skills to work and study independently, and I was also able to improve my time management skills, which was a bonus."

Blessed is the hand that giveth

Tawanda Sigauke

Tawanda Sigauke grew up in Zimbabwe and worked as an Internal Auditor and Accountant in Zimbabwe. Then, he moved to South Africa and worked as a Statutory Compliance and Tax Accountant, at a renewable energy company, in Cape Town, South Africa.

"Had it not been for the Unisa alumni, who paid my outstanding fees, I would still not be able to access my results," says Sigauke. He explains: "My employer had declined to pay for my postgraduate studies in Risk Management but was impressed by my academic performance, which included a few distinctions." As a result, they have offered to pay for his Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation in full, which Sigauke has registered for the 2023 academic year.

Additionally, Sigauke was promoted to Senior Accountant after he graduated from Unisa. He also holds a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Management from Unisa. He says: "Unisa is my university of choice because of its reputation as the leading distance learning university."

Sigauke sadly missed his recent graduation because of his twin brother's funeral, who unfortunately lost a battle against cancer and succumbed to the disease in July 2022. During this period, he struggled to finance his studies as his income was mainly spent supporting his twin brother and his family during their struggle with cancer since his diagnosis in 2020. Thankfully, the Unisa alumni fund enabled him to clear his outstanding fees.

* Article submitted by graduates assisted by Busisiwe Mahlangu, Communication Coordinator, Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations