Four students recently shared their stories on the invaluable assistance provided by the university’s Student Funding Directorate.

Samkelisiwe is grateful for the opportunity to complete her studies 

Samkelisiwe Patience Nzama is a 26-year-old recent graduate from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. She is passionate about forensic investigations and is proud to have overcome the challenges she faced during her academic journey.

Samkelisiwe Patience Nzama

The support she received from the Student Funding Directorate enabled her to settle outstanding fees and graduated during this year’s Autumn graduations with a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Science and Technology.

Samkelisiwe is grateful to have completed her studies. As she excitedly awaits to start her career, she proudly shares her study journey with us.

I have always known about Unisa as a prominent university in South Africa. I chose to study there because of its reputation for quality education and flexibility in distance learning.

The programme equipped me with a solid foundation. This is particularly in areas such as crime scene investigation, forensic analysis and evidence interpretation, which prepared me for a career in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

My interest in forensic science and technology was sparked by a combination of factors. Growing up, I was always fascinated by crime dramas and documentaries that showcased the work of forensic investigators in solving crimes. Moreover, I was drawn to the idea of using my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on society, whether it was helping to solve crimes, exonerate the innocent or bring closure to families. When I discovered that Unisa offered a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Science and Technology, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to pursue my interests and turn my passion into a career.

I was a self-funded student when I first registered at Unisa. I managed to pay for half of my fees, but, unfortunately, I was unable to settle the full amount. I first received funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but they did not cover my historic debt, which left me with an outstanding balance. The Unisa Student Funding Directorate informing me that I qualified for their funding which was a huge relief.  

I am thankful for the assistance which helped me to achieve my academic goal. I finally graduated. This was a huge relief for me, as I had been struggling to find a way to pay off my outstanding fees and complete my studies.

The funding gave me a sense of hope and renewed motivation. I can now focus on starting my career. I'm currently hoping to secure an internship or a permanent job in my profession, where I can apply the skills and knowledge I gained during my studies – allowing me to take the next step in my career journey.

Amon Mavundla to pay it forward for other students in need

Amon Mavundla believes in donating to other students who are in need of funding for their studies. This is a journey he knows too well as he is a beneficiary of the student debt relief fund.

Amon Mavundla

We get to know his journey through life and how he was positively impacted by the funding he received to enable him to graduate and exit the university system.

Amon grew up in the village of Masoyi in the Mpumalanga Province. Growing up he says he was told that he was smart which saw him in Grade 12 by the time he was 16 years old.   

All hope is lost through tragedy

Being born the sixth of seven children did not leave him without tragedy in 2006 and 2007 when he lost both his parents during these years. This was hard on him and impacted negatively on his school progress. "I thank God I passed with an average which enabled me to study for a Diploma afterwards," he says. "When we lost our dad, I sort of gave up in life, but my eldest sister saved me. Through the government grants she received, she financed my studies in Project Management at Damelin in Nelspruit, but I dropped out towards the end."

On the other hand, he says life became challenging for him when he had to become the caretaker of his younger brother. "My older siblings had already moved out of my parents’ house for work in other provinces and some were married," he states. Life became even more unbearable for him as they had to share living space with his sister’s three children.

A move to Gauteng presented opportunities

However, a small breakthrough came in 2011 when he moved to Gauteng. "I was invited for an interview for a job I saw advertised in a local newspaper," says Amon, as he remembered how he landed the job that paid him R600 at most because he struggled to make sales.

Living in Tembisa meant that he had to walk to work in Midrand. However, six months later he would land a decent job at a bank where he earned a descent salary enabling him to move out of his uncle’s place in 2013.   

"Later that year, I met a lady who saw a husband in me, even though I had nothing. We got married and we are blessed with two children," says the doting father.

A colleague told me about Unisa

Amon learnt about Unisa through a colleague who told him that he could study while working. He later registered for a Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences and later an LLB degree.

"I did an accounting certificate because I really didn't know what I wanted to do. One module sparked the light though and it was Commercial Law. From this, I knew that I wanted to become a lawyer," he says.

Self-funding studies proved challenging

"My studies were funded by me until my final year, and I really struggled to keep up with my fees," he says as he did not want to skip a year because of not being able to pay.

At the end of his studies, he had R18 000 worth of outstanding fees. "Throughout the last semester I was actually sad that I was not going to graduate considering the economic climate of our country. I did not know how and when I will finish paying the outstanding amount," he says knowing instinctively that he had passed but I couldn't see the results on the system.  

To the shock of his life, he received a surprise e-mail from the Student Finance Directorate of  the university informing him that he had been identified as one of the students who qualified for funding in order to graduate.

"I can never explain the feeling I had at that time. I am filled with gratitude. I would like to donate, so other students in the position I was in can be helped too. It is an amazing initiative that I wish it can grow bigger and bigger. Thank you!," Amon said.   

Student Funding gave Ndumiso Nkosi a beacon of hope

As the youngest of eighteen children and the first in his family to graduate, Ndumiso Nkosi’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the belief that even the smallest steps can lead to significant achievements.

Ndumiso Nkosi

Ndumiso hails from the picturesque town of Lydenburg in Mpumalanga. Guided by his supportive parents, he embarked on a path filled with dreams and determination, balancing small-town roots with a vision that stretched far beyond. He was able to graduate on 3 June 2024.

My educational journey began with a solid foundation at Hoërskool Lydenburg, where I graduated in 2018. From there, I ventured into the field of Mechanical Engineering at Ehlanzeni TVET College. The world of engineering fascinated me with its blend of practical and theoretical challenges, and I eagerly embraced its complexities.

I earned a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) cabin crew licence through South African Airways. This experience not only allowed me to soar through the skies but also broadened my perspective on the intersections of technology and human interaction.

Yet, my thirst for knowledge and growth didn’t stop there. I soon set my sights on expanding my expertise into the realm of information and technology (IT). This exploration led me to Unisa, a decision fuelled by recommendations from industry professionals and a desire to blend my engineering background with cutting-edge digital skills.

Unisa’s renowned, flexible programmes were the perfect fit for my ambitions. I dove into the world of IT, mastering everything from programming to network management. This journey through technology not only enhanced my technical skills but also sparked a deeper curiosity about how IT can transform industries like aviation and engineering.

My fascination with IT began when I first witnessed the revolutionary impact of digital innovation. The way technology could simplify complex tasks, address real-world problems and connect people across the globe intrigued me. This fascination grew into a drive to explore IT’s vast potential, imagining how it could shape the future in profound ways.

However, my path wasn’t without its challenges. In 2020, I was fortunate to receive support from an NSFAS bursary, which played a crucial role in my studies. By 2021, the funding fell short, leaving me with unexpected tuition fees that cast a shadow over my academic journey. The burden of these fees was overwhelming, threatening to derail my dreams and dim my hopes of graduating.

Just when it seemed like my aspirations might be thwarted, funding arrived. The student debt relief fund gave me a beacon of hope. This vital support eased my financial strain, allowing me to settle the outstanding fees and continue my studies without further interruption.

Thanks for this crucial assistance. Walking across that stage was not just a personal victory but a symbol of triumph over adversity, marking the end of a challenging chapter and the beginning of an exciting future.

Social media led Gertrude Mafogo to study with Unisa 

Born and raised by her parents in Limpopo, Gertrude Mafogo relocated to Pretoria after her matric to further her studies at Unisa.

Gertrude Mafogo

She registered for a National Diploma in Safety Management and later a Bachelor of Social Work at Unisa. Completing her studies in December 2023 enabled her to work for the University of Pretoria as a management assistant intern for a period of 18 months.

During this time Gertrude gained experience working with students, professors, visitors and stakeholders. "This prepared me to have the love of helping others without expecting something in return from them," she says as she mentions her stints with the Lebuwe Centre, an NGO for persons living with disabilities and the Life Kingdom Centre, an organisation for orphaned children and those that are abandoned.

"The experience taught me to conduct one on one counselling sessions with individuals, couples and families during the different group sessions and awareness at schools, community centres and community projects," shared Gertrude.  

Getrude got to know about Unisa through social media. This motivated her go to the Unisa Sunnyside Campus to get more information about the course that she wanted to pursue. "My interest was in social work and safety management which was sparked by me witnessing our neighbour’s abuse by her husband," she says.  

According to Gertrude, there was shortage of social workers at the time but as a community they intervened through proper channels to help the mother and her children. The abuse however continued resulting in the arrest of the neighbour’s husband.

"The mother and her children were placed in a safe home. From that day, I told myself that no one would be abused or mistreated in my presence. I decided to be a social worker to help vulnerable people so that their voices could be heard," she says.

Gertrude is unemployed but funded her studies through menial jobs and volunteer work which were not paying much. She also made an acknowledgement of debt agreement with the university to pay her fees over time.  

"It was not easy for me as the internship that I relied on ended. I lost my father who was the sole provider of the family as my mother was not working. I told myself that I will finish my studies and graduate no matter what," she says, as she believed God would make a way for her to complete her studies. 

Getrude says that the student debt relief fund was beneficial to her especially because she was in need of it. "I felt stuck and that all my hard work had been for nothing. However, through the student debt relief fund, the balance on my fees was paid and I was able to graduate on 3 June 2024."

"I would like to thank the Student Funding Directorate for showing up at my worst time. It was not easy to study while working on the contracts," says Gertrude in her wish for an internship or a job in order to practice the knowledge she acquired during her studies.

* By Nthabiseng Majeng, Intern: Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations