GhLinks Media
A South African man has narrated how he started working as a kitchen cleaner of a university and rose to be a senior lecturer in the same institution.
According to Ntsikelelo Pefile, a professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT), he worked in the same institution as a cleaner at a time when his aunt was a domestic worker in the vice-chancellor’s residence.
Speaking to SowetanLive, the lecturer said his aunt then moved to the school’s medical department and made connections with the students and that was where his journey to physiotherapy began.
Through her help, he applied to study physiotherapy in the varsity and though he was accepted, he almost quit his studies due to financial constraints.
Fortunately for him, his aunt was brave enough to ask a vice-chancellor in UCT for a loan to pay his school fees.
“She marched into Ramphele’s office (former vice-chancellor) and asked for a loan. She took my academic transcripts. Luckily in the first year, I had straight As in the second semester.
“Ramphele gave my aunt the loan. UCT gave me a loan to study at UWC. That’s my relationship with UCT and now I’m back as a lecturer”, he said.
The senior lecturer thanked his aunt for her support, adding that her belief in him made it possible for him to pursue his wildest of dreams.
Ntsikelelo added: “I am proud of my journey and I know it will encourage many.”
