23-year-old Dumisani Ngobese could not hold back tears after he was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts degree at a ceremony held at the UKZN’s Westville Campus on Friday. Dumisani who is now pursuing an Honours degree said he was overcome with emotions as he reflected on what he said was a “long and difficult” journey.
He was raised by his maternal grandmother in Bhukhanana, a rural area outside eMpangeni. “My grandmother was a street vendor and the sole breadwinner in the house where there were over 10 children,” he said.
Unfortunately for Dumisani, his grandmother could not make the trip to see him graduate due to ill health. “It was going to be difficult for her because she is not well and she would have had to take about three taxis to get here. But my mother and my aunt were present at the graduation”.
While he could not afford to buy a suit for graduation, as many of his peers did, this was the ceremony he was not going to miss. “I could not afford to buy a suit but I just had to be there at graduation”.
Ever since his picture was published on UKZN social media platforms, Dumisani has received many calls from well-wishers.
“I am overwhelmed by the number of calls I have been getting so much so that I cannot respond to all of them. People have been phoning to wish me well while some have even pledged donations. I am grateful to all the people showing me love” he concluded.
