Petite-looking and cautious in her self-expression are some of the attributes of a young African woman from Alex who is firmly focused on her dream career.
When many vacillate, are still searching and can be swayed any other way, 23-year-old Kgomotso Nthala is different. She is resolute on becoming a lawyer. A career she said derives from a trait acquired from her mother on self-awareness, commitment and the importance of education.
“She taught us to choose careers that we love and will commit to so that we don’t wake up to be miserable when going to work.
“Do what your heart desired,”Kgomotso said of a mom she wants to help when the income does come.
“Like most families in Alex, we are affected by the prevailing social and economic challenges but she (mother) ensured I received good education to secure a better future.”
She attended Waverley Girls High and supplemented her matric to later acquire two distinctions in life sciences and tourism. But, she is studying law through Unisa. “I want to be a citizen who protects and upholds the rule of law, help others do similarly and protect those who are voiceless.”
She said many are victims or perpetrators of abuse because they don’t know their rights or are exploited by those who take advantage of their ignorance. “It includes in the workplace where working hours are violated and those who complain are cowed by threats of dismissal.”
She is convinced the career will get her a fair amount of income to help the mother also care for the needs of a sibling, two cousins and a granny. She had to work soon after matric to help alleviate the mother’s load but quit when conditions including worker rights abuse became an opportunity and also the studies demanded more of her concentration.
Kgomotso also believes good family and school environments are critical foundations for preparing children’s future careers and values for a better society in adulthood. “Parental love, care and advice coupled with children’s commitment to learning and schools and teachers instilling discipline are important.
“Not much can be achieved where disciplinary codes are not fairly applied to root out negative conduct and ill-discipline which bring disrepute to a school.”
She said these are challenges facing many township schools where the laissez-faire environment seemingly encourages the meek application of discipline.
Kgomotso added that the laxity was further aggravated by limited resources which result in children fighting for desks and chairs, classes are overcrowded and teachers feel left alone when they can’t give appropriate attention to each child.
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“Their mentality is also affected by fear and uncertainty from their surrounding environment.”
She said this was evident for her during school tutorials where differences in mentality to teaching was apparent between some teachers from townships, and former model C and private schools.
Young as she is, Kgomotso urged the department of education and government in general to redoubled efforts to equalise the disparities, so to say, level the playing field in order to later, harness well-rounded and educated people who will be valuable assets to a transforming developmental state.
Also, she hopes more can be done to society by the legal profession especially on gender-based violence. “Lots of talk on this scourge may soon die down and I fear life will continue as usual with more of the abuse still continuing and reported but without much of visible change.”
This she said in reference to those found guilty of abuse being let to appeal their convictions despite irrefutable evidence of their transgression. “They should not be granted bail and reviews of their cases, shouldn’t be entertained were proper and water-tight evidence led to their prosecution.”
She appealed to lawyers to also be guided by morals and not the desire for money saying it will help society get rid of those committed despicable acts and abused others’ rights to dignity, safety and equality.
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