Actonville Primary School teacher, Ellen Buthelezi, took 13-year-old Simphiwe Mazibuko under her wing after realising his yearning to be educated but at times he could not attend school due to financial struggles.
The youngster’s future looks brighter, with the promise of a good secondary education on the horizon.
“He used to ask teachers for taxi fare to go home after school,” Buthelezi said.
“I always wondered why, until I found out that he lived with his grandmother and struggled financially.”
Mazibuko, who has been living with his Economic Management Science (EMS) teacher since October last year, used to live with his grandmother, Princess Mazibuko, in Vosloorus.
“My mother and brothers used to live in Pretoria, and then we moved to Vosloorus,” Simphiwe said.
“But my grandfather died in June last year and his family told my mother she had to move to Soweto because she is the eldest in the family.
“My brothers, Siyabonga (6) and Bokomoso (1) went to stay with her, but I stayed with my grandmother.”
However, Princess is unemployed so they received a minimal monthly income from Simphiwe’s mother, Nompulelo Mazibuko.
“I knew Simphiwe was intelligent when I taught him Natural Science in Grade Six and I also was his homeroom teacher,” Buthelezi said.
“I did not want him to lose interest in school because of his financial struggles.
“So I called his mother in October to ask if he could live with me, and she agreed.”
At first Simphiwe was afraid of the arrangement to live with his teacher, but now he says the agreement is nothing short of extraordinary.
“There are children who tease me for living with my teacher, but at school she is my teacher, and at home, she is my mother,” Simphiwe said.
Buthelezi also has a daughter, Ayanda Buthelezi (23) who treats Simphiwe like her own blood and together the three have their own little family.
“Simphiwe will always be my son, and I want to be there for him even when he gets married and has children,” Buthelezi said.
“He is respectful, but we do have fights about bedtimes and dishes chores, like normal families.”
Buthelezi was right in noticing and nurturing the talented Simphiwe, as he is currently the head boy of Actonville Primary School, and was awarded an Allan Gray Orbis Scholarship from the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation to complete high school at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg.
“There were 3 000 applicants and only 30 were chosen,” Simphiwe said.
The two may not be blood related, but they consider each other family.
“My extended family adore Simphiwe, and I learn so much from him every day,” Buthelezi said.
But a teacher never stops teaching.
“She always tells me to never make permanent decisions in temporary situations, and I have learnt a lot from her,” Simphiwe said.
“We do shopping and gardening together. She has the same motherly love for me that she has for Ayanda.”
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