ASE prepares to host traffic light Zulu teacher

While the man popularly known as the traffic light Zulu teacher Moses Velaphi (also referred to as Veli Moses Mackenzie) recovers at a rehabilitation centre in Westdene, the Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE) is preparing for his enrolment.

After awarding Velaphi (25) a bursary to complete his higher certificate, ASE marketing manager and lecturer George Hattingh said the academy will sponsor his diploma once the certificate has been completed, on condition that he applies himself.

Although Velaphi did not matriculate, his age qualified him for an age-exemption that will allow him to study toward a higher certificate, and subsequently, a diploma.

Given his current living and financial situation, the academy, alongside Jacaranda FM’s The Complimentary Breakfast team, helped garner accommodation and grocery sponsorship to afford Velaphi a normal schooling career.

“As far as I know, [he was sponsored with] R10 000 worth of food vouchers, someone else sponsored accommodation for however long he wants to stay there and various other people have said they want to sponsor money – so living expenses, basically,” said Hattingh.

Hatting said the institution’s distinct supportive facilities will not leave room for Velaphi to be ostracised because of his circumstances.

“He has nothing, he doesn’t own anything and normally if you enrol in an institution you need stuff like computers, but it is not the case with us. We are a 24-hour-a-day institution. We never ever close our doors, so we have staff who work through the night every single night to facilitate all the facilities for our students… Whatever it is that he needs to do for college, it is available here. We don’t need him to have anything.”

Velaphi’s is a unique case for ASE, but Hattingh maintained the school’s education system is designed in a way that they provide mentorship to the students (16 students per group) throughout the respective qualifications.

“The mentor is someone who, first and foremost, has this qualification that they are studying toward and, secondly, has life and working experience after that. The majority of them are in their mid- to late 20s and they have about five years industry experience, over and above having studied here. So they can still relate to the students; they are still young but they are mature and confident.”

The groups, according to Hattingh, have a three-hour session with their mentors and because of the intimacy of the group, the mentors can pick up quickly when things go wrong and students stop attending

“With the structures that are in place, there is no reason he shouldn’t excell, but he still needs to come to the party.”