Pretoria mall car guard’s journey to become a university lecturer
“During my time as a car guard, a friend convinced me to apply at UP, I did and they accepted me for an honours degree programme, and continued to work as a car guard while studying during 2019.”
Dr Tshinangi Fabrice Kapya has transformed his reality against all odds, from humble beginnings as a car guard at a north of Pretoria mall to becoming a PhD crowned lecturer at the University of Pretoria.
Kapya’s story is a testament to resilience, determination and the pursuit of dreams.
He said what started as encouragement from friends while working as a car guard at Wonderpark Mall six years ago evolved into an academic journey.
Kapya recently received his PhD in industrial engineering at a UP Spring Graduation ceremony.
“A few years ago, I was working as a car park attendant at Wonderpark Mall. Despite the repetitive nature of my work, I discovered an unexpected source of comfort: books,” he said.
He added that whenever he had a free moment, he devoted it to reading.
“My former colleagues would often catch me reading. They would say with a mix of playfulness and sincerity: ‘Fabrice, you don’t belong here, you should go back to school’.”
He said a thought began to take root in his mind. “Why not go back to school? I asked myself. Why not study part-time? Even though my job at the parking lot barely paid enough to get by.”
His journey was far from easy. The decision to pursue an education while working long hours as a car park attendant brought with it a host of personal struggles.
“Financially, my situation was precarious and every rand I earned was carefully calculated, with most of it going towards basic necessities like rent, food, and transportation. The idea of saving for tuition seemed almost impossible, but I knew education was my way out, so I sacrificed whatever I could. There were days when I had to skip meals to make sure I had enough money saved for my monthly school deposit.”
He said it was a journey of constant emotional battles.
“The exhaustion from working long hours, combined with the demands of my studies, often left me feeling drained and isolated. I had to keep reminding myself why I was doing this, and why I was pushing myself to the limit.”
He added there were times when doubt crept in.
“I questioned whether I had the strength to continue. The path ahead was steep, and the weight of my responsibilities felt overwhelming. There were moments when I felt like I was at war with my own mind, battling not just with fatigue but with deep-seated doubts and fears.”
He received his first degree in chemical engineering.
“During my time as a car guard, a friend convinced me to apply at UP, I did and they accepted me for an honours degree programme, and continued to work as a car guard while studying during 2019.”
In 2021 he was accepted into a UP Master’s programme and was offered a position as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
“Before I even walked [onto] the stage for my Master’s degree graduation, I already enrolled for my PhD.”
He recalls that the foundations for his Master’s and PhD research were laid during his time spent guarding cars.
“It started with just a simple observation in a parking lot and has grown into a passion for using mathematics to improve the efficiency of flexible production systems. There is beauty in observing how systems and processes work,” he said.
While working at Wonderpark, he observed trucks from logistics companies delivering a wide range of products.
“These trucks usually followed strict schedules, ensuring goods reached their destinations on time. However, when Covid-19 struck, I noticed a significant shift in consumer behaviour and the way certain products were being consumed. This shift got me thinking about the processes involved in the production of certain goods.”
Kapya’s research focused on developing mathematical models for managing production systems for perishable goods.
His models addressed challenges such as changing production rates, demand influenced by stock, price and product freshness, and the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities on demand and product quality.
“What I love most about my research is the creative freedom it offers to create complex models, solve unsolved problems or just look for beautiful mathematical relations about systems,” Kapya said.
Despite everything he had already attained against great odds, the path to his PhD was fraught with further challenges.
He faced the typical highs and lows of a doctoral journey but persisted, driven by a profound belief in the importance of his research, and with the support of his PhD supervisors, Professors Femi Adetunji and Sarma Yadavalli.
Reflecting on his journey, he hopes others will find inspiration and encouragement in his story, especially during his first few years juggling studying while working as a car guard.
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