Couple overcomes challenges to graduate
The month of May will always hold great significance for Tsakani Sithole and his wife, Dangisani Baloyi
LIMPOPO –Â They both graduated from the University of Venda (Univen).
Tsakani, who worked as a security guard, resigned to enroll at Univen at the age of 33.
He studied journalism after school, but was forced to drop out in his second year due to financial constraints after the loss of his father.
“I dropped out of university and started looking for a job, but due to the high unemployment rate, I was left jobless for several years.
I managed to get enough money to complete a six-week course and obtain a security certificate after which I found employment as a security guard.
While working as a security guard, he heard an inspiring message at church which rekindled his passion for journalism. He found out about bursary opportunities and was awarded a bursary to study education at Univen.
He met Dangisani during his first year at Univen at a church event and their relationship soon blossomed. They got married in December of the same year.
Dangisani has had her fair share of challenges over the years.
When she was two and a half years old, she was badly burnt after the hut she was sleeping in caught fire. Though she has no memory of the traumatic incident, she spent three months in hospital to recover from her injuries.
After she and Tsakani married, he convinced her to further her studies and she was awarded a bursary from the Department of Social Development.
“My mother passed away during my third year at Univen, a week after the funeral, I found out I was pregnant. I thank my husband for his support through this time and for helping me overcome my obstacles.
“Knowing I have such strong support eases the pain of my loss. Graduating with my husband gives me great hope for the future.”
