A young man named Mr Sizwe Mkwanazi from Platrand has proven that it does not matter where you come from, but where you are going.
He is an assistant lecturer in the faculty of management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and was named a Rhodes Scholar-elect.
It means he is now waiting for a response from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom to confirm the scholarship.
While growing up in Platrand he never really thought of what he wanted to be when he grew up.
“I did not know what I wanted to be because there was no time to think about that, so I thought wherever there is a job I will go,” Mr Mkwanazi said.
He described his upbringing as very nice, saying his family made a decisions to make the best of a bad situation.
“I am not from a wealthy family and my grandparents worked on the farm we lived in, because for you to stay there you had to work there,” he said.
His grandparents, who are now pensioners, still live on the farm he grew up in.
Mr Mkwanazi’s academic career began at Qalakahle Primary School in Platrand.
“This was the best primary school ever, the teachers were passionate.
“They went an extra mile, teaching us life skills and to be responsible people.”
He proceeded to do his secondary education at Nqodulwazi Secondary School and completed his secondary education at Gert Sibande Tvet College Standerton Campus.
Mr Mkwanazi successfully completed his National Certificate (Vocational) in Office Administration and enrolled at UJ in 2011.
He did a National Diploma in Small Business Management and also did a Bachelor of Technology Degree (BTech) in Management Services.
Read the complete article in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser.
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