E C man conquers adversity
FROM growing up in a small poverty-stricken village in Centane where he attended his primary school in a mud structure to being at the helm of one of South Africa’s most prestigious universities, Lwando Nkamisa has proven that a poor background does not have to hold you back.
Nkamisa, 25, a masters student in agricultural economics, was recently named the chairman of the student representative council (SRC) at Stellenbosch University.
Born to a 17-year-old unemployed mother, he began his education at a mud school in Nontshinga village. High school was at Uviwe Senior Secondary School in Scenery Park, East London where he matriculated.
He then enrolled at the University of Fort Hare where he completed his undergraduate studies in agriculture economics before moving to Stellenbosch in 2016.
Nkamisa has been actively involved in student structures and served the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (Daso) Stellenbosch chairman for 2016-2017.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Nkamisa said having grown up in a poor, but tightly-knit community, taught him to persevere and to make the most of whatever opportunities came his way.
“I used to walk barefoot to my school in the village and in high school we did not have enough textbooks and we had to share books, sometimes among 10 learners.
Nkamisa said he was the first person in his family to go to university and also the first student leader at the university from a quintile 1 school.
He has big plans for the university. “When people think of Stellenbosch they think of this Afrikaans, racist university. I want to change that and improve the image of this university. I am not saying there aren’t problems, there is indeed a division between white and black students and my plan is to bridge that gap.”
Stellenbosch rector and vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers said Nkamisa was well-placed for his role.