Where to begin . . .  I’m not going to tell you the story of my entire life suffice to say it’s one of those sad stories you always read about in books. After living with an alcoholic mother, moving around so much that I had to attend 13 different primary schools and witnessing many things a child shouldn’t witness,  I was placed into foster care with my grandparents. They were the best thing that ever happened to me. They loved me dearly and moulded me into the person that I am today.

With a childhood like mine,  I was able to learn to adapt and catch up in any new school I found myself in. I therefore ended up achieving good marks academically. With such a dysfunctional life, it’s always nice to lose yourself in books and the idea of a fantasy life. The damage however was done and I rebelled as a teenager and ended up pregnant at age 15. I dropped out of school in grade 9 , become a mother at age 16 and become a wife at age 17. Nobody believed that my husband, who is a year older than me, and I would be able to raise a child or make a marriage work at that age, except for my grandparents. Regardless, we had to take responsibility for our actions.

In my close family, no one  has ever graduated high school, so me having dropped out was not uncommon. Adjusting to my life as a mother and wife, we were struggling but kept our heads above water thanks to the help of my grandparents. As a child I dreamt of going to university but having dropped out of school and become pregnant at such a young age, I realised that dream was dead. My grandfather was adamant that I should graduate high school, however, by doing this from home I was not able to choose subjects that would secure me a university exemption.

I worked very hard to study for the matric exams and, to my surprise, went on to pass when I was 18. I started work immediately after. My grandparents were extremely proud of me as I was the first one in the family to achieve this and in addition, to achieve it while raising a baby. I wanted to go as far as I could in life and not let circumstances stand in my way. I wanted to give my son more and be a role model that he could look up to.

At age 20 I lost my grandmother and struggled to get through this trying time. I had another son shortly afterwards and at age 22 I lost my grandfather as well. I had no one left except for my husband and sons. Just after my grandfather passed, I was told I might inherit some money and the first thing I did was research tertiary education options. I was stunned when I read that it was possible for me to apply for a matric exemption as I was 23 at the time. I took a chance and applied.

I will never forget the day I received the letter confirming that my application was granted. I have never felt more alive. To this day the estate has not been sorted and no money has been received but my angels provided and I have been able to pay for every single semester and every single book so far. I have achieved six distinctions out of the 13 subjects I did complete so far and have not failed one subject. It’s not easy but Unisa makes it a possibility where none existed. They provide an affordable, comfortable, do-able solution to the education shortage that we see every day in South Africa.

I think without Unisa a lot of people would not even have the possibility of being able to work for their dreams and show what they are able to accomplish if given a chance.

Thanks Unisa.

Written by Jessica Botha

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor of this story and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of South Africa.

Despite all the positives, the journey hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride. After my first year, I felt like giving up. I seemed to have lost focus, direction and the road to graduation seemed like it was never-ending. During that period, my family welcomed the latest member in the family – my baby sister. It was such a blessing.

However, my life became a juggling act. I had to wake up and go to work while also completing my internship with KPMG. Later on in the day there would be house chores and baby duty. At the same time I had to concentrate on my studies. With work deadlines, university assignment deadlines, new concepts to learn, baby duty and house duty, I felt that I would not be able to make it. There would be days when I would look at my Tax or Accounting book and nothing would make sense. There would be those low moments, where I felt disappointed with myself for not giving my education enough time and I would fall to tears. There would be moments I would ask, ‘am I the only one to going through such a phase?’ Phases of depression, stress, pressure… I would feel like taking a break from everything. But despite my low moments, I knew one thing. I could not give up! If I gave up at that moment, then I would never be able to gather the courage to start again. Besides, life is full of obstacles. If one wants to succeed in life, then we have to take it as a challenge, face it and move on. And that’s how I saw it. I could not let the low moments overshadow my aim of obtaining a degree.

With that in mind, I moved forward and was able to pass my second year. I am now in my third year. It certainly is tougher than my last year. But with continued determination and a clear direction to obtain my degree, I hope that next year I will be holding my certificate – a well deserved certificate because that piece of paper doesn’t just represent the degree you obtained but it reminds an individual that all those sleepless night spent studying, all those tears wasted when you don’t understand a concept, and all the continued effort and determination was worth it! After all, education is a lifetime investment!

Written by Uneiza Rassul

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor of this story and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of South Africa.

When I first began, I was very excited to register with the institution because I knew there would be no stress for me to attend lecturers, write tests every other week, meet project groups or consult with lecturers (one-on-one). All I wanted was to do things at my own time and pace – little did I know I was in for a challenge.

Firstly, I had to go through my study material and read on my own to find out important information. It was a lot to read and I was very close to giving up.

Secondly, I had to look for a study group. This meant searching, scanning and phoning people I didn’t know who were registered for the same course. That meant I had to often be on myUnisa. This proved to be a great tool as it gave me access to a lot of helpful information.

Lastly, the discipline to self-educate/teach. I realised that last-minute studying, where you wait for times close to exams, would no longer work. I had to study almost every day before bedtime (my text books were like novels – by my bedside).

Career opportunities
I’ve been putting off registering with the South African Board of Personnel Practitioners (SABPP) until I get my honours degree. Now that I have, I have registered and am waiting for acceptance. There are a lot of other memberships I can acquire now that I have completed my postgrad studies.

I have  inspired many people, from friends and colleagues, to family, to study with Unisa.

Thank you Unisa – now I can spread my wings, no more limits! Not even the sky…

Written by Sixolile Shabalala

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor of this story and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of South Africa.

Last year was a magnificent year for Dr Elnerine Greeff (Department of Communication Science). Not only did she complete her doctoral degree, but she was the youngest Unisa woman to do so. This made her the recipient of the Youngest Women Doctoral Graduate award for 2012, presented at the gala dinner during this year’s Research and Innovation Week. Greeff says she’s ‘prumbled’ (proud and humbled) to have her research associated with Unisa.

Dr Elnerine Greeff of the Department of Communication Science centred her doctorate on a longitudinal study in the mining and construction industries, looking at their internal safety communication.

All that research paid off as Greeff received the Youngest Women Doctoral Graduate award for 2012 at the Research and Innovation awards gala dinner on 14 March 2013.

Just as they are the most powerful contributors to the economy, the mining and construction industries are notoriously dangerous workplaces, and one cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that they are responsible for the highest employee mortality rate.

By building a model and measuring instrument for the successful communication of safety information, Greeff’s doctorate looked to help solve, or better, a very real problem in this country. “It was important to me that my study be very much interpretivistic in its approach, as our country and these industries hold a unique context. Approaching it from a contextual paradigm, rather than being lead by notions from worlds (far away) made sure that this study was, in my opinion, truly suited,” she explains.

Greeff is humbled by the award and believes that it offers tangible proof of the cliché people often use – ‘Those long hours will pay off’.  She’s also ‘prumbled’ (proud and humbled) – a term Greeff coined herself – to  have her research associated with this magnificent university, more so as it celebrates 140 years of shaping futures and excellence in research and innovation. “Looking back over 140 years, I think we all realise that Unisa, and what it stands for, is simultaneously bigger than any one individual and still only just as strong as the individuals that it is made up of. I am extremely proud to be one of those individuals who make these walls, halls and buildings a living, breathing system with a mission and a vision of greatness,” she enthuses.

Growing up, my family experienced various financial difficulties. My father left us, taking with him, all our food and furniture. I was forced to live via handouts from our neighbours and I spent the nights sleeping on the floor of our home because I had no bed. My mother worked three jobs just so we could make ends meet.

During my matric year I had to live with my grandmother. Despite the tough financial situation and through hard work, I managed to pass. Now, here I am, already on my way to fulfilling my dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant, all thanks to Unisa for accepting my application.

I’m proud of myself and of being a part of this amazing institution during its 140 years celebration. I have already had a taste of what it feels like to be a Chartered Accountant through the likes of companies like Deloitte and KPMG, all because I’m a Unisa student.

Thank you very much Unisa, for helping me get to where I am today.

Written by Brenda Sebothoma

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor of this story and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of South Africa.

Historian Jane Carruthers retires from Unisa

It all began in 1979, when historian Jane Carruthers received her Unisa letter of appointment informing her that she would begin working in the university’s history department in January 1980. Unbeknown to her and to Unisa, that moment would become the beginning of a remarkable journey, and a relationship that would span 32 years, impacting a diverse group of people in various ways.

In the last three decades, Prof Carruthers has seen Unisa transform from a university focused on tutoring and very little research, to one that has become a leading African open distance learning (ODL) university with a strong on emphasis on community engagement, teaching and research.

She has marked thousands of exam scripts and assessed many assignments, and not only has she pioneered the discipline of environmental history in South Africa, she has also become prominent internationally in this field.

As one of South Africa’s first environmental historians, Carruthers has published widely on this topic, but she has also dedicated her time to other fields of research such as the history of science, colonial art, cartography and comparative Australian-South Africa history. She obtained her BA degree in 1966 from the University of Cape Town, where she also obtained her PhD in 1988. Her BA (Hons) and Masters’ degrees were obtained from Unisa in 1975 and 1980 respectively.

Carruthers says while she officially bids farewell to Unisa, her love for history, particularly environmental history, research and writing will not come to an end, as her plans for retirement focus largely on projects relating to these aspects.

“Retirement is a big step in anyone’s life – a readjustment in all kinds of ways – although perhaps for an academic obsessed with research and writing who can continue to do both, it is less of a severance from work and fulfilment than it is for many other professions,” she comments.

Research at Unisa

Being one of the highest rated NRF researchers at Unisa (B1), Carruthers speaks on Unisa’s path going forward regarding research. She says during her years as an undergraduate at UCT, she learnt that “an institution is not a university unless teaching and research are an equal partnership, that creative thought and liberal views against racism and other forms of inequality are hallmarks of life, and that the intellectual community is a global one”.

“I am… extremely pleased that government and the NRF have made it imperative that academic measurement – even at Unisa – is predicated upon measuring and rewarding research that reaches beyond the local. While student curricula at an institution like Unisa are necessarily constrained by resources, technology, and onerous administrative processes, individual and committed research and writing is how scholars take flight.”

Technology and the future of History

Carruthers says in recent years student numbers for history have declined everywhere and historical studies has been reconfigured. “It has become truly multi-disciplinary and, I think, this has expanded our understanding and resulted in stimulating new books and journal articles. One of the exciting projects that I have been involved in was as a commissioning editor of the Dictionary of Transnational History that has provided a benchmark for a fresh direction to the discipline internationally.”

Historians, says Carruthers, have been obliged to think more broadly and to consider innovative sources, new intellectual connections and forms of evidence. “I would also say that collaborative work is a hallmark of present historiography and that this will increase in the future. Lone historians in ivory towers are likely to become fewer. Multi-disciplinary and collaborative history makes possible thematic research agendas that span centuries and regions – a history of terrorism for example – of war and violence, of climate, of resource extraction that has gained us understanding, perspective and context.”

The internet has played a big part in modern historical knowledge and research – not only Google and Wikipedia but online journals and library catalogues, Google scholar, and citation indexes, says Carruthers. Other technology, she continues, like email, sms, Skype conversations with remote colleagues, endnote and similar programs, data management, document scanning and so forth will, I am sure, improve in the years to come and continue to transform both teaching and research.

“I would hope that historians in South Africa find a higher public profile in forthcoming years by reaching out to new audiences instead of bemoaning the loss of our traditional ones. There are only a few really good historians who work on policy issues, write for newspapers and appear on television or assist with historical movie series. We should be doing more. I decry historians who engage with the public either in terms of simplistic platitudes such as ‘heritage and the past are important’ but don’t expand on this, or by way of complex jargon unintelligible to a layman.

“We need to move on because both those approaches close conversations rather than open them. Moreover, because I have been exposed to many natural scientists and their work in my own recent projects, I have become aware of how little even eminent professional, well educated non-historians – scientists, bureaucrats, businessmen, sociologists and journalists – know about history as a discipline. Many, many people use history so we should be advocating good history, writing it, articulating it and positioning it as more than a random chronology or idiosyncratic selection from the past. We need more arguments, hypotheses and emphasise – and explain clearly – the importance of critically evaluating evidence. We professionals know all this but I am not sure that we convey it adequately and make others aware of the exciting, relevant discipline that it is,” concluded Carruthers.

*Written by Rivonia Naidu-Hoffmeester

Lab assistant at Jeppe High School for Boys, 70-year-old Thaga Martin Ledwaba obtained a National Professional Diploma in Education from Unisa in 2011. Here he is interacting with pupils from the school: Shane Robbins, Kyle Wesseman, Bradley Wheelin, Cameron Wright, Daniel Rodgers, and Graciano Pienaar.

“Destroy education and mankind is destroyed,” are the wise words of 70-year-old Thaga Martin Ledwaba, who in 2011 earned a National Professional Diploma in Education from Unisa.

At Thaga’s age, most people are settling into the rhythm and comfort of retirement, but for the science laboratory assistant at Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg, there is no stopping.

Having grown up in Mashashane near Polokwane, and leaving school after standard eight, Thaga started his matric studies in 1975 with the help of Winnie Hofmeyr, a teacher at Jeppe. He completed his matric in 1988, which allowed him to enrol for his diploma at Unisa. After many late-night study sessions, achieving his diploma finally became a reality. “I wanted to teach, and to fulfil my father’s ambition for me, and also that of a priest at the mission school I attended. Some of the students as well as some of the teachers here at Jeppe also mentioned to me that I should become a teacher.”

Speaking on the power of education, Thaga said it is the greatest engine for career purposes. “Through education, the son of a peasant can become the headmaster of a big school, the son of a farmer can become the manager of a big company, and the daughter of a domestic worker can become a matron at a big hospital. Socrates said that opportunities don’t just come; they must be created. He also said that knowledge is the highest achievement of man and that reasoning is man’s highest function; therefore man must live according to reasoning.”

His family, both at home and at Jeppe, have constantly encouraged him to keep going and this is exactly what he intends doing. “One of my sisters also studied by correspondence, matriculated, and became a nursing sister. She is now retired, and when I leave Jeppe, we will work together on our grandfather’s farm. She is looking after it and buying the equipment we will need. There is a natural spring on the property, good clay and other soils that are good for farming and people are exploiting it now. But we want to study further and farm it together. We will also open doors to those who want to study with us as we aim to build a farm school.”

Thaga also hopes to assist people at home in the rural areas of Mashashane. “They need scientific understanding. I plan to continue studying as well as I am still thirsty for knowledge… To live from hand to mouth is not rewarding. People must go beyond the barriers.”

While Thaga is employed at Jeppe as a laboratory assistant, he is also responsible for opening and closing the school doors and preparing the building for major functions. As the school’s longest serving staff member, his drive, ambition and thirst for knowledge have inspired many at Jeppe, from the principal, Anton Dempsey, to pupils of all ages. The school’s front stairs are now called the Ledwaba Stairs, and pupils have painted a portrait of him that hangs alongside portraits of other important Jeppe figures.

Having recently received the Alexander Forbes Lifelong Learnership Award, Thaga says he is motivated daily by new technology, the messages of ancient philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the inspiration of his late father and early teachers at the mission schools, and the encouragement of the science masters at Jeppe.

His advice to Unisa students both young and old: “Living from hand to mouth is not enough. Mount a hunting expedition for knowledge, and drink from its sparkling fountain. Don’t be distracted; focus on one goal at a time. Use all the resources and materials that are at Unisa and don’t let perceived barriers hold you up.”

*Source: Inspired Vol 8, No 1; June 2012

Social Work student Brenda Klopper, who has cerebral palsy, is undergoing treatment and hopes to fulfil her dream of putting on her graduation gown and walking across the stage to receive her Unisa degree in three years’ time.

Ask any child about their dreams and aspirations and many will point to the stars. Some will want to be the president, others doctors, lawyers or artists. But 29-year-old Unisa student Brenda Klopper wants to achieve something most people take for granted every day – walk on her own two feet.

Brenda is currently pursuing her degree in social work through Unisa and is employed by Anglo Platinum. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) because of an injury at birth and has spent most of her life in a wheelchair. CP is a medical condition caused by brain damage and characterised by nerve and muscle dysfunction.

However, her condition has not dampened her strong will and indomitable spirit. For Brenda, having a disability doesn’t make her less capable. “I think prejudice is at the root of many problems we face today. Disability is not a burden or a curse but a blessing and an opportunity for growth; it gives you a way of seeing life through different eyes. Everyone is disabled in some way; some of us just have visible flaws.”

Understanding prejudice more than most, Brenda says, “Mostly people are broken on the inside, and we are so busy hurting and hating each other that we can’t see the pain. It is up to you and me to treat each other with the respect and dignity we deserve. The outside inevitably fades but the inside eternally stays, so can’t we just treat each other with grace?”

It is this very attitude that has inspired Brenda to spur on others with disabilities. She has spearheaded a fund designated specifically for disabled scholars through the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation (GRCF). Brenda previously served on the GRCF Youth Bank, where she identified community development projects and approached donors for funding.

Helping fellow students through the Brenda Klopper Scholarship for the Disabled holds a special place in her heart. “I wanted to join the donor family because I want to help people. I am where I am today because of God’s grace and the mercy and support of family, friends, and bursaries. I wanted to pay it forward, and, in a small way, give others the chance that has been granted to me.” The GRCF has also committed to a matching grant towards the fund, an act of support that Brenda praises.

Brenda is philosophical about why donors should contribute towards the fund, as she believes helping a disabled scholar can be the key to helping them obtain freedom. “I would like prospective donors to know that this is a gift of freedom not only in mind and soul, but, for a disabled person, in body as well. I believe education gives people living with disabilities a sense of purpose and independence that they may not have had.”

And it’s Unisa that has given her that very same sense of freedom as she works towards her degree. For Brenda, her willingness to help people grow and develop through her career choice was motivated by her own condition. Unisa’s open distance learning (ODL) model has helped greatly in that regard. “Unisa has afforded me the opportunity to learn without limits. Working and studying is, at times, a challenge but that is why distance learning emphasises the importance of a support system of friends and family.”

Her career path and choice of study is one that is very close to her heart. “Social work at its roots is about empowerment and helping people to grow and develop. I suppose my disability has contributed to my career choice as it is my dream to help inspire and motivate people in any way I can.”

Brenda believes that the grace of God, a never-say-die attitude, and humility, even in the face of daunting challenges, have been key factors in her success. She says other disabled students should always remember that the tests of life are there to be overcome. “You always have a choice, no matter what. It is true that your disability may limit you in some ways; however, there are ways to overcome these challenges, and the choice to never give up, no matter what, always remains yours to make.”

Adrian O’Sullivan

Not many people receive a doctorate just six days before their seventy-second birthday!

When I opted for early retirement from my job as a technical-college communications instructor in 1997 and needed a simple job to supplement my modest pension, I returned to my earlier occupation as a long-distance bus driver. Finding that too stressful and physically demanding at my age, I spent the next few years delivering showroom cars to dealers.

Of course, such work meant long hours behind the wheel, with plenty of time to reflect upon how I might better utilise my remaining years of activity. Frequently I found myself entertaining the idea of a return to academic life, and to the doctoral studies that I had abandoned many decades earlier as a much younger man.

So, about eight years ago, I enrolled in the seniors’ programme at Simon Fraser University, which quickly led to full-time doctoral studies in History. However, finding it impossible to obtain adequate funding for my work, generally because of blatant, widespread age-discrimination against senior students, I could no longer afford Canadian university fees.

Fortunately, around this time I discovered Unisa and its DLitt et Phil research-degree programmes. The transfer from SFU was straightforward, the fees approx one-third of those I was paying in Canada, and (as I soon discovered) the supervision absolutely first-rate. I was free to pursue my doctoral research in Britain, Germany, and the United States, without any residence requirement or other restrictions. And, when I finally submitted my thesis four years later, after enjoying tremendous constructive support from my Unisa supervisors, my appointed examiners all proved to be top-notch leading scholars, whose opinions I totally respected.

Now, as a brand-new DLitt et Phil, I face the pleasant prospect of spending my remaining years creatively, not driving buses or delivering cars, but researching and writing readable history books for present and future generations, and finally seeing my name in print. Thank you Unisa for changing my life … at age 72!

Written by Adrian O’Sullivan

*Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor of this story and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of South Africa.

As Unisa celebrates 140 years of excellence, there is no time like the present to hear the voices of alumni and students whose lives have been impacted on and careers shaped through this mega-university. On this edition, we feature Dr Claudelle von Eck, President of the Unisa Convocation and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors of South Africa.

Despite not being an auditor by profession, Dr Claudelle von Eck is making an immense contribution to this discipline and the wellbeing of South Africa as CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors of South Africa (IIASA). Unisa has played a vital role in her success as von Eck received her Master of Business leadership degree through the School of Business Leadership where she was also requested to serve on the alumni committee. Her vested interest in protecting her qualification culminated in her appointment as President of the Unisa Convocation in 2011. As a previous member of the Unisa Council, she also knew that her contribution was reaching a broader level.

Extremely proud of her alma mater, she says, “So many South Africans have been able to study through Unisa and make a valuable contribution to our country, so I think it’s fantastic that Unisa has been able to stay in power, in the sphere that it is in for such a long time.”