It’s always a struggle to get likes on social media, but not for Linda Maponyane, whose Facebook post garnered much attention as she shared her transition story: From domestic worker to tea girl to Unisa graduate. She graduated on 7 March 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. "I never on a single day pictured this day as perfectly as it turned out; I did, however, refuse to give up," shared the inspirational and quintessential graduate, who inspired thousands of people with the story on her timeline.
Maponyane listed the challenges she faced throughout her academic journey. "It was never easy; at one stage I took a break because I had to build a house for my mom. And then I was kidnapped, robbed, raped and left bleeding for hours leading to a subsequent depression. I took breaks from my books and slowly slipped into a dark world. But God was always there; He pulled me out of a deep miry clay and now I walk with joy," she wrote.
Her story reflects the two of Unisa’s 11 Cs+1, which is the courage she exudes as a student and the caring nature of this massive open-distance university. And that proves the difference Unisa is making in the higher education sector and the country at large.
Maponyane could not contain her excitement like the many other graduates on social media who share each and every single moment of their big day from the graduation attire, make-up, shoes and the moment they are conferred on stage.
Maponyane is an author as well as an ordained Christian pastor. Her book, Shadows of my scars, won a prestigious award for building and inspiring the community under the social category. She is also a founder of a ministry called My Womanhood—My Worth. The purpose of her ministry is to restore womanhood. Also, she is a pioneer of I need a pair. "We collect brand new school shoes for kids in need and distribute them to unprivileged students. We distributed over a thousand pairs across the country."
I was raised in different places, seven households to be precise, and that includes Soweto, Moletjie, Benoni and Seshego. So many people were involved in bringing me up, but my grandmother is my number one crush, as she displayed the attributes of a strong superwoman who was a single parent. I also give credit to my great-grandmother, whom I dearly miss for all her impact in my spiritual life, and my mother whom I watched fight to give me a better life. Education in my family was a foreign thing. All my grannies could read and write, but unfortunately they sadly didn’t get far, hence that wired me to win, no matter how hard it was!
Working as a domestic worker was a choice I made because of unemployment reasons. In 2003, I came to Jozi to look for a job and my mother’s former boss gave me an opportunity to work at her house. That’s how I found myself continuing with the baton of domestic work in my family.
My academic journey with Unisa was challenging because studying at this university needs self-discipline and focus. Because of financial constraints at home, and being the breadwinner, my situation was more unbearable but I pushed.
I wrote a book because I have survived rape at gunpoint and a near-death experience; from that incident I found myself inking the occurrences to help other women heal from what proved to be a life-threatening storm for me. I did it for me and others; writing is therapeutic. Things will happen in your life but they are not necessarily about you. I want an African child to know that no circumstances is powerful enough to arrest you in your past.
Unisa is not only the largest university in Africa, but it produces the highest number of graduates in the country. For the 2019 autumn graduations, the number of qualifications is more than 30 000, which makes the institution an epicentre of knowledge production.
Provisionally included in this figure are 109 doctorates, 190 master’s degrees and 1 278 honours degrees. Graduates with both three and four-year bachelor degrees number 9 566, while there are 16 389 undergraduate diplomas and certificates. Of the colleges, the College of Education has produced the most qualifications at 16 302, while Gauteng Region heads the overall list with 7 023 degrees.
In total, 30 690* students will receive qualifications during Unisa’s current graduations that began on 4 March and will finish on 28 June 2019.
Graduation ceremonies will be held in Pretoria, Mbombela, Polokwane, Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit, East London and Bloemfontein.
*These statistics are still provisional.
It was very hard for me to study through an open distance learning university because life is demanding; if not careful, one can forget to prioritise Unisa, especially because no-one is after you. You become your own pillar. So it’s good to surround yourself with like-minded people who want the best for you. To remind you about the finishing line. I say big ups to Unisa employees such as Miss Motsaidi Zitha, who played a major role in keeping me motivated for the last leg of my F1 concession for my module, "The Explanation of Crime". And my friend, Simphiwe Leshabane, another Unisa alumnus, who is my cheerleader.
Your destiny shines brighter than your rusted past!
* By Lesego Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement
Publish date: 2019-03-28 00:00:00.0