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Unisa's impact behind bars and beyond

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From as early as primary school age, Sthembiso Ndlovu, an actor, comedian and author, exhibited early signs of the prodigious artist and entertainer he was to become, and he knew that he wanted to be a star one day.

He grew up in Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal, where he completed his primary school education at Umqatsheni Primary School before his family relocated to Pietermaritzburg, where he attended Shayabantu High School.

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Sthembiso Ndlovu with a copy of his book

"Since primary school," says Ndlovu, "I had always been involved in the entertainment activities, and I remember how I started getting leading roles in the school plays and the school choir. It is interesting how the signs of a person’s destiny can manifest spontaneously at a very young age."

Asked how he ended up in the world of comedy, Ndlovu says that he noticed that whenever he was acting in school plays, the learners and educators would laugh uncontrollably at his character roles. That led to his moment of self-discovery, and he started doing comedy.

"My comedy career was going very well – in 2015, I was nominated in the best gospel comedy category at the Crown Gospel Awards," he remarks. "By that time, I had already started sharing the stage with big names in the comedy industry."

Ndlovu completed a Diploma in Marketing Management at the University of South Africa while he was in prison at the Durban Westville Correctional Centre. "I chose Unisa because the university provides distance learning for offenders at correctional centres," he says. "I am grateful for the opportunity Unisa gave me to advance towards my destination, and for supporting my hopes even though I was behind bars. I will always appreciate the role the University of South Africa played in my life because of their partnership with correctional centres and in the rehabilitation process of  inmates; it gives them hope and makes them feel human again."

As Ndlovu emphasises, "The opportunity also encourages the families of inmates to support their sons and daughters even if they have lost hope for them".

Ndlovu started and completed his qualification while he was in prison, but he was released before his graduation date and could graduate at the Durban Exhibition Centre in October 2024.

Sharing his challenges and triumphs as an inmate who maintained his determination to study, he notes: "Studying in prison has lots of challenges; you do not always have access to the internet and prison life has its routines that you need to adhere to, making it difficult to maintain the pace that you need to complete your assignments on time. However, I learnt to go with the flow, but I used the chances we would be given wisely."

He maintains that his dreams were kept alive by continuing to do comedy and hosting events in prison, because he believed that he needed to do what God called him to do in this world, which he says is to make people happy – a calling that could not be limited by a place.

Adding to his successes, in February 2025, he published his first book, titled From prison to palace. "Through the book," he says, "I share the tools and principles that helped me survive and transform my struggles into triumphs. I aim to uplift and motivate my readers."

Ndlovu adds: "I see myself as a living testimony that no matter how difficult the circumstances may be, they will eventually pass. I attribute my survival and success to the grace of God, and my personal slogan is: We rise again."

Ndlovu has been featured in big South African telenovelas, and he is now also a radio personality. Members of his non-profit organisation, the Sthembiso Pro Ndlovu Foundation, visit schools and communities and encourage mostly the youth. "I believe the youth needs a lot of encouragement as early as possible," he concludes. "And my message to Unisa students is, never give up, no matter how difficult it becomes for you to study – someone needs the opportunity you have right now, and they don’t have it."

* By Mxolisi Phakeme Nxumalo, Communication and Marketing Intern, Unisa KZN Region

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Publish date: 2025-06-04 00:00:00.0

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