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What's age got to do with it?!

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Meet Unisa’s first-year senior student in Animal Health, Adiame Jonas Kibala. A young 68, he is originally from the DRC but currently residing in Benoni. He first came to South Africa in 1993.

He had started with his Diploma in Veterinary Medicine before coming to this country, but war intervened. The loss of two of his children in two days caused him great trauma and he dropped his studies.

Adiame Kibala at the Unisa Science Campus lab facilities

Why study when you’re older?

The main reason Kibala wants to study at his age is because he says studying is good for the brain and that education is very important. He is currently unemployed, but he is determined to complete his qualification.

His first job in South Africa was at a dairy farm in Marble Hall but the farm was later sold. He also worked at Elandsdrift at a large chicken farm for about three years, and later at the Crystal Park Veterinary Hospital in Benoni.

He wants to bring all his work experience to study towards his qualification in a field that he is passionate about.

Lize-Marie Taljaard (1st-year student, Animal Health), Dr David Mashego (Lecturer, Animal Health) and Adiame Kibala

*Interview by Poppie Khoza

*Written by Gugulethu Ngcobo

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Publish date: 2018-10-26 00:00:00.0

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