SISTERS GRADUATE TOGETHER AGAINST ALL ODD AT WSU

 As proud families filled the graduation venue at Walter Sisulu University’s Komani Campus, two sisters took to the stage hand in hand graduating their Bachelor of Education degrees in Economic and Management Sciences (BEd EMS).

Thabisile,38, and Bongekile, 28, Luvalo come from a Tholeni village in Mount Frere, where resources and opportunities were limited. Despite the challenges, they have always dreamed of making a difference in their community

Thabisile, graduating with an incredible 25 distinctions, stands as a beacon of what determination and hard work can achieve, despite facing one of life’s most painful challenges while she was still studying, the death of her husband.

“My husband died a year after I enrolled, and that was a difficulty because he left me with two children, which made it very hard. I don’t want to lie, if it wasn’t for the support from my classmates and WSU staff, I would not be here,” she said.

Despite being grief-stricken and heartbroken, she found the resilience to press on, thanks to the unwavering support of her younger sister, Bongekile, 28.

“My sister has always been my pillar. We helped each other with almost everything. We became almost all, she is my younger sister, my best friend, and I am a mother to her,” she said.

The two siblings/sisters studied together, supported each other, and held one another through difficult times. Bongekile became a source of courage when things felt too heavy.
“I am so happy and emotional, having my sister is a blessing. She helped me a lot, especially financially with my studies. I hope nothing but the best for us in the future,” she said.

Their journey is a reminder that behind every graduate is a story, and sometimes, that story is about the quiet power of family love.

These two sisters have shown that when walking together, anyone can rise, no matter what life brings.

By: Yolanda Palezweni