COMING from a poor background did not stop Matimba Mabonda from following his dreams.
Matimba, 18, from Grasmere, south of Johannesburg achieved six distinctions in Xitsonga, engineering graphics, mathematics, physical science, civil technology and life orientation for his matric.
On Friday, he was rewarded for his hard work when ArcelorMittal granted him a R400,000 bursary to study chemical engineering at the University of Cape Town.
Matimba, who was a pupil at Altmont Technical High School in Protea South, Soweto, said: "It has been a long and trying year but I never stopped working hard. I used walk seven kilometres from Midday train station to school. On weekends I would go to school to study with my friends.
"I am over the moon and my dream has not yet come true because I still want to achieve more," Matimba said.
His father, Ben Mabonda said: "He made me proud but I was frustrated because I did not know how I was going to send him to university because me and my wife are unemployed.
"Early last year he told me that he wanted to study in Durban or Cape Town.
"I asked him where he is going to get the money and he said I must not stress as he will work hard to get a bursary."
General manager for Human Resource at ArcelorMittal South Africa Themba Nkosi said: "Matimba is the kind of person ArcelorMittal would like to have in its employ. A person who challenges daily hurdles to achieve greatness."
Matimba's bursary is one of 35 the company will be offering this year.
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