While working as a domestic worker and later as a cashier, Nandipha Milisi would make sure she carried her matric certificate everywhere in case an opportunity to get a university qualification or a better job would come by.
That belief came through when she met a guardian angel, Dr Pumla Gqakamba-Mjikeliso, who financially supported her and her family while she completed a bachelor of education (foundation phase) degree.
“I grew up poor. My mother was a domestic worker and when I completed my matric, going to university was not an option. I needed to support my family, especially my disabled sister," she said. "We were raised by our grandmother but she passed away and our mother had to come back home.”
The 35-year-old got her first job as a domestic worker in 2011 in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. “I worked there for two years before I got a job as a cashier,” she said.
For seven years, she worked in King William's Town and ended up in East London where she got acquainted with the University of Fort Hare.
“I used to deliver coffee and breakfast in the morning every day at all the faculties in the university. I knew I wanted to study there and I would tell the faculty members that," said Milisi.
Milisi would show them her matric certificate and ask them if she qualified to apply for an education degree; they said she did. “I knew I could get [funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme] NSFAS but the problem was, what would my family eat? That was my biggest problem,” she said.
The mother of one said she eventually met Gqakamba-Mjikeliso in 2015 while out to buy her family groceries. Gqakamba-Mjikeliso gave her a lift while she was in her work uniform. “She asked me why I don't go to university and I told her that I do not have money. To my surprise, she offered to pay for my university fees, food and accommodation even though she did not even know me,” said Milisi.
She successfully got NSFAS funding but was also financially supported by Gqakamba-Mjikeliso.
“ ... Even now, while settling into my new job she has been helping me and financially supporting me,” said Milisi.
Unfortunately, Milisi's mother died in December and was unable to see her graduate last month.
“My mother died before I could graduate but she saw that I was almost done and she was very excited. She wanted me to build her a house and I'm still going to do that and make sure my sister is comfortable,” she said.
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