Boingotlo Motswagole had to plait people’s hair at a cost of R150 and rely on a small stipend from her sister to buy toiletries as she had no funding for the first three years of her studies.
The 25-year-old from Dithakong in Kuruman, Northern Cape, is one of two students from the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) whose financial struggles with studies have sparked a crowdfunding initiative to settle historical debt.
Motswagole and Jeffrey Mosese's plight led the university's student representative council (SRC) to start the crowdfunding initiative last month.
Motswagole, a final year bachelor of education student, owes the university R205,880,19 in tuition fees. She said she hopes the initiative will assist her to settle her debt with the university so that she can be able to graduate next year.
She was not funded for three years of her studies because her application for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was rejected due to missing documentation. Motswagole received NSFAS funding for her final year but the scheme has not settled her outstanding debt in full.
“I am happy that the SRC is helping me so that I can graduate. They went out of their way to make people aware of my situation and demonstrated a lot of effort to assist me. This is a great pleasure,” said Motswagole.
Despite not having funding she was able to register and get textbooks from the local book store through assistance from the SRC.
As she lives in a campus residence, she receives three meals a day from the university.
Her challenge during her first three years of study was to find money to buy toiletries.
“My sister would send me money once every two months so that I can buy toiletries. And since I am good at styling people’s hair, I would style artificial dreadlocks for people and make R450 a week. I would use this money to buy toiletries for myself and clothes on sale.”
Motswagole said after completing her degree she wants to become a teacher.
“I want to impact people’s lives and teach better. Some pupils at schools are discouraged in the way teachers teach. Some teachers take out their personal frustrations on the pupils and it is wrong. I want to give learners an opportunity to learn and participate in a good learning environment,” she said.
“I also want to change the living conditions at home. None of my older siblings are working. I want to be a breadwinner so that I can take care of them and build a house for them.”
Mosese, 19, who is also a beneficiary of the fundraising campaign, said: “This initiative came in handy. It will help me with being able to register for next year so that I can continue with my studies.”
Mosese owes the university R91,306,39 in unpaid fees.
*To donate to the campaign visit the website feenix.org/campaign/81
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