When Mongezi Prince Mbamba walked across the graduation stage at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) on 21 May 2025, it was not just a degree he carried – it was the weight of years of sacrifice, resilience and unyielding faith.

Born into a humble background and raised by a single mother alongside two siblings, Mongezi’s path to becoming a qualified social worker was anything but straightforward. After matriculating in 2016, with dreams in hand but no clear direction, he faced an uncertain future. What followed was an unplanned gap year in 2017 – marked by hardship, determination and the first steps in a journey that would test and ultimately define him.

“I worked wherever I could to support myself and my family,” Mongezi recalls. He began as a general worker on the Curro Vanderbijlpark construction site and later found employment at West Pack Lifestyle. In 2020, fate took an unexpected turn when he became part of the team constructing the A1 Administration Building at the NWU – the very institution that would soon become his academic home.

Despite repeated rejections from universities, Mongezi never gave up. He leaned on faith and perseverance, applying year after year. In 2021, at the age of 22, his long-held dream finally materialised: he was accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work programme at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU.

University life brought its own set of challenges. As the oldest child and family breadwinner, Mongezi had no financial safety net. He worked tirelessly to make ends meet – washing cars, sneakers and carpets for fellow students, and taking retail jobs during the holidays, including at the One by One Supermarket in Vanderbijlpark. With little money for textbooks, he relied heavily on the university library and the generosity of others.

“I could not afford to go home during holidays,” he says. “I stayed in student accommodation with the help of my landlord and found ways to survive.”

Through every hurdle, he remained steadfast. “This degree tested me in every way – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. But that pressure became my fuel,” Mongezi says. His efforts were not limited to the classroom. He threw himself into late-night study sessions, group projects, academic competitions and spiritual growth.

In his second year, he joined a faith-based student fellowship. “We were brothers in Christ, supporting one another in our studies, our lives and our purpose,” he shares. That support, he believes, was instrumental not only in his graduation, but in shaping the man he has become.

Mongezi credits much of his success to key mentors along the way. “Jason Beukes and Naledi Lehutso were like parents to me,” he says. “They provided everything, from study materials to clothes for practicals. Their kindness opened doors I did not know existed.”

As part of his qualification, Mongezi completed three major practical placements that brought theory to life:

· Polokong Children’s Village – Focusing on children and youth services before its closure.

· Emthonjeni Satellite One Centre – Hands-on group work practice.

· Department of Social Development, Sebokeng – Where he excelled in case and community work, earning second prize for a community project at a student social work conference.

“These experiences gave me real insight into what social work truly is. They deepened my passion and prepared me to serve with confidence and integrity.”

Now a qualified social worker, Mongezi is actively seeking employment or internship opportunities. He brings with him not only a solid academic foundation and practical experience, but a mission: to uplift the vulnerable, speak for the voiceless, and offer hope to those often forgotten. Quoting the scripture that carried him through, he reflects:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

His message to others? “To anyone still trying, still hoping, still fighting – do not give up. Your journey may take longer. It may look different. But if it is meant for you, nothing can stop it. Trust God. Trust yourself. And never stop dreaming.”

Mongezi Prince Mbamba and his family.