‘’Ulala kanjani ungenayo iDegree’’ – how do you sleep while you don’t have a degree in your possession?

This is the IsiXhosa mantra 37-year-old Sonwabo Mvangwana used to motivate himself throughout the four years he was trying to obtain his BSc degree in geology at the North-West University (NWU).

Hailing from Matatiele, a small town in the Eastern Cape, Sonwabo’s life story has played out like a rags to riches movie.

 At the age of 12, Sonwabo started working as a herd boy and taking care of his family with his monthly salary of R70 He says at times he would work for months on end without getting paid because he had to replace a lost sheep or cow.

After matriculating he worked as a petrol attendant for about a year before getting a job as a security guard.

“I worked as a security guard for 10 years while trying to save money so that I can go back to school,” says Sonwabo.

“I ended up purchasing a Vodacom public telephone shop housed in a modified shipping container. Some of my profits went towards my savings and taking care of my family. Even though I had all these jobs, the dream to become a geologist never left me,” he adds.

Sonwabo will be graduating in July

 “I grew up aroy.und a lot of people who worked at the mines. I always knew I wanted to work at the mines, and took an interest in geology after a miner I knew told me about it.”

In less than a month after completing his studies, Sonwabo has secured an internship at a mining company.

In the next five years he sees himself with an advanced certificate in rock mechanics with the Chamber of Mines and doing his master’s degree in mine planning and design.

 Sonwabo Mvangwana recently obtained his BSc degree in geology from the NWU.