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Friends beat the odds by achieving second degrees together

21 April 2022 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo Supplied

Their friendship began in high school, where they were constantly told by teachers that they would not make it to university, but these best friends never gave up. On Thursday 21 April 2022, they received their honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences together during the afternoon ceremony of the University of the Free State’s April Graduations.

Lerato Mbongo and Opheleleyo Qwabe, who have been friends since Grade 9, said being picked on in class for not being the brightest learners brought them together and motivated them to work harder.Mbongo obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture Honours majoring in Wildlife Management, and Qwabe received a Bachelor of Agriculture Honours majoring in Agricultural Economics.

“We’ve always dreamed big, but if you had told us back then that we would one day be two-time graduates, we wouldn’t have believed it. During one of our Maths lessons back in Grade 9, our teacher went around asking the ‘smarter’ kids what they wanted to study after matric, but when he got to us, he said there was no point in asking because we wouldn’t make it that far anyway,” Qwabe said.

The friends, who both started at the university’s South Campus, said they were grateful for the UFS Preparation Programme, as it boosted both their marks and their confidence. “The programme helped us to believe in ourselves again, and also played a big role in helping us discover what we wanted to study. The courses we enrolled in really unlocked an unstoppable passion in us and helped us realise that nothing is impossible. Today, here we are celebrating 10 years of friendship, and our honours degrees. We’ve conquered once again, and we're sharing our victories together,” Mbongo said.

News Archive

Right to Learn cyclists still solid on the pedals

2017-11-29

Asive Dlanjwa, Bloemfontein Campus SRC President, on the
morning of their departure from Bloemfontein.
Photo: Nhlanhla Modzanane

It is a new day and the Right to Learn cycling team continues to make its way to Cape Town.The team arrived at their first stop in Luckhoff on day one, after cycling for 182 kilometres in five hours and five minutes. They left Luckhoff at 05:00 in the morning on day two, heading towards Britstown via De Aar and arrived at midday. On day three, the team will rest in Britstown and will continue cycling on day four, 30 November 2017, to Victoria West for 133 kilometres via Merriman.

Looking forward to another day
Asive Dlanjwa, Bloemfontein Campus SRC President, felt confident about day two despite the strong winds that they experienced along the way. “I’m feeling strong, I actually thought after day one that I’ll be feeling a bit weak, but I just don’t know how we are going to make it in this wind,” he says. Dlanjwa and his fellow cyclists cycled for 213 kilometres to Britstown, where they ended their race for day two.

Kovsies fully behind cycling team
The tour began on 27 November 2017 in Bloemfontein, when they were sent off by Prof Nicky Morgan, former Vice-Rector: Operations, Pura Mgolombane, Dean of Student Affairs, and their Kovsie peers. Prof Morgan encouraged the team to have a wonderful and enjoyable journey, acknowledging that the journey will not be an easy one. “I want you to know that you have the support of everyone here at the UFS,” he said.

Messages of support continue to pour in for the team on the UFS social media platforms. The Qwaqwa Campus SRC President, Hlalele Masopha, also sent his best wishes to his mate, saying, “I wish the President with his crew a quantity of good fortune and extremely good success.” He says, “This is for the betterment of the students and the institution.”

There have been no reports of any injuries or medical defects incurred by the cyclists nor the supporting team who are travelling with them. The team is expected to arrive in Cape Town on 4 December 2017.

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Account Number: 1570850721
Branch Code: 632005
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Reference: R2L: Right to Learn
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All donations are tax deductible in terms of South African income tax legislation.

Related article:

27 November: Kovsies SRC President cycles to raise money for registration

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