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04 April 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied
Ennie Mkotywa
Ennie Mkotywa celebrates her graduation at UFS Qwaqwa Campus, marking a triumph of resilience, passion, and lifelong learning.

Ennie Mkotywa walked across the stage in the iconic Mandela Hall this morning, Friday 4 April, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) specialising in English. This is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the transformative potential of education. Working as an assistant officer in the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Ennie's story is one of balancing professional responsibilities with academic aspirations – a journey that has culminated in a remarkable achievement.

 

Passion ignited

Mkotywa’s love for literature began in high school, blossoming during her undergraduate studies where she excelled in literary analysis. "I've always been passionate about reading books and poetry," she recalls. "During my undergraduate studies, I discovered that I was good at analysing literature, which led me to become a tutor." However, financial constraints initially delayed her pursuit of an honours. It was her appointment at CTL that reignited her dream, as she discovered the study benefits available to staff.

 

Balancing act and triumph

The journey was far from easy. "The most challenging part was balancing work, studies, and personal life," Ennie admits. "Juggling work deadlines with academic responsibilities was incredibly difficult." Working in a student-facing role, finding time for study was a constant challenge, requiring her to dedicate evenings to her coursework. Yet, the rewards were profound. "The most rewarding aspect was submitting my research and passing. Receiving my results was one of the happiest moments of my life."

 

Inspiration and mentorship

Ennie credits Dr Nonki Motahane from the Department of English as a significant source of inspiration. "Dr Motahane's journey resonates deeply with me," she says. "Witnessing her growth from a master's candidate to a PhD holder has been incredibly motivating." This mentorship fuelled Ennie's own academic aspirations, demonstrating the power of role models within the UFS Qwaqwa community.

 

Decolonial analysis and insight

For her honours research, Ennie focused on a decolonial literary analysis of Yewande Omotoso's Bom Boy (2011). Her dissertation, ‘Images of a Democratic South Africa: A Decolonial Analysis of Yewande Omotoso’s Bom Boy (2011)’, explored the contradictions within South Africa's post-apartheid ‘rainbow nation’ agenda. "My research portrays the enduring racial and socioeconomic inequalities in post-apartheid South Africa," Ennie explains. Her analysis highlighted the persistent colonial structures and the failure to achieve true equality and inclusivity.

 

Transformative impact and future aspirations

Ennie's studies have had a profound impact on her perspective, particularly regarding the #FeesMustFall movement. "Researching for my honours allowed me to understand the movement’s significance and the concept of decoloniality," she shares. Her enhanced English skills will benefit her work at the Write Site, supporting students with academic writing, and align with Vision 130's goal of increasing research output.

Looking ahead, Ennie plans to pursue a master’s degree and a PhD, aiming to deepen her expertise and expand her career opportunities.

 

A message of lifelong learning

Ennie's advice to fellow UFS Qwaqwa Campus staff is to embrace lifelong learning. "Pursuing further education is a powerful way to enhance your professional and personal growth," she says. "Take advantage of the resources and support systems available at the UFS, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help."

 

Community and support

Ennie emphasises the strong sense of community on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus. "The Department of English, my supervisor Dr Peter Moopi, and my colleagues were incredibly supportive," she notes. "The library services and the shared experiences with fellow students were invaluable." She also recounts a story of a librarian remembering her when she was waiting for a book from Bloemfontein, and how that personal touch meant a lot.

 

Resilience and triumph

Even when faced with challenges, such as a difficult lecturer, she persevered. "Looking back, I realise that such experiences are the ones that build resilience," she reflects.

Mkotywa’s graduation is not just a personal achievement; it is a testament to the supportive environment on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus and the transformative power of education. Her story serves as an inspiration to the entire university community, proving that with dedication and support, any goal is achievable.

As a parting shot: "Remember that the process may sometimes be difficult, but the results are transformative. Stay focused on your goals and trust in the value of the journey, because the experience of learning is just as important as the final achievement." – Ennie Mkotywa.

News Archive

Summer programme a first outside Austria
2012-12-06

 

Mr Derek Hanekom, Minister of Science and Technology
Foto: Johan Roux

05 Desember 2012

People often fight about their differences, like skin colour, religion and more. “These differences are minute. We must celebrate our common ancestry and commit ourselves to a common destiny. Your work can make a difference.” This is according to Mr Derek Hanekom, Minister of Science and Technology.

He opened the Southern African Young Scientists Summer Programme (SA-YSSP) at the Bloemfontein Campus on Sunday 2 December 2012. The UFS is the first institution outside Austria to host the Summer Programme. A total of 19 young researchers from 17 countries will be hosted by the UFS until 28 February 2013. Researchers in the programme are, among others, from South Africa, Egypt, China, Italy, Sweden, Iran, Hungary, India, the USA and Indonesia.

The programme will form part of an annual three-month education, academic training and research capacity-building programme jointly organised by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), based in Austria, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). IIASA is an international research organisation that conducts policy-oriented scientific research in the three global problem areas of energy and climate change, food and water and poverty and equity. South Africa’s engagements with IIASA, specifically with regard to the SA-YSSP, relate primarily to the DST’s Ten-Year Innovation Plan.

Mr Hanekom spoke about the impact the growing global population, which is expected to grow from 7 billion in 2012 to 9 billion in 2050, has on natural resources. “We use purified water to flush our toilets while other people do not have clean drinking water. We cannot carry on like this. Somewhere it must stop, if we do not want to be responsible for the 6th great extinction. We must know how our systems impact on each other.

“We can do things differently and better and should endeavour that other people enjoy luxuries we take for granted,” he said.

He urged the researchers to believe that they can make a difference, share knowledge and translate the knowledge into plans.

Prof. Dr Pavel Kabat, Director/CEO of IIASA, said the summer programme was presented outside Austria for the first time, with plans to expand to Brazil and China in future. Twenty countries are represented on the IIASA board, with more than 3 000 researchers associated with the organisation.

IIASA was launched in 1972 in the days of the Cold War as a “science bridge” between the West and the Soviet Union. It served as a “think tank” for various issues that needed to be resolved. Its mission was reconfirmed after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

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