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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

Women’s Day Lecture by Zanele Muholi
2014-08-04

 
The Gender Studies programme at the Centre for Africa Studies presents the 2014 Women’s Day Lecture with guest speaker Zanele Muholi.

Muholi, a photographer and visual activist, will show new photographs as well as a new video produced in Durban as part of a presentation exploring Born Frees (the generation born post-apartheid South Africa known as Mandela’s great-grandchildren), and how each person expresses themselves queerly at the time of troubling hate crimes in South Africa. The young adults she depicts are those born in 1990–1994, and openly gay/lesbian/trans within South African borders.

Date: Friday 8 August 2014
Time: 12:00 – 14:00
Venue: CR Swart Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus 

Zanele was born in Umlazi, Durban, and currently lives in Johannesburg. She is known for her work on black lesbians and corrective rape in South Africa. Her work emphasises the importance of queering the normative gaze by representing black lesbians in ‘straight’ portraits in a collection of work titled Faces and Phases. Muholi’s work focuses on queer politics, gender politics and politics of race.

In the 2013 Human Rights Watch documentary titled We Live in Fear, Muholi speaks about the way in which ‘corrective rapes’ have become a binding factor for the LGBT community in South African townships and the importance of documenting lesbians who have become victims of these hate crimes. In 2009 Muholi founded the non-profit organisation Inkanyiso which focuses on visual arts and media advocacy for and by the LGBT community. Muholi is an Honorary Professor of the University of Arts/Hochschule für Künste Bremen.

To attend the lecture, please contact Nadine Lake at LakeNC@ufs.ac.za or +27(0)51 401 3813.

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