When the University of the Free State hosts its Autumn graduation ceremonies this April, the Bloemfontein Campus will witness a beautifully rare family milestone. Dr Petso Mokhatla, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, will receive his PhD in Agricultural Management. During the very same week of celebrations, his eldest daughter, Amohelang Radebe, will cross the stage to receive her Bachelor of Commerce with specialisation in Economics with distinction.

Their shared success is a story of incredible academic perseverance and deep family pride. Inspired by her rapid progress, Dr Mokhatla worked incredibly hard to align his own graduation with that of his daughter.

"She has always had an average of distinction in each year, so I knew she would finish in record time," he explains. "I needed to reposition myself so that I could graduate when she graduates. When I realised that it was going to happen, I was quite happy. It really gave me a sense of pride and fulfilment."

The journey to this dual graduation was not without its light-hearted family dynamics. Dr Mokhatla initially encouraged Amohelang to pursue accounting or business analytics, jokingly noting that those fields were highly lucrative. However, Amohelang stood her ground and insisted on economics. She proved her choice was the right one by excelling throughout her degree.

Her academic excellence mirrors the resilience her father showed during his own early university years. Arriving at the university in 2002 on a full provisional bursary, he initially struggled in a science degree, facing subjects he had not taken in high school. He nearly lost his funding before finding his true calling in agricultural management. Through immense dedication, he became the top student in his second and third years, eventually lecturing and pursuing his postgraduate studies.

His PhD research aligns perfectly with the university's commitment to building responsible societal futures. Inspired by a 2014 exchange programme to the United States, his work focuses on inclusive agroprocessing and transforming food systems.

"Our food systems need to transform," he notes, pointing out the alarming rates of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity in South Africa. He believes the solution lies in empowering communities to create their own supply chains parallel to existing corporate monopolies. "Let us empower people. Let us empower communities so that we can create employment and really benefit from what the country can give."