Hailing from Tshiawelo in Soweto, a place where “people do what they have to to survive”, Tshedza is not easily put off by adversity.

Just as well, because all his survival instincts were put to the test when NSFAS pulled the rug from under him after he matriculated at Vorentoe High in Auckland Park and enrolled for an engineering degree at Stellenbosch University in 2019.

“I managed to get a NSFAS scholarship in my first year and everything was smooth sailing until 2020, when I could not get a cent out of them. When I confronted them, I was told that they would look into it and that I must exercise patience. Well, if I did what they advised, I would still have been waiting and my life would have been hell.”

Tshedza says that the University luckily came to his aid and assisted him with donor funding, which covered some of his study fees and textbooks. He also received a R1 000 food voucher every four months.

“I knew that I had to use this R1 000 wisely because I would not get grocery money again for months. And asking for money from home was also not an option as my mother is not able to work due to her disability.”

He also faced legal threats of eviction from various landlords for not paying his rent for months.

“The feeling of attending lectures and writing exams with an empty stomach while stressed about whether you might be kicked out from your residence at any time is not a nice experience. You live though every day with no hope and contemplate giving up. Honestly, all I could do was to continue fighting for my degree and praying that God would carry me through.”

However, everything changed when he was offered a bursary through the Masakh’iSizwe (MiS) Bursary Programme this year. The MiS was established by the Western Cape Government in 2006 to develop trained professionals in the engineering and built environment fields. The bursary covers everything from tuition, academics, tutoring services, drivers licence fees and residential costs, to food.

“This bursary enabled me to be a student again without having to hustle for food money or fight landlords,” says Tshedza.

For the first time in five years he was able to feel what it is like to buy all his textbooks brand-new.

“In my first year, I did not need textbooks because I was doing my year under the extended degree programme. However, from 2020 onwards, I needed textbooks, and this was the year that NSFAS dropped me. So when I got all my textbooks fresh from the shop, I was very happy. Previously, I had to depend on sales and discounts and second-hand books. Now I can just tap my student card. I always envied students who were able to do that. I am so blessed that I was able to experience this at least once as a student.”

He says that he is grateful to his donor and everyone who saw the potential in him and helped him over the years.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has helped me. I truly believe I wouldn’t be here without their support. To students facing similar challenges, my advice is to pray earnestly. When you find yourself in a situation where you feel helpless and alone, turn to God. Keep praying and focus on maintaining good grades and you will have nothing to worry about.”

But he is happiest that his mother no longer has to stress about him struggling to make ends meet and having a roof over his head.

“My mom is very happy about the bursary. She was worried sick about me, especially because there was nothing much she could do to help fix the problem. But now she is much more relaxed, and always on my neck about how I mustn't play around with the blessing I’ve been given and that I must make sure that I do well in my studies. I’ve made it my mission to fulfil her wishes,” he says.