Lebohang Andries Nthatisi, graduated with Bachelor of Education specialization (FET: Economic and Management Sciences.

Our greatest triumphs often come from our greatest tragedies and setbacks. Perhaps the butterfly is proof that one can go through a great deal of darkness but become something beautiful…this is the story of Lebohang Andries Nthatisi, a boy child who, against all odds, became the first graduate in his child-headed family. Left with his only sister, they had to fend for themselves to survive.

On his graduation day, Lebohang felt all kinds of emotions when he walked down the aisle, of course, not to wed, but to receive his long-awaited qualification, ‘kobo ya thuto’. Looking back to the day of his matric farewell at Marematlou High School in Meloding, Virginia, Lebohang remembers it like yesterday when he received the news of his mother’s passing. “I thought it was one of those silly pranks, but it was real. Everything in me just came to a standstill. I just stood there frozen, and that was the beginning of my trauma, the darkness.” 

After losing both parents between 2005 and 2008, he had to man up, be the elder brother, and parent to his sister, Malehlohonolo. “It was tough,” he said.

Fortunately, he passed his matric and was admitted to CUT in 2009. “I did not cope; I was constantly having anxiety attacks and felt so lonely and lost. I went through several psychological sessions and will feel better, only to relapse again.”

“In 2011, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. While at it, I lost my memory, I could not read or write, I could not even recognise my sibling, I felt hopeless and eventually, in 2012, I dropped out of varsity.

In 2015, someone from my hood got me a job at a supermarket, which helped me immensely in my healing process. I gradually became myself and could engage with people and improve daily. In 2019, I re-applied at CUT and was accepted. I started afresh, and here I am today, a Bachelor of Education: Economic Management Sciences graduate! I am proud of myself and grateful for not giving up or making my condition an excuse. I persevered and conquered,” he added.

Some stories won’t have a happy ending, but where there is a will, there is a way. Happy at last! Lebohang Nthatisi, BEd: EMS graduate (centre) and his support structure, Maleshwane Nthebe (neighbour and family friend-left) and Malehlohonolo Nthatisi (sister-right).

 Malehlohonolo Nthatisi, Lebohang's sister and only sibling, said she is proud of her brother for keeping his head up and not giving up even when the going got tougher. “He has special personality traits that I admire. He is focused and levelheaded. He sets goals for himself and pushes hard to achieve them. He is a fighter and stands firm in what he believes in. His spirit is unsquashable,” said Malehlohonolo.