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- Tshireletso Donald Makabe refused to be defeated by financial struggles.
- He worked as a food delivery driver to achieve his graduation dream.
- Fellow Mr D drivers escorted Makabe to his graduation on their motorbikes.
Tshireletso Donald Makabe from the small village of Silwerkrans in the North West had one unwavering ambition: to uplift the life of his beloved mother.
Her sacrifices paved the way for his achievements, igniting his resolve to honour her legacy through his success.
So determined was Makabe to obtain his education degree from the University of the Free State (UFS) he took up a job as a food delivery driver at Mr D.
"She is my world and all that I have. I have to make it in life to help her have a better life," he told News24.
"She sacrificed a lot to see me succeed in life; it is now my turn to help her have a better life."
Makabe said the fire to teach was ignited in Grade 11 when he assisted his friends with mathematics during study sessions.
"It wasn't something that I always wanted to do. I always dreamt of becoming an air traffic controller.
"We had a small study group, and I was able to help my friends better understand mathematical literacy.
"That is where I developed my passion for teaching," he added.
Makabe enrolled at UFS in 2019 and began his journey to teach the next generation of leaders, doctors, and engineers.
He said his studies were funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and he received additional support from his mother, Betty, who contributed by working as a security guard.
Financial struggles hit when his mother lost her job during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Makabe had to rely solely on the R1 500 provided by NFSAS to survive.
He said:
Makabe added he applied to become a delivery driver at Mr D and was accepted in 2023.
The job necessitated he balance his education and supporting himself.
"I used to do it after hours when I returned from university. If I had assignments, I would focus on my studies and make up for the deliveries the following week.
"I had to stay motivated because I knew I needed to improve the situation back home."
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His leap of faith proved fruitful, enabling him to sustain his lifestyle and financially support his family.
"I made around R1 800 weekly, and I used that money to buy extra groceries and for transport to Rocklands [a township in Bloemfontein] to do my practicals.
"It was for survival, but with the people I met on Mr D, I started to enjoy it," he said.
Makabe completed the four-year course at the end of 2023, and his graduation date was 20 April 2024.
Days before his graduation, Makabe received a distressing call from home.
His mother was unwell and could not attend.
"She was sick and couldn't travel long distances. I was very sad and down about this," he said.
He confided in a few drivers at Mr D, who told him: "We got you. Don't worry."
In a heartwarming gesture, the drivers escorted Makabe to his graduation on their motorbikes.
"They arrived on their motorbikes, and [one] guy had a car, and they escorted me to my graduation.
"They really made my day because I didn't even feel that I had no family members there, because they were there. I was so happy to see them there," he said.
Makabe added:
He said he had applied for teaching jobs in the Free State, North West, and Gauteng, without any success.
"I am praying for a job. If I can get that one chance at life to become an educator, that would really change my life."
