As the controversy around the qualifications of some senior members of political parties continues to make news, African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament (MP) Claudia Ndaba has chosen a different path for herself.

Ndaba is one of the hundreds of students who graduated during the Autumn 2021 graduation session at the University of Pretoria (UP). She graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration from UP’s S School of Public Management and Administration, in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS).

Serving her community is something that Ndaba has always been about. This is what led to her starting off her career working as a clerk at a local hospital in Tsakane; a position she filled for several years.

“I then came across an advertisement recruiting trainee nurses. In 2002, I enrolled at the Ann Latsky Nursing College, where I trained to become a professionally enrolled nurse and completed my training in 2004.  However, my nursing career did not take off as expected because shortly after qualifying, I received a political appointment at the Department of Trade and Industry, where I worked in the office of the Deputy Minister as an administrative secretary,” Ndaba said.

ANC MP Claudia Ndaba said she was very happy and excited about having completed her studies.

This appointment, coupled with her political involvement, inspired her to study further. Ndaba explained that her political appointment to the Ministry of the Department of Trade and Industry made her want to be more effective in her position: “I enrolled for an Executive Course in Strategic leadership with the Wits Graduate School of Public and Development Management. When I was appointed in the [Gauteng] Legislature, I completed an advanced certificate in governance and public leadership.  The short courses made me realise the content and value of a degree in public administration. It is very important to have knowledge of public administration as a public representative because it makes the oversight roles easier to manage when you know exactly what to look for and how to manage projects. I also found the qualification to be all encompassing and a suitable fit for my work in policy formulation and law making,” she said.

Politics has always been a part of Ndaba’s life – her uncles were members of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Military Wing of the ANC. And thus her political conscientiousness began at a young age.

“Some of family members were members of the MK, two of my uncles died in exile and their remains were exhumed in 2017 to be re-buried in South Africa. We were victims of police harassment as police would come and raid our family home. I have a memory etched in my mind, sometime during the State of Emergency, we were attending a funeral of one of the student leaders. After the funeral procession, as we were making our way back home, chanting our sad struggle songs, the soldiers who were patrolling suddenly opened fire to disperse the crowd and my older brother was shot and wounded. That event created a bitterness and a curiosity for me to know more about the division between blacks and whites and that was how I was recruited into the ANC and I vowed that I would serve the people of this my country as long as I lived,” she said.

Ndaba reckoned  that balancing her work as an MP with being a student has been quite challenging. It is, however, with the help of the EMS Faculty being flexible with its timetable options among other things that has helped her cope.

“The fact that we attended classes in block sessions made it easier for me to plan my studies around my work schedule. I was very strict on my attendance, and I made a point of attending every block session. The COVID-19 pandemic and hard lockdown, as scary as they were, also came with a benefit because everything became virtual, which meant better time management for me because there was less traveling involved,” she said.

She added that she is quite happy and excited about having completed her studies.

“At first it was just a wish in my heart, but I was not really sure whether I had the strength and endurance to go through with it. The first year was the toughest, but in the blink of an eye I was done! It felt so untrue but strength and resilience are what carried me through,” Ndaba said.

Ndaba said those looking to study should definitely #ChooseUP because of the high quality of teaching at the institution.

“I would definitely recommend UP because of the high quality-standard of learning and the professionalism. In my three years at UP, I was lectured by highly qualified lecturers and professors, each holding a doctorate in their field of specialisation,” she said.