The University of Pretoria (UP) conferred 1 511 degrees, diplomas and certificates to graduates in absentia during virtual graduation ceremonies this spring. Of these qualifications, 151 were doctorates and 598 were master’s degrees.

“In some ways the COVID-19 pandemic has made this graduation and your achievement even more special,” UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tawana Kupe said during the first of the graduation ceremonies. “Because you did it despite COVID-19. You did it, despite all those things that turned your life upside down. You did it, despite your teaching and learning moving from UP’s interactive hybrid mode to 100% online almost overnight. You did it – against all the odds. You achieved this during one of the most difficult periods in recent world history.”

One of the students who graduated against all odds is Denis Mitole who suffered a lacunar stroke in May this year, resulting in him having to type his master’s dissertation using only one hand.

Denis Mitole typed his master’s dissertation using only one hand

The Malawian-born student spent a week in hospital after the stroke, and was discharged to begin rehabilitation treatment at a centre. Mitole often felt tired, had headaches and could use only one hand to type his dissertation – but he was undeterred.

“In early July I was discharged from rehab,” he says. “By then, I had a submission date for my dissertation in order to graduate in September. When my supervisor recommended changes and more research, I would commence immediately, knowing my challenge had become speed and endurance. I was grateful that my brain, memory and motivation was fired up. I’d learnt how to do a lot of things with one hand: typing, cooking, bathing and dressing – to these, I needed to add speed.”

Mitole can now add a master’s degree in Tax to the two degrees he already has, a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Law from the University of the Western Cape.