Meet Thabang Ngwenya, a lecturer in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) and the co-founder of an organisation that seeks to empower South African learners. He talks about his journey. 

 

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

 

I am a patient individual who enjoys my own space and keeps to myself, sharing only when necessary. I am observant and caring. I describe myself as someone who is quiet yet possesses a voice of influence, a natural-born leader, and a doer with passion and purpose. I am driven to find happiness and to make decisions that will positively influence the world throughout my life and beyond. 

 

What does your work at UP entail?

 

As a lecturer, I facilitate learning and decision-making among different stakeholders, including students, staff, industry partners and community partners. My journey at UP began in 2014 with the Foundation Programme in BSc Physics. I then pursued an engineering degree in 2015. I completed my first degree in Industrial Engineering in 2019 and am now in the final year of my PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering, focusing on artificial intelligence and robotic enhancements for mining environments.

 

What field of study were you interested in while you were at school?

 

My choices between matric and first year at university were influenced by my abilities rather than by my personal desires. I had to separate myself from my surroundings and start exploring the things I wanted to initiate and commit to. It was then that I realised that I enjoyed working with people and had a passion for academia. This led me to choose industrial and systems engineering as my field of study. Part of the confusion I experienced early on was due to insufficient exposure to career guidance. I relied on information from my peers and a few teachers, but it wasn't enough. I didn't receive proper guidance until I spent the first three years at university trying to figure it out. In our community, we lacked role models or individuals who had attended universities, so my exposure was limited. 

 

Applying to UP was made possible by a teacher who brought two UP applications to class. I took advantage of that opportunity because I knew I was capable but had limited exposure to proper guidance. I was the first in my family to attend university, and I believed that everything would work out. Good grades played a significant role in securing funding for me, and it has been the case since then. Limitations in townships stem mainly from limited access to information and a lack of academic or professional role models to share their knowledge. It often feels as if individuals leave when things become better on the other side. That’s why I am deeply committed to helping our townships because learners sometimes turn to criminal activities as they only have criminals as role models. We must work together to change this narrative.

 

What was your childhood like? 

 

I enjoyed my childhood because I was given the freedom to exist as an individual. I grew up in a community with complex family structures. My late paternal grandfather was a polygamist, so there were 38 living children and at least 100 grandchildren in our family. Growing up in such an environment provided me with valuable lessons. I was exposed to various personalities within my family and the broader community. My childhood was filled with play with other children in the community. Through these interactions, I got to know many kids and elders, engaging with them in different sports and shared interests. As a result of my interaction with such diverse individuals, I gained a deep understanding of human beings. 

 

From a young age, I recognised that we are all unique. This perspective allows me to give my best in any environment where I interact with others. I embrace differences among people and approach each situation with the intention of making a positive contribution.

 

What challenges did you face growing up? 

 

I grew up in the dusty streets of Winterveld. During my school years, there were many instances of violence among students, which was often due to the age differences within the schools. At that time, Winterveld was notorious for its crime rate, and the issues we witnessed within the community extended to the school environment. It was an extremely disruptive and chaotic setting for a student to find themselves in. However, the situation has improved significantly since then. In terms of academic performance, I consistently ranked among the top learners in my class. This was a choice I made to ensure that my parents would be called to school for positive reasons – for my academic achievements, rather than disciplinary issues. By being a diligent learner, I received guidance and mentorship from my teachers. It was easier for them to point out any deviations from my usual conduct.

 

It was challenging to navigate an environment where my peers were not academically inclined. Throughout Grades 1 to 9, I never had a close friend; I only had acquaintances. My parents emphasised the importance of choosing friends who shared common principles and values. It was only in Grades 10 to 12, when we visited other schools to meet like-minded individuals who were passionate about academia, that I found friends. I lived with both my parents and my five siblings. I am grateful to my parents for raising us well and for all that we have because of it. Although both our parents were unemployed, we survived through street vending, social grants and agriculture. I didn’t always enjoy street vending because it took away time that I could have spent playing with my peers. However, we had to do it because it provided food for our home. 

 

After school, I would vend on the street, then later in the evening, I’d study using a candle as we didn't have electricity in Winterveld until 2009. To ensure we had warm water for bathing and to get ready for school by 7am, I would wake up at 5am to start a fire outside using wood. We knew how to live without electricity, so having it was a better experience. 

 

How has your childhood shaped you as a person? 

 

I experienced various lessons that I may not have been fully conscious of at the time, but I now recognise how they’ve shaped me. My mother played a significant role in ensuring that we had everything we needed for school. From my parents, I learned the importance of making the most of what we had to support ourselves; they ensured that we didn’t lack anything, especially when it came to education. Understanding our circumstances meant that my decisions had to be clear because I served as a role model for my siblings. At home, I was often misunderstood, so I relied on clear and positive actions to communicate my perspectives. 

 

What inspires you? 

 

Human beings inspire me; I learn a lot from them. I value human existence, and I believe that each individual has something to offer in this world. Whether it is good or bad, it challenges our belief system.

 

You co-founded the non-profit company Keep That Gold Shining (KTG) to unlock the potential of school learners in disadvantaged communities. Tell us more about it.

 

The vision of Keep That Gold Shining is to unleash the potential of South African youth. It originated in 2014 to inspire youth in our townships. As a group of students, we saw the value in pursuing this vision. The organisation’s founding model emerged as a result of a community-based module (JCP) completed by second-year students in UP’s EBIT Faculty. 

 

KTG’s development efforts are centred on four pillars: academic, personal, technological and community. In partnership with the JCP programme, we address various gaps in education, including the low pass rate in basic education, limited access to information and communication technology, and the lack of financial literacy. Our goal is to provide access to information and opportunities that many, including members of our team, were deprived of. We aim to empower young people through leadership and personal development programmes, recognising that true leadership qualities, coupled with increased knowledge in critical areas, can bring about positive change not only in South Africa but on a global scale. 

 

Visit keepthatgoldshining.org to learn more about our projects and to find out how you can contribute. Funding is a primary need for KTG to reach a larger population of South African youth. 

 

What advice would you give young people who’d like to follow in your footsteps?

 

Be patient and intentional in your actions and in choosing the company you keep. Personal growth relies solely on yourself and those who align with your aspirations. An academic career is suited to those who understand the value of contributing to student development and who are dedicated to ensuring that students receive proper support as they learn. 

 

Regarding leadership, venture capitalist Vusi Thembekwayo articulated it well when he said that being misunderstood in one’s time is okay. These words resonate with me because I’ve often faced criticism as a leader for being true to myself. As  someone who leads with their genuine personality, there will be those who may criticise you. When you create safe spaces as a leader, conflicts may arise when certain personalities clash due to your influence. Therefore, it’s essential to have the ability to manage high-level conflict conversations. My advice as a leader is to be your authentic self and understand that to the world, it is merely an extension of your personality. It is crucial for others to grasp this and learn to coexist harmoniously with different personalities within your sphere.

 

Quick quiz 

Food: Chicken salad 

Music: Hip-hop

Author/book: Doctor of Hearts by Bongani Mayosi

Artist: Cassper Nyovest