When a student came to his office and revealed that she has decided to drop out of university due to financial difficulties, it hit home.
It was a gesture that reminded Dr John Molepo of his own life story when he enrolled to study public administration and politics at the Tshwane University of Technology, in Pretoria.
The 32-year-old from Soshanguve tells us that from that moment he knew had to do something because he loves seeing students flourishing and rising against all odds. He was also assisted by colleagues at the university.
"I was assisted by many people, including Professor Mashupye Maserumule who is a dean at TUT. What kept me strong is the assistance and love from people across my community."
That's why he told the student that she cannot drop out and gave her an opportunity to pursue her dreams. "Listening to her story, I decided to pay for her fees from my own pocket because I am also a product of other people’s assistance,” he tells Drum.
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John has always loved school, and after he realised that he could no longer manage to pay student's fees himself, he donned his red gown and stood at traffic lights with a container and asked for donations.
He wanted to assist many other tertiary students with outstanding tuition fees and had one thing in mind. “To help a fellow brethren.” He launched his organization, Thusangwana Geno, which means help a brethren.
"I was also assisted by various people to be who I am today. The idea became more alive when I was a lecturer at North West University when one student came to me and said that they dropping out," Dr Molepo tells Drum.
When Drum spoke to him in 2020, when he had just started the programme, he said, “I am always thinking about how I can change people’s lives and add value.
"I hunt for success and for other people to succeed, and I gather resources for people to access.”
“If there is a family in need, I will try my utmost best to help. I know what it’s like to be in their shoes, and my purpose is not to enrich myself but to assist those in need,” John says nearly two years later.
“I think of myself as an angel, I wish people well and hope to always see them glow.”
Now, with the end of another school year rolling around and more people having lost their jobs, it is even more crucial to help students stay in school.
“We have assisted more than 700 of students with their fees since we started and we do this every year, and I was able to get more students on board with gathering the donations, so we do this in other provinces as well. We managed to get some sponsors who also contribute towards the funds.”
He says with the help of the tertiary institutions, they are able to locate deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The initiative runs from December until January, and what I usually do to maintain balance is that I take a leave for a week and then hit the streets.
"But we work as a team. Even if I do not manage to get there, the campaign still runs.
"We wake up at around 4am and collect each other because the main thing is to arrive at the robots between 5 and 6 am for the convoy.”
