THE odds were heavily stacked against Awonke Sebuza (18) to even pass matric.
Hailing from a dusty village in the Eastern Cape, he lost his dad when he just started high school.
But a move to his aunt in Pimville, Soweto back in 2015 and lots of perseverance saw him score five distinctions in the final exams!
“I am excited. I knew I would do well but this is beyond my expectations,” he said.
Awonke said his aunt, Bongiwe Swelibanzi (44), had been supporting him even though she only worked as a domestic. Her husband is a security guard. “I am blessed to have people who, even though they have little, managed to help me achieve in life.”
He is planning to study for a Bcom degree in chartered accountancy at Wits University.
But his future is still in the dark as he does not know how he will fund his tertiary education. “I just hope someone will help me so that I become what I want to be,” he said.
Bongiwe said she was proud of her nephew and wanted him to achieve his dreams.
“I don’t know how he will further his education as no one in our family has the money,” she said.