From Cleaner to Graduate: Sthembile Mngwengwe's Inspirational Journey
Graduating from high school in 1998, Sthembile's dream of higher education was hindered by financial constraints. However, in 2018, she seized the opportunity to study for free at UKZN, where she had been working as a cleaner. Balancing work and studies after nearly 20 years out of school was challenging, but Sthembile's determination and time management skills p
AKACHI NOEL 
Sthembile Mngwengwe, a 40-year-old woman from South Africa, has defied the odds by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). What sets her apart is her extraordinary journey from being a cleaner at the same university for 14 years to becoming a student.
Graduating from high school in 1998, Sthembile's dream of higher education was hindered by financial constraints. However, in 2018, she seized the opportunity to study for free at UKZN, where she had been working as a cleaner. Balancing work and studies after nearly 20 years out of school was challenging, but Sthembile's determination and time management skills prevailed.
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“Balancing work and studies gave me a lot of stress,” she shared, “But if you work hard and pray to God, He will help you to achieve what you want.”
Sthembile drew inspiration from the professors’ offices she cleaned and the sight of other students attending classes on campus. Her journey was fueled by the desire to transform her life through education.
“I was motivated by being on campus too, seeing students walking up and down going to their lecture theatres to attend classes made me wish to be them,” she expressed.
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Supported by her daughter and colleagues, Sthembile hopes her story inspires others, emphasizing, “No matter how old you are, you can still fulfill your dreams. Age is just a number — look at me completing my first degree at the age of 40. It’s a blessing, and I’m so proud of myself.”
