Zandile Mbethe, Transforming Education in South Africa’s Rural and Township Area

I am Zandile Mbethe, from a township called Daveyton, located in the East Rand. I am a single mother of three, a Lupus Warrior, and cancer survivor. Without God’s grace, my mother’s relentless nursing, and family support, I would not have survived. The successful chemotherapy in 2023, fuelled my passion for transforming young lives.We had the privilege of attending a career day at a then ‘Model C-School, a life-changing event that sparked my fruitful career in finance. Alongside the pro bono work.

I tutor accounting and English to young kids with my younger sister. We’ve observed a significant gap in real-world exposure and awareness among these students. Many struggle to articulate basic accounting concepts, not from ignorance, but from a lack of exposure.

To bridge this gap between classroom learning and real-world industry knowledge, we realised the urgency of early intervention. At a career expo last year, it was disheartening to learn that many of the 106 matriculants present had chosen inappropriate subjects, unaware of the prerequisites for their desired careers. The lack of foundational subjects like chemistry, mathematics, and science in some public schools is alarming and hinders these young minds from becoming future innovators and contributors to society.

We face challenges like self-tutoring due to absent teachers, and the high cost of tutoring, ranging from R200 to R400 per subject, per hour, which is unaffordable for many. Some students, living in child-headed households or with elderly guardians, are particularly vulnerable yet show remarkable resilience and intelligence. They often seek community assistance for subjects like science and mathematics and manage to excel.

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