Journey of perseverance and hope

Scoring only 11% on his first test at CPUT did not deter Zandisile Sitoyi from pursuing his dream of obtaining a Bachelor of Education. Instead, it sparked a journey of resilience and determination.

Like many South African students, he faced significant language challenges and struggled with English, but he transformed that struggle into a source of strength. Feeling the pressure as the first person in his family to attend university, Sitoyi turned his difficult experience into a powerful motivation to work harder and prove his place in academia.

Recently, he triumphed by earning his PhD in Educational Psychology at the University of the Western Cape. As an nGAP Lecturer at Fundani CHED Academic Staff Development, he completed his doctorate in just three years, all while actively contributing to the university’s teaching and learning initiatives. Growing up in the dusty streets of Border Post in Qonce, formerly known as King William’s Town, Sitoyi joined CPUT in 2010 for his Bachelor of Education and continued to his honours, driven by his passion for learning. “But my start was far from easy. When I first joined CPUT at the Mowbray Campus, the first test I wrote was for Education Studies, and I still remember scoring only 11% out of 100.”

When he joined Fundani in 2023, Sitoyi was already one year into his doctoral studies. He acknowledges the support from Fundani Director, Dr Xena Cupido, and later Dr Faiq Waghid, as being instrumental in his success. “The New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) is a wonderful opportunity for young academics under the age of 40 with strong master’s results. The mentorship, guidance, and resources I received through nGAP opened doors I never imagined. I was able to present at local conferences and publish papers with my assigned mentor, Prof Cina Mosito from Nelson Mandela University,” he says.

His impassioned dedication to education transcends mere personal accomplishment, reflecting a deep-seated commitment to inspiring the young generation from a similar background and fostering a love for learning in those children from his village. “This PhD is not only for me. It is for the young boys and girls in my village who are surrounded by drugs and alcohol abuse. I want them to see that it is possible for them if I can do it. I do my best to guide young people from my village into higher education by sharing information and encouraging them to dream big.”

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the National Research Foundation, and CPUT for funding his project. “This milestone is a collective effort. Thank you to Dr Cupido, the Fundani CHED team, and everyone who believed in me.” 

As a developer of academic staff dedicated to inclusive teaching in higher education, Sitoyi is determined to drive transformation. “If we can equip lecturers to teach inclusively and support students with different learning abilities, we will move closer to realising the dream of an African child. Working at CPUT feels like coming full circle. I am proud to serve the same institution that shaped me.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: BoyceAp@cput.ac.za