- Chileretso's Donald Makabe refuses to give up on the financial battle.
- He worked as a food delivery driver to fulfill his dream of graduating.
- His fellow Mr. D drivers escorted Makabe to his graduation ceremony on motorcycles.
Donald Makabe, a Chilelet who lives in the small northwestern village of Silwerkrans, has an unwavering ambition to uplift the life of his beloved mother.
Her sacrifice paved the way for his accomplishments and fueled his determination to honor her legacy through success.
Makabe was determined to get a degree in education from the University of the Free State (UFS) and took a job as a food delivery driver at Mr. D.
“She is my world and all I have. I have to get on with my life to help her live a better life,” he told News24.
“She has sacrificed so much for me to be successful in life, and now it's my turn to help her live a better life.”
Makabe said that he was inspired to teach after helping a friend with math during a study group when he was in the 11th grade.
“It wasn’t something I always wanted to do, I always dreamed of being an air traffic controller.
“We had small study groups and were able to help our friends better understand mathematical literacy.
“That's where I developed my passion for education,” he added.
Makabe joined UFS in 2019 and began his journey to mentor the next generation of leaders, physicians, and engineers.
He said his research was funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and received additional support from his mother Betty, who contributed by working as a security guard.
Her mother lost her job and faced financial hardship during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
Makabe had to rely solely on R1 500 provided by NFSAS to survive.
He said:
It helped me buy groceries, but I didn't have the money to travel to school. I realized I needed a side hustle. If you don't, you won't succeed.
Makabe added that he applied to be a delivery driver for Mr. D and was hired in 2023.
This job required him to balance education with supporting himself.
“After I got home from university, I would do it outside of work hours. If I had an assignment, I would focus on my studies and make up for the next week's deliveries.
“I needed to stay motivated because I knew I needed to improve the situation back home.”
Read | University of the Free State marks milestone with graduation ceremony
His leap of faith paid off and he was able to make a living and financially support his family.
“I earned about R1,800 a week, which I used to buy additional groceries and pay for transport to Rocklands.” [a township in Bloemfontein] This is for practical training.
“It was about survival, but with the people I met at Mr. D, I started enjoying it,” he said.
Makabe will complete the four-year course at the end of 2023, with his graduation date set for April 20, 2024.
A few days before graduation, Makabe received a heartbreaking phone call from home.
My mother was unable to attend because she was unwell.
“She was too ill to travel long distances. I was very sad and depressed about this,” he said.
He confided in a few drivers about Mr. D, and Mr. D said: “We got you. Don't worry.”
The drivers escorted Makabe to the graduation ceremony on their motorcycles in a heartwarming manner.
“They arrived on motorbikes, [one] That person had a car and accompanied me to the graduation ceremony.
“They really made my day meaningful because they were there. I didn't feel like I didn't have family there. “It was great to meet you,” he said.
Makabe added:
Family is not just blood ties, but your friends who are always there for you. We need to thank those who helped us in difficult times.
He said he had applied for teaching jobs in the Free State, North West and Gauteng provinces but was unsuccessful.
“I pray that I get a job. If I get this once-in-a-lifetime chance to be an educator, it will really change my life.”