What a comeback! The renowned South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) senior journalist, a veteran in his own right Mlondi Radebe has done what many deemed as the impossible, getting his honours qualification after more than 20-years of layoff in education.

He graduated with Bachelor of Journalism Honours at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Spring Graduation Ceremony at Olive Convention Centre (OCC) on Friday, 19 September 2024.

“I have been out of education for the past 20 years. So, coming back to school it was not an easy thing to do,’’ he described.

He said even when he was attending it was not easy as well.  He recalled moments where some students assumed he was a lecturer not knowing that he was just a student like them. He also mentioned that as a single parent balancing academics, personal life and work was also a challenge.

Hailing from Pietermaritzburg, expressing his excitement Radebe said: “For me it was a big milestone. Although it was never easy. Especially when you work as a journalist and study, it was difficult.”

The renowned journalist emphasised the importance of education in sharpening skills of which he believes it is vital for one to be able to prosper in his/her career by having new skills that enable them to produce productivity of quality.

To first fears or anyone who wishes to walk the same journey as him, he said they must not misuse the opportunity granted to them to study. They must take full advantage of it because if they do not at a later stage it will catch up with them.

“They must Just focus on their studies until they get what they want. They must not misuse the opportunity granted to them. As long as they are are still alive their dreams will never die,’’ he concluded.

Pictured: Mlondi Radebe, SABC journalist.

Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini.

Vukani Langa