The Durban University of Technology (DUT) , Student Representative Council (SRC), Deputy President, Siphiwe “Wele” Vilakazi believes that it is important for students to maximize the opportunity afforded to them to acquire education, as there are many young people who are deprived of this opportunity due to various reasons.
Vilakazi is talking from experience, as back in 2011, he dropped out of DUT due to financial reasons and for not taking his education seriously. It took him two years in limbo (2012 and 2013) to realize that education was essential and he needed to go back to campus in order to make something of his life.
“That two-year period was the most stressful period in my life because I was given an opportunity by my parents to study, but I wasted that opportunity. This also ruined my relationship with my parents and I felt rejected. In December 2013 I was a Programme Director for the graduation party of one of my former classmates at DUT, and the reality hit me that had I not dropped out from my studies, I would also be part of the graduates who were seated in the front table. This made me realize that I needed to discover my purpose in life, and prompted me to enroll for the National Diploma in Public Management at DUT in 2014,” said Vilakazi.
Fast forward to 25 April 2018, Vilakazi attended his second graduation ceremony, where he was conferred with his B-Tech in Public Management. “Graduation is very significant to me because I’ve made my parents proud, and I feel inspired to achieve more,” said Vilakazi.
He said he is very grateful to the current Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Willies Mchunu who always pushed him to work at his education, even when everyone had given up on him. “He constantly called me to encourage me to go back to school, and he even assisted me to settle my historic debt when I wanted to enroll in 2014, so I’m really grateful to him for believing in me,” said Vilakazi.
When asked about what introduced him to student leadership, Vilakazi said he always believed that leadership is not about positions, but it is something that is within an individual, and you can be a leader without occupying any leadership position. “Throughout my student life, I’ve always advocated for the interests of our students and I didn’t wait for a position before I could lead students. I was only elected to the SRC last year but student activism is something that is within me,” explained Vilakazi.
Vilakazi is currently busy with his proposal for a Masters in Office Management Technology. “My ultimate goal is that I don’t want to die with the same title that I currently have, which is “Mr” but I aspire to be “Dr” or “Prof” one day,” said Vilakazi.
Vilakazi said he would like to see other students learning from his past mistakes by finding their purpose in life and maximizing opportunities to acquire an education. “It is important for students to know what they want and who they are because you cannot be anyone else but yourself. I will use my leadership position to share my story with other students in order to advise them not to commit the same mistakes as me,” added Vilakazi.
Wele as Vilakazi is affectionately known is a professional comedian and together with his twin brother, Simphiwe Vilakazi they form a dynamic comedy duo popularly known as “Amawele AseChesterville” as they grew up in Chesterville, Durban. “Since people know me as a comedian, they expect me to be funny but when I’m dealing with student issues I’m very serious because I have strong passion for addressing student issues,” said Vilakazi.
Pictured: Third from left is Siphiwe Vilakazi with other DUT SRC Pietermaritzburg leaders who were also graduating today, 25 April 2018 at Indumiso Campus.
Nduduzo Ndlovu
