Nkosinathi Mzolo‚ 31‚ graduated with a Master of Law degree (LLM) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal last week. Mzolo‚ who is now a graduate teaching assistant at UKZN’s Law School‚ said life was difficult‚ being raised by a single mother who planted vegetables to feed her seven children and sell to the locals.
“I had no school shoes and my mother could not afford the R23-a-year school fees in primary school. A teacher helped buy my uniform. Despite all the challenges I was very diligent‚ never missed school and maintained first position in class throughout primary school‚ was headboy and was involved in sport and the school choir.
Mzolo said he returned to driving taxis‚ until the following year when his high school principal gave him R2‚500 to register for a Bachelor of Arts at UKZN.
“I received financial aid and residence. I continued to drive on weekends and holidays to earn extra money to help my sister study tourism at DUT.
“Unfortunately two months before I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in 2012 my mother passed away and never saw what she cultivated in me pay off‚” said Mzolo.
Mzolo said the injustices done to illiterate and vulnerable people made him want to study law and fight for people’s human rights.
“I want to first be an academic before becoming an advocate and eventually joining the Constitutional Court‚” he said.
