This South African student went from working as a cashier to graduating from Oxford.

A few years ago Ntokozo Qwabe was forced to drop out of his law degree because money was tight. While he didn’t have much money, he did have buckets of determination and now he is an Oxford graduate.

In 2007, Qwabe was forced to drop out of studying at University of KwaZulu-Natal because he did not have money for food, transport or books. Determined to keep his dream alive, he went to go work as a cashier, earning R1800 per month and save up to make his dream a reality.

Distinguished Student Awards recipients, Mr Ntokozo Qwabe (left) and Ms Kelly Sloley (right) with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching and Learning and Chair of the Scholarships Committee, Professor Renuka Vithal.

A few years later and he has 17 commendations from the dean, 34 distinctions, and has obtained his law degree summa cum laude. These achievements earned him a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship to study further at Oxford in England. Last week, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Law from Oxford University.

The 24-year old isn’t done yet. Next year he will complete his second Master’s in Public Policy at Oxford. During his time at Howard College, he also started an organisation to help rural students integrate into university life. He said:

“UKZN has done a lot for me, but they started doing a lot for me when my problems had passed. I have to say at that time and at that age, asking for help – I did not know who to approach. But I did come back and that is what I appreciate.”