When teenage pregnancy and early parenting felt like a double-edged sword, Noku Katom made a life-changing decision: she would “go and fetch herself”.
The Khayamandi resident has now graduated cum laude with a master’s degree in practical theology (community development) from Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Theology. “Though life’s challenges delayed my path to higher education, I knew that chapter was part of my story, not its end,” she reflects.
Today, Katom is a community developer, faith-driven entrepreneur and scholar-practitioner exploring how theology can inspire economic justice and transformation in South Africa’s deeply unequal society.
Originally from the Qumanco in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, Katom is the third of eight children. She was raised in a community where resilience and faith were part of daily life.
Although she has been living in Khayamandi since the early 2000s, SU once felt out of reach. “There were very few students who looked like me or spoke like me. Language was also a major barrier,” she recalls. “I never imagined myself studying at SU.”
But over time, as she witnessed SU’s transformation, something shifted. “What once felt distant and inaccessible eventually became part of my journey.”
Today, she shares that story widely, especially with youths who doubt whether they belong at SU. One thing that stood out was that the university is located within walking distance of marginalised communities. “This proximity created a sense that higher education could be within reach.”
Katom began her studies in her late thirties, navigating the complexities of being an older student among younger peers. “I had to confront the inner shame of being an older full-time student among much younger students, but one thing people often don’t realise is that older students often perform very well academically – not in comparison with younger students, but because we study with life experience, discipline and intention.”
This she shares when encouraging mature aspirant students who feel they may have missed their chance. “Education does not have an expiry date.”
Like many students, Katom faced financial difficulties throughout her studies, yet she speaks with deep gratitude about the support she received along the way.
One moment stands out: “In December 2022, I had an outstanding debt and it was unexpectedly paid in full by someone. I still don’t know who it was,” she says. “For me, that was a powerful reminder of God’s provision.”
She also values SU’s policy that allows students with outstanding debt to attend their graduation. “Graduation is such a significant moment, especially for students from marginalised backgrounds. I will always be grateful that SU allowed me to experience this milestone.”
Despite financial constraints, her academic journey opened doors she never imagined, including international travel. A 2024 exchange programme in Finland proved particularly transformative. “It turned me into an author,” Katom says. “I wrote a book reflecting on my journey. It reminded me that entrepreneurs see opportunities behind challenges.”
Katom credits her support network as central to her success, speaking with deep appreciation of Dr Dawid Mouton from the Faculty of Theology, who provided pastoral care during the Covid-19 pandemic and her supervisor, Prof Nadine Bowers du Toit, also played a pivotal role.
Although her decision to study theo-
logy was rooted in faith, Katom initially had a limited understanding of the field. “I thought theology was mainly about becoming a pastor,” she says. “But I knew my calling was in working with people and communities.”
At SU, she discovered the wide scope of the discipline and found her place in practical theology, specialising in community development. “What amazed me was discovering that the work I had been doing for years actually exists as a full academic discipline. In many ways, my studies helped me put academic language and theoretical grounding to work I had already been passionate about.”
Katom hopes to pursue a PhD in the future, but is now focused on putting her master’s research into practice. Her study, “Christian Entrepreneurship and Marketplace Ministry: Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide for Women’s Economic Participation in the South African Context”, reflects her vision for change.
She plans to partner with churches across South Africa to build faith-based entrepreneurship ecosystems, particularly aimed at empowering women. “The goal is to help churches become spaces where faith, economic justice and empowerment meet,” she explains.
As Katom celebrates her third graduation, she remains grounded in her motivation. “I am in competition with no-one but my yesterday,” she says.
Her journey from a young mother to a cum laude graduate and emerging thought leader is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to begin again.
