Juggling a job and part-time studies is no easy feat, but the moment you have to juggle two jobs, your studies, being a husband and father, and welcoming a newborn into the house, it becomes an even more enormous challenge – but one that is not impossible.
Just ask Thembelani Sikilishe, who recently graduated with his Honours degree in Development Studies from Nelson Mandela University after completing his under-grad studies in 2017.
This is apart from the fact that he is one module shy of a B.Com degree in economics and also has a diploma in IT.
The 43-year-old, who hails from Qwaninga Location in the rural parts of the former Transkei, is a constable in the metro police during the week and a radio presenter on weekends, working for online radio station, Ilizwi FM.
He has done everything from being a data capturer at Statistics South Africa to a clerk and traffic officer.
He has also been at several radio stations, including Kouga FM in Humansdorp, Peddie and KwaNobuhle and received numerous awards. Name an occupation and there is a good chance that Sikilishe has done it.
“My late father never had an opportunity to study further during the time of the struggle as he was born in 1937 and ended up with Grade 1.
“The same applies to my mom. She was always the one who was encouraging us at home to study since she also never had such an opportunity, being a housewife and raising us at home,” he said.
“I grew up in an under-developed area where there were no roads or electricity, but I never allowed it to discourage me. The people in the city will never understand village life. You spend your days dreaming about the city and all the things you would do. I wanted to make a change to my standard of living and moved to Gqeberha the first chance I got. I knew that here, dreams come true for village boys.”
Sikilishe added that once the study bug bit him it refused to let go, and the same thing happened when he realised how great it was to be on radio.
“I love everything about radio. It is my passion and it makes me feel alive. My studies made me happy because coming from an under-developed rural area helped me understand my degree more, since it touched on exactly those topics. I want to go further and obtain my PhD,” he laughed.
When asked how exactly he managed to do all of this when he still had a wife and children at home and a demanding day job, he responded, “It’s sacrifice.”
He added that his educator wife, Zanele, has always given her full support when it came to his studies.
“I am so happy that I was able to obtain this qualification as it was my dream to be among graduates coming from this university.
“I want to thank my wife and my mom for their support. Without them, this never would have been possible,” he said.
