Tsakani – Nkhesane Maluleke’s dream to help learners succeed has grown into a community-driven education initiative making a meaningful difference in Tsakani and surrounding areas.

Maluleke’s Academy has become a support centre for learners and parents, offering academic assistance, career guidance and educational support to families who often face barriers to accessing opportunities.

His journey into education was shaped by his own experiences. After completing high school in 2013, he believed, like many young South Africans, that university was the only route to success.

However, when circumstances forced him to leave university, he later enrolled at a TVET college in 2022.

“The experience changed my perspective on education and strengthened my belief that every learner deserves access to information, guidance and opportunities, regardless of the educational path they choose.

“Long before MKT Academy was formally established, I was already tutoring learners from my grandmother’s kitchen,” he explained.

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Despite financial constraints, limited resources and setbacks, including an unsuccessful education boot camp in 2019, he remained committed to his vision of empowering young people through education.

His academy began operating in 2022 before achieving formal registration in 2024. Today, the organisation continues its work from a modest garage that has been converted into a learning centre.

“We may not have a large campus or modern facilities, but we have something equally valuable, a place where children are encouraged to believe in themselves and where education remains accessible to everyone,” said Maluleke.

One of the academy’s flagship community initiatives is its annual School Application Drive, which provides free assistance to parents applying for Gauteng Department of Education Grade One and Grade Eight placements.

Although the inaugural drive in 2024 assisted only five families, Maluleke said the experience reinforced an important lesson about the impact of starting small.

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“At the time, helping only five families felt like a disappointment. Looking back, those five families remind us that meaningful change starts one child, one parent, and one community at a time,” he said.

Building on the initiative, MKT Academy will once again provide free assistance with Gauteng Grade 1 and Grade 8 online school applications from August 5 to September 3.

Parents and guardians who need assistance with the online application process are encouraged to visit the academy for support.

Beyond school applications, Maluleke has become increasingly recognised for promoting educational awareness, encouraging learners to consider both university and TVET pathways, supporting academic achievement and demonstrating how grassroots initiatives can help bridge gaps in education.

His work reflects his belief that meaningful educational change does not always begin with large institutions, but can start with ordinary people choosing to serve their communities.

For information and enquiries, contact Maluleke on 060 425 3251.