Young achiever leads the way
Former Benoni High School pupil Lesego Maphanga is sharing his knowledge with local scholars.
The 24-year-old, with a fair share of his own achievements, is giving back to the community by presenting motivational talks at schools around town.
He carries the title of Mr Gauteng 2013/2014 and was Mr South Africa 2013/2014’s youngest finalist.
He participated in the prestigious Standard Bank internship, is vice-president of the Black Scientists, Technologists and Engineering Professionals (Bstep) a radio DJ on Cliff Central, a keynote speaker, an entrepreneur and Enactus national finalist.
Lesego’s talks provide a basic framework of what is needed to be academically successful.
“This includes time management skills, scrutinising the friends pupils have and motivation to study, among other things,” he said.
He has given talks to all grades at Willowmoore High School throughout January and February and has talks planned at Benoni High School, Wordsworth High School, Lesiba Secondary School and Petit High School, so far.
When asked what drives him to follow through with this initiative Lesego said: “I am actively on a mission to propel my personal ambition, to be the most influential young South African of my generation,
“I want to better the world, share my story and leave a legacy of which my family will be proud.
“I want to be a living testimony that one should never doubt what a thoughtful, dedicated and driven person can do to change the world, because, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Lesego said the appreciation of pupils who email him to inform him of their achievements, and the impact that his talk has on them, is a deeply humbling experience.
Currently a Boksburg resident, Lesego grew up in Crystal Park, where his family still lives.
He matriculated from Benoni High in 2008, achieving a Premier Award for mathematics, and then studied industrial engineering at the University of Pretoria.
He is an alumnus of the Tuks Engineering Leadership Academy (Tuksela).
He currently occupies the position of a features engineering officer at Standard Bank, which he is planning to involve in his initiative, in order to have enough resources to give talks to more pupils.
To date he has given talks in Pretoria and Benoni and said he has ambitions to speak all over Africa and the world, as a proud ambassador of South Africa.
Lesego also gives talks at corporate events.
He is aiming to propel his modelling, presenting and acting careers and aims to revolutionise the banking industry as we know it.
Schools may contact him for further information on his talks by emailing him at lesego.maphanga@standardbank.co.za.
