Thulani Shongwe. Sound familiar? It should as Mr Shongwe is no new face to Estcourt. The 48-year-old’s day job is a teacher at Inkosi-Mjwayeli Primary School whereas his every day; every hour, job is Bishop to four branches.

Mr Shongwe was born in the Free State, in a town known as Verkykerskop. Mr Shongwe is the eighth of 12 children. He recalled that while in grade four he moved to Ladysmith and resided with a family there. And it was in grade eight that his family moved to Bergville. He attended Ingula High School in Ladysmith and it was there where he matriculated. Just after receiving his matric results, he was called back and the staff asked him to be a private mathematics teacher for grade 11’s. Mr Shongwe was quite the mathematician back in his days.

His love for the subject automatically equalled a big, fat excited, yes. After a year Mr Shongwe moved to Newcastle, where he worked as a Mill Control Operator for six years. During his sixth year he received a bursary to study teaching further. That year was a happy time for Mr Shongwe, his first child was born and during the next year, in 1995, he married his wife Thabile. After the wedding he left to the Madadeni College of Education. He found it challenging to be a newlywed, and having to leave his wife back home with her in-laws. He pushed through and after three years he graduated with a diploma in Senior Primary Teaching.

Shortly after his graduation Mr Shongwe welcomed his second born, before moving to Estcourt where he worked at Ithala Housing as a Client Educator and Client Advisor. After working for Ithala Housing for six years Mr Shongwe joined Ezamukuthula Primary School as a teacher for grade four to seven students teaching Mathematics, Technology and Natural Sciences. After joining the school he was appointed the school sports co-ordinator.

In 2010 Mr Shongwe was promoted to Head of the Intermediate Department (grade four to six) at Inkosi Mjwayeli Primary School. Mr Shongwe now teaches grade six and seven students, Social Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences. Within the next 10 years Mr Shongwe would like to be a grandfather, he also looks forward to maintaining his relationship with God, as well as undergoing management courses to become Principal. Mr Shongwe recalls as a grade six learner, he was part of his church choir.

As he matured he was appointed General Secretary of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Mpumalanga Church in Zion of South Africa. Mr Shongwe is now Bishop to four branches, Bergville, Ladysmith branches Insimbi Kayigoba and Mkhumbi kaNowaas well as Kwaggafontien and Piet Retief, both in the Mpumalanga province.

He recently had his official handing over to the congregation of the church he offers his services to Mr Shongwe is also the general sectary for the Umtshezi Minsters Fraternal and spoke of the organisation with such admiration as he added that he fully supports their objectives. “Make your own future, focus on who you are as an individual and accept who you are that will make it a lot easier for you to accept others,” shared Mr Shongwe.