Perseverance and hard work pays off for ex-TUT student

For a former Tshwane University of Technology student and local businessman, lack of financial resources are not reasons to give up – perseverance and hard work gets you the best end results.

Herman Mathebula (28) of Ga-Rankuwa could not graduate due to financial exclusion by the national student financial aid scheme, but he was determined to put in the hard work in order to establish his business.

Mathebula, who completed his studies in economic management analysis at TUT in 2015, could not secure formal employment, but set out to make something of himself.

He now organises tours for schools in Soshanguve through the tourism company, Tshwelopele tours he established in 2017.

His company recently donated 1 000 sanitary pads to Klipgat Secondary School in Mabopane and Lebelo Primary School in Hammanskraal.

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According to Mathebula, it has not been an easy road to get to the current milestone.

“I remember I worked as a cleaner at a restaurant after completing my course because I could not receive my certificate due to financial exclusion. Things did not go well and I ended up losing my job,” said Mathebula.

Mathebula said he resorted to selling fruits and counterfeit CDs on the streets, in order to make a living.

“I later got a job at Rosslyn where I worked for a year, because I was not happy and it was not something I enjoyed,” he said.

Mathebula said that despite challenges and obstacles that the youth faced, “it is important not to lose sight of your dreams, passion and admissions”.

“I was fortunate enough to find work at a tourism company in Ga-Rankuwa for a year. That is when I learned new things and my love for travel and tourism developed. I resigned after working there for a year.”

After resigning, Mathebula set out to establish his own company, operating from his aunt’s back room.

“I was living in Ga-Rankuwa with my aunt. By then I did not have an office, so I worked in the backroom. Things were not easy by then because I had financial problems and no one wanted to sponsor or fund me.

“Because I did not have money to boost my company, I had to look for a business that would give me money for start-up. We struggled for only three months, then we got three tender trips to organise,” said Mathebula.

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Mathebula currently employs six young people in Soshanguve and said he wished to see his company grow and becoming notable.

Khothatso Mashaba, who works with Mathebula said: “I always dreamt to go places like Durban, and I thank Tswelopele which has helped me to get a job and also to go to places that I have never been before.”

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