Youngest PhD grad wants another degree
The youngest Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) graduate to be conferred with a PhD in public affairs already has his sights set on attaining his second.
The youngest Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) graduate to be conferred with a PhD in public affairs already has his sights set on attaining his second.
“If I get approval from the international institution I applied at, I’ll be doing my second PhD,” the excited John Molepo (29) said in an interview with Rekord at the TUT south campus on Friday.
The lecturer explained that he decided to pursue his studies to doctoral level to inspire his Soshanguve community.
“I want to show the community that it’s possible for the black child to make it,” he said.
Molepo admitted that although the journey to his PhD was not all smooth sailing, “passion and dedication” saw him through.
“I experienced some challenges – including depression.”
However, his move to Potchefstroom assisted him in the battle.
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His academic career started over two decades ago in 1996.
He completed his matric in 2008 and his journey to university started the following year.
“I didn’t know what to study but decided to enrol for public management,” he said.
He studied for his national diploma, BTech and masters consecutively but took a three-year break to gear up for the two-year journey to his PhD.
Despite juggling his career and studies Molepo also runs a community-based initiative – #Thusangwageno – to raise funds for disadvantaged students.
To raise the funds, Molepo and a few others stand at robots along the busy intersections of the township asking for money from motorists, taxi drivers, corporates and other road users.
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“The initiative was started a long time ago and we assist students with their school fees,” he said.
Molepo said they had seen students struggle and he asked himself what he could do with the few resources he had available.
He said the initiative had assisted over 200 students over the years, some of whom were now employed and had even returned to ask how they could assist.
“We are still going to assist them and plough back into the community.”
His hopes include seeing more libraries in one of the largest townships on the country to get the youth reading from a young age.
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