Sello aims to improve maths and science for Gert Sibande

“I had to convince the principal to take me back because of my age.”

March 3, 2015

Levhuwani Matumba 2 minutes read

KINROSS – Having grown up in Kgabalatsane just outside Pretoria, Mr Sello Lelake turned his challenges into successes.

After he passed matric, he worked for a company and earned R2 per hour.

His mother was not working at the time and depended on his salary and Sello decided to return to school and repeat matric at the age of 22.

“I had to convince the principal to take me back because of my age,” said Mr Lelake.

To make sure that he got better results, he attended extra lessons of Mr William Smith on TV1, currently known as SABC1.

He watched Mr Smith on neighbours’ television because he did not have one at home.

At the end of the year he passed maths and science very well and decided to register for a national diploma in chemical engineering through the then Pretoria Technikon (Tshwane University of Technology).

Mr Lelake was later employed at Sasol Refining as a process controller in 2002 and 2009 he was appointed as a learning practitioner (training officer).

After realising that most pupils from rural and township areas are afraid of maths and science, he began with afternoon and weekend classes to help struggling pupils.

He further extended his work in career guidance to make sure that they apply for tertiary admission on time.

“I also teach them about human values, because imagine I teach a young girl and before the end of the year she is pregnant!” said Mr Lelake.

Mr Lelake received a nation building award for Mpumalanga with the same project of helping pupils with maths and science in 2001.

He aims at visiting all schools in eMbalenhle to encourage pupils to do better in mathematics and science.

Mr Lelake also wants to encourage pupils to consider trade subjects, because currently this country is short of qualified artisans.

Itumeleng Tele, a first year student at the Tshwane University of Technology, travelled from Limpopo to attend Mr Lelake’s winter classes last year.

“I used to struggle with maths and science in a way that I ended up thinking that I will not get good results to be able to register for information technology at the university,” said Mr Itumeleng.

After his grandfather approached Mr Lelake to assist him with maths and science, Mr Itumeleng passed mathematics and science with flying colours and he gives credit to Mr Lelake.

Everyone was suprised because they never knew him as someone who was excelling in maths and science.