From the dusty streets of Sharpeville to the boardrooms of the South African financial sector, Molefi Seshabela’s journey is a powerful tale of resilience, failure and triumph. It is a story of defiance – of a young boy who grew up surrounded by poverty but refused to let poverty write the final chapter of his life.

Today, at just 35, this North-West University (NWU) alumnus is head of secured credit at Old Mutual and pursuing a PhD in Risk Analysis. However, behind the impressive title and academic achievements lies a journey marked by hardship, setbacks and moments when giving up would have been the easier choice.

As the youngest of five children, Seshabela grew up in a family where education was seen as the pathway to a better life. All five siblings went on to earn university degrees and build successful careers. One brother studied accounting and became a pastor. Another is a qualified chartered accountant and lecturer at the NWU. One of his sisters is a qualified chartered accountant and head of finance at a bank, while another is a finance manager at a government department.

For Seshabela, their greatest achievement is deeply personal. Their greatest pride is being able to take their parents out of the kasi and give them a life they once could only dream of.
“We grew up very poor, but my parents made sure that we all got an education. We made a promise to take them out of the kasi,” he says.

For a family that started with so little, it is a powerful measure of how far education has taken them –a legacy Seshabela is determined to continue. His journey to the NWU began through the Ikateleng Project, which supports talented learners from disadvantaged communities through academic support, mentorship and career guidance. He excelled in matric, with his lowest mark being 76%.

Initially aspiring to become an engineer, Seshabela discovered Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI) after an NWU alumnus, Vincent Kheswa, visited the Ikateleng Project to speak to learners about the field.

“I bless God for the day I heard about BMI. I initially wanted to study engineering, but after Vincent’s talk, I was swayed,” he says.

He went on to study Data Mining at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU, followed by honours and a master’s degree in Quantitative Risk Management. He is now pursuing a PhD in Risk Analysis.

But his university journey nearly screeched to a devastating halt. After growing up in a protective and strict household, with parents who were deeply involved in the church, Seshabela found the freedom of university overwhelming.

“I grew up in a very protective and strict environment. My parents were church people. When I got to university, I experienced freedom for the first time,” he says.

The newfound independence, however, came with distractions. Influenced by friends, alcohol and the excitement of university life, he began missing classes, eventually failing his third year and being barred from the NWU.

Refusing to give up, he pleaded for another chance. Prof. Riaan de Jongh, founder and former director of the centre for BMI at the NWU, believed in him, helped secure funding and monitored his progress.

“He checked on me every month to make sure that I kept to my promise,” says Seshabela. “I will forever be grateful to him for believing in me.”

He returned to his studies, overcame another setback after failing his honours and eventually completed his master’s degree. His career has since taken him through Absa, Investec and Ernst & Young, before his appointment as head of secured credit at Old Mutual. He has also experienced business setbacks, including failed ventures in student accommodation and chicken farming.

Today, he is involved in property investment and dreams of establishing his own consulting company.
Married to Katlego and a father of one, Seshabela has never forgotten where he comes from. When his demanding career allows, he gives back by providing extra Mathematics and Science classes to matric learners, mentoring young people and delivering motivational talks at schools. He is particularly passionate about Mathematics and language, encouraging learners interested in BMI to develop both skills.

“Studies done by BMI show that people who are good in their home language are highly likely to do well in BMI,” he says.

For Seshabela, giving back has brought his journey full circle. Ikateleng once opened the door for him; today, he is helping open doors for others.

His story is ultimately one of hope – a reminder that poverty, failure and setbacks do not have to determine a person’s future.

“Where you come from must never determine where you are going,” he says.