KZN grass cutter graduates with BA in Education
"I hope, as a Unisa graduate, to one day stop cutting grass for a living, and to be employed as an educator." - Siyabonga Chaliluque
We set the week off on a positive note as we share the story of Siyabonga Chaliluque. A man who hoped to do something meaningful with his life and ended up inspiring others with his determination and courage.
Chaliluque lost his parents at a young age; his father passed in 1999 following an illness, and his mother sadly passed away in the KwaZulu-Natal floods of 2000. Having grown up without the presence of his parents, Chaliluque shares how he yearned for the love and affection from a mother and father.
He is one of five children, and when he lost his parents, his older sister took on the role of guardian and caregiver to him and his siblings.
Chaliluque completed his matric at Uyengo High School in Bumbaneni, KwaMbonambi, but didn't have the support he needed to make an informed decision about life after school and choosing a career path.
While he wished to do something meaningful with his life, at the time, his pursuit was to help look after his siblings. After approaching an entrepreneur in the neighbourhood, he became a grasscutter.
"The grass-cutting job paid about R50 per yard, which Chaliluque describes as ‘not bad’ for a person in his situation, because he cut three yards per day, to earn a decent wage of R150 a day," reports the University of South Africa (Unisa).
When he met a fellow community member studying through Unisa, things changed for Chaliluque. He asked for help with registration and started his journey towards a degree in education.
Read the inspirational story of Siyabonga Chaliluque from rural KwesakwaMthethwa in Empangeni, who recently graduated from Unisa with a Bachelor of Education degree. https://t.co/1662etlrZr #Unisa150andBeyond #UnisaCEDU pic.twitter.com/hlLLcz8Q7G
— Unisa (@unisa) July 6, 2025
Chaliluque became a father in 2015, and he was determined to complete his studies. He did not want his son to have the same life he did, so he used this as motivation.
As determined as he was, it wasn't always easy. He faced several challenges studying through distance learning, mainly because he lived in a rural area. Things such as connectivity and Wi-Fi issues posed challenges, but that didn't stop him.
In June, Chaliluque graduated in Durban as he received his Bachelor of Education degree. As he walked the stage after being capped, Chaliluque was overcome with emotion. He held onto the registrar, Unisa's Regional Director, Dr Joyce Myeza, and cried.
Now, Chaliluque hopes to secure a teaching position that will help him and his family escape poverty.
"I hope, as a Unisa graduate, to one day stop cutting grass for a living, and to be employed as an educator. One day, through this Unisa qualification, I hope to provide for my family, son, and community. I am indebted to this impoverished community and wish to give back to it in any way I can", he told Unisa.
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