Lucky Maebela is doing his honours and works as a gardener to fund is studies. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

Most mornings, Lucky Themishi Maebela can be found tending to the gardens at the University of the Western Cape's (UWC) main campus. Dressed in brown overalls and caring for the grounds that thousands of students cross each day, he blends into the background like any other member of the maintenance team.

But when his shift ends, Maebela swaps gardening tools for textbooks and lecture notes. The 29-year-old gardener is a postgraduate student, pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Child Studies after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Psychology, Philosophy and English.

For Maebela, education is more than a qualification. It is a second chance at life. "I just want to be seen," he said quietly.

For years, people had seen only the scars on his face, not the person behind them. Growing up in Kgautswane near Burgersfort in Limpopo, Maebela's journey to university was never guaranteed. His family lived in Mogoleng Section, and every school day, he travelled approximately 14 kilometres to attend classes at Mathafeng Secondary School.

Even then, he understood that education offered a pathway to a different future. After matric, he moved to Tembisa in 2018, hoping to find work and create opportunities for himself.

Instead, his life changed in an instant. While crossing a road to submit his CV for a job opportunity, he was struck by a taxi. The accident left him with severe facial injuries and visible scarring. "People would look at me and become scared. Sometimes they would move away from me before even speaking to me."

Lucky Themishi Maebela. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

Simple tasks became difficult. Shopping centres became places of discomfort. Security guards sometimes stopped him because they assumed he was involved in criminal activity.

"It was painful because people did not know my story. They only saw my face and made their own conclusions."

Unable to continue with the life he had built in Gauteng, Maebela returned home to Limpopo to recover. He decided to start again. Determined to improve his matric results and create new opportunities, he returned to school.

The decision came with its own challenges. A school near his village refused to admit him. Eventually, Matshaile Secondary School in Kgautswane gave him a chance and enrolled him in Grade 11 in 2020.

At 23, he was older than most of his classmates. "Being older wasn't easy," he said.

Some learners mocked him. Others questioned why he was still at school. There were jokes about him receiving meals from the school feeding scheme despite being an adult. But Maebela had little interest in fitting in. He was focused on changing his life.

"While other learners were playing around, I knew why I was there," he said.

Living on a R350 social relief grant, he carefully saved his money instead of spending it. Together with his younger brother, he bought a chainsaw and started taking on small jobs to earn an income. "That time taught me how to survive, how to work for myself and how to keep going when things are difficult."

His determination caught the attention of a local social worker named Sungulani. After hearing Maebela's story, Sungulani encouraged him to apply for university. "He told me he could see that I wanted something from life," Maebela recalled.

Together, they explored university options and submitted applications, including one to UWC. When his acceptance letter arrived, it represented far more than admission to a university. It was proof that his future had not been decided by an accident.

At UWC, Maebela found more than an education. He found belonging. He immersed himself in his studies and discovered a passion for understanding people, families and communities.

While studying he works as a campus gardener to support himself. His three-month contract is due to end in June 2026, creating another period of uncertainty. Yet, uncertainty is something he has learned to live with.

"UWC gave me a second chance," he said. "This university helped me continue my studies and build a future. I hope I can continue working and growing here."

His ambitions stretch far beyond his current qualification. One day, he hopes to earn a PhD. He also dreams of creating opportunities for others through the Rise and Be Seen Youth Development Foundation - an initiative he established to uplift young people through education, to reduce crime and provide support for those facing mental health challenges.

The foundation reflects his own life experience. He knows what it feels like to be overlooked. He knows what it feels like to be judged. And he knows the power of someone believing in you when few others do. "I want young people to know that their circumstances don't define them," he said. "No matter what happens to you, you can still achieve your goals."