Inkokeli yeSRC eUWC uMcNtosh Khasembe uBhiyozela isiDanga saKhe esiBunjwe bubuTshantliziyo
Umongameli weSRC eUWC, uMcntosh Khasembe, enxityiswa nguSekela Rejistra, uGqr Ahmed Shaikjee. Umfanekiso: Shelley Christians/UWCKuphole kamnandi, imozulu izidigri eziyi26 kwimvakwemini yangoLwesine kwinyanga kaTshaziimpuzi. Iqela labafundi abeme phambi kweholo iJakes Gerwel Hall kwiYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni (UWC) luvela lwatsho ngodlwabevu lweengoma zovuyo, bejikeleza besenza isangqa, beqhwaba ngamandla, bedanisa.
Kwisizikithi sesi sangqa kukho umfundi othile, ongengomfundi nje kodwa onguMongameli weKhansili eMele aBafundi (SRC),uMcntosh Khasembe, enxibe igawuni yakhe yokufumana isidanga kunye nesikhafu sakhe sasePalestina. Lo mbhiyozo uphawula inyathelo lokuqala lohambo lokuzinikela kwizifundo nokudlala indima kumzabalazo wabafundi. Umfundi oneminyaka engama22 waseOrange Farm, kuMazantsi eRhawuti, ongowokuqala ukufumana isidanga kusapho lwakhe, ufuna into abaninzi bendawo asuka kuyo abacinga ukuba kunzima ukuyifumana – isidanga sesayikholoji kwezasemsebenzini nakwezoqoqosho.
“Ukunyuka ndikhwele kwela qonga ndiya kwamkela isidanga yaba kukuqhawula izibopho neziqalekiso zezizukukulwana ngezizukulwana kusapho lwakhe. nanjengomntu wokuqala kusapho lwam ukufumana isidanga, ndizive ngathi andihambi ndedwa, kodwa ibingathi ndithwele bonke ubunzima abazali bam abadlule kubo ngenxa yemeko yokuba bebengalingani nezinye iintlanga nabanye abantu nangenxa yokungabikho kobulungisa ngexesha ababesebancinci ngalo. Bendimele abantu abaninzi baseOrange Farm abangazange bafumane ithuba lokuphumelela isidanga,” uye watsho uKhasembe.
“Utata wam zange alifumane ithuba lokuqhuba nezifundo zakhe adlule kwimatriki ngoba kwakufuneka aphangele ukuze axhase usapho lwakhe. Umama zange aligqibe ibanga leshumi (Greyidi 12)…wakhula ngexesha ithuba lokufunda lalingekho lula kubantu basetyhini ngenxa yendlela ababebonwa ngayo ngokwesini kunye nendima yembali yabantu abangoomama kuluntu ekuhlaleni.”
Ongumntwana wesibini kubantwana abane, u Khasembe, uthi impumelelo yakhe yenziwa kukusebenza nzima kwabazali bakhe: UThompson Banda, ongumanejala wevenkile yotywala, noBarbara Khasembe, owaseyebenza umsebenzi wekhitshi eUnisa nongaphangeliyo ngoku. Noxa babejongene nobunzima bezimali, baye bamthumela kwisikolo sabucala, iEd-U College, apho waphumelela imatriki yakhe ngokufumana ibhatshela, waze izifundo zakhe waziphumelela emagqabini zonke – nto leyo eyamvulela iingcango zaseUWC ngo2022.
Umongameli weSRC eUWC, uMcntosh Khasembe, nabazali bakhe, uBarbara Khasembe noThompson Banda.Umfanekiso: Shelley Christians/UWCUKhasembe uthi ukukhula kwikhaya elinabantu abenza imisebenzi yesiqhelo engatheni nabazithobileyo kuko okuye kwabumba ubunkokeli bakhe nendlela abona ngayo ihlabathi. Oku kuye kuvakale kakhulu kwiintetha zakhe zothwesozidanga apho esoloko ebulela abasebenzi abafana nabezokhuseleko nabo bacocayo abathi balungiselele iJakes Gerwel Hall ukuba kwenziwe imibhiyozo kuyo.
Uye wathi, “Ndihlala ndibabulela yaye ndibathathela ingqalelo ngoba bandikhumbuza apho ndisuka khona. Ndandiye ndiyibone indlela adinwe ngayo umama wam xa ebuya emsebenzini, Ndiyayiqonda indima edlalwa ngabasebenzi ekuqinisekiseni ukuba umbhiyozo ngamnye uyimpumelelo noxa bangakhe bakhe bathathelwe ingqalelo.”.
Ezinye iinkumbulo zokukhula ezihleli engqondweni yakhe kukungabi nezinto ezaneleyo ngexesha ihlabathi lalivalelekile ngenxa ye COVID-19 – yinto le eyamkhuthaza ukuba abe yinxalenye yomzabalazo wabafundi. Njengokuba utata wakhe yayinguye yedwa owondla usapho, kwathi kwakuvalwa ukuthengiswa kotywala, oko kwaba nefuthe elikhulu kwingeniso yosapho.
“Kwakunzima kakhulu kutata wam ngelo xesha ukuba asondle ekhaya, ndikhumbula ndimbona elila engayazi ukuba ndiyambona,” uye watsho.
“Loo mzuzu lowo wandichaphazela kakhulu waze wandikhuthaza ukuba ndidlale indima yokunceda. Xa ndandimana ndifumana ingxelo yemali endiyityalayo, ndaye ndabona ubuninzi bemali utata ekufuneka eyihlawule, kwaze oko kwatshintsha indlela yam yokucinga. Ndaqala ukuba nemibuzo emininzi, ndabukela iindaba zezinto eziqhubekayo, ndaze ndatsalwa yindlela iinkokeli ezithatha ngayo izigqibo zingayithathelanga ingqalelo into yokuba ezo zigqibo zizichaphazela njani iimpilo zabanye abantu.”
E-UWC, iimpawu zobunkokeli zikaKhasembe – eziqhutywa ngumnqweno wokunceda abanye abantu – zakhawuleza zabonakala. Enye yeendima zakhe zokuqala zobunkokeli waye waba lilungu leKomiti kwiNdawo awayeHlala kuyo iUnibell xa yayivula iingcango kubafundi abakunyaka wokuqala ngo2023. Kunyaka wakhe wesithathu, waye wonyulwa ukuba abe ngusihlalo weSouth African Students Congress, iSASCO, nto leyo eyamvulela iingcango zokuba abe ngumongameli weSRC ekupheleni kuka2024.
UKhasembe, owaphinde wonyulwa ukuba abe ngumongameli weSRC ekupheleni kwalo nyaka uphelileyo, kubandakanywa nokuba ngunondyebo wephondo weSASCO, nokuba ngusekelamongameli weSouth African Union of Students – eliqumrhu elimele zonke iiSRC kuzo zonke iiyunivesithi kuMzantsi Afrika wonke –uyavuma ukuba ukulungelelanisa izifundo zakhe noxanduva lobunkokeli akululanga.
Ukholelwa ukuba ukukwazi ukulawula ixesha lakho, ukucela ukuncediswa ngabanye abantu nokuthatha isigqibo ngento emawuqale ngayo kumncede kakhulu ukuba akwazi ukwenza izifundo nomsebenzi wobunkokeli ngaxeshanye. “Kubunkokeli, kufuneka usoloko uqonda ukuba awuzi kusoloko ungumlinganiswa ophambili.
Kufuneka uvumele abanye abantu ukuba baxhotyiswe, yaye xa ungenaxesha lokwenza into, cela omnye umntu ukuba ayenze.”
Njengokuba ngoku ejonge kwikamva lakhe, amathuba akhe avulekile. Emva kokugqiba iionazi zakhe, ufuna ukwenza iimastazi okanye enze izifundo zomthetho, ngethemba lokuba ekugqibeleni uya kufumana izifundo zezinga lobugqirha ukuze omeleze amathuba ekamva lakhe lokungena kwezopolitiko okanye kurhulumente.
Uthe, “Ndiyazibona ndikwezopolitiko okanye ndisebenzela urhulumente ngokupheleleyo. Imfundo yam iza kundinceda ukuba ndiye ndinyuka kumanqwanqwa, yaye, ngubani owaziyo, mhlawumbi ngenye imini ndingayokungena ePalamente.”
President Van Die UWK SR, McNtosh Khasembe, Vier Graad Wat Deur Aktivisme Gevorm Is
President van die UWK SR, Mcntosh Khasembe, beklee deur Adjunk-Registrateur, dr Ahmed Shaikjee. Foto: Shelley Christians/UWKDis ’n soel 26 grade op ’n Dondermiddag in April. ’n Skare studente voor die Jakes Gerwel-saal van die Universiteit van die Wes-Kaap (UWK) bars uit in sang en vorm ’n hegte kring, wat hartlik hande klap en dans.
In die middelpunt van die kring is geen gewone student nie, maar wel die President van die Studenteraad (SR), Mcntosh Khasembe, geklee in sy akademiese toga en ’n Palestynse serp. Die viering merk die eerste skof van ’n reis wat deur akademiese toewyding en studenteaktivisme gevorm is. Die 22-jarige van Orange Farm, suid van Johannesburg, die eerste afgestudeerde in sy familie, het pas sy graad ontvang en bereik wat vir die meeste van sy portuurgroep tuis feitlik onbereikbaar is – ’n graad in bedryfsielkunde en ekonomie.
“Om op daardie verhoog op te stap om my graad te ontvang, was die verbreking van ’n geslagtelike vloek. As die eerste persoon in my familie om te gradueer, het ek gevoel dat ek nie alleen stap nie, maar die stryd wat my ouers weens ongelykheid en ongeregtigheid in hulle jeug moes stry, met my saamdra. Ek was die verteenwoordiger van talle in Orange Farm wat nooit die geleentheid gekry het om te gradueer nie,” sê Khasembe.
“My vader het nooit die geleentheid gehad om sy studies ná matriek voort te sit nie, omdat hy moes werk en sy familie ondersteun. My moeder het nooit graad 12 afgehandel nie ... sy het opgegroei in ’n tyd toe toegang tot opvoeding werklik moeilik was vir vroue, weens genderstereotipes en die geskiedkundige rol van vroue in die samelewing.”
Khasembe is die tweede oudste van vier kinders en skryf sy sukses toe aan die opofferings van sy ouers: Thompson Banda, bestuurder van ’n drankwinkel, en Barbara Khasembe, ’n voormalige lid van die kombuispersoneel by Unisa en nou werkloos. Ten spyte van finansiële swaarkry, het hulle hom by ’n privaat skool, Ed-U College, ingeskryf, waar hy met universiteitsvrystelling en onderskeidings gematrikuleer het – en wat in 2022 die deur na die UWK oopgemaak het.
President van die UWK SR, Mcntosh Khasembe, saam met sy ouers, Barbara Khasembe en Thompson Banda. Foto: Shelley Christians/UWKKhasembe erken dat sy leierskapstyl en siening van die wêreld deur sy grootwordjare in ’n nederige werkersklashuis gevorm is. Dit is duidelik in sy gradueringstoespraak weerspieël, waar hy deurlopend erkenning verleen het aan dienspersoneel soos veiligheidswagte en skoonmakers, wat die Jakes Gerwel-saal vir plegtighede voorberei.
“Ek verleen aan hulle erkenning, omdat dit my herinner aan waar ek vandaan kom. In my grootwordjare het ek gesien hoe uitgeput my moeder was wanneer sy van die werk af kom. Ek verstaan die rol wat dienspersoneel in die sukses van elke geleentheid speel, selfs al word hulle selde erken,” sê hy.
Een van die rou herinneringe aan sonder genoeg grootword, was gedurende die Covid 19-grendeltyd – iets wat hom aangespoor het om by studenteaktivisme betrokke te raak. Met sy vader as die gesin se enigste broodwinner, het die verbod op alkoholverkope gedurende die grendeltyd ’n groot impak op hulle huishoudelike inkomste gehad.
“My vader het regtig gesukkel om die pot aan die kook te hou, en ek onthou dat ek hom in trane gesien het, wanneer hy gedink het dat niemand dit sou raaksien nie,” sê hy.
“Daardie oomblik het my werklik geaffekteer en in die rigting van aktivisme gestoot. Die ontvangs van my skoolfondsstaat en die besef van hoeveel hy die skool skuld, het my gedagtes begin vorm. Ek het meer vrae begin vra, meer aktuele sake begin dophou, en baie begin belangstel in hoe leiers besluite neem, sonder om altyd te besef hoe gewone mense en hulle lewensmiddele deur daardie besluite geraak word.”
Aan die UWK het Khasembe se leierskapskenmerke – aangedryf deur ’n begeerte om ander te help – feitlik onmiddellik na vore getree. Een van sy eerste leierskapsrolle was as ’n huiskomiteelid vir die Unibell-koshuis toe dit in 2023 vir eerstejaarstudente oopgestel is. In sy derde jaar is hy as die voorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Studentekongres (SASCO) verkies, wat die deur na die presidentskap van die SR in laat-2024 oopgemaak het.
Khasembe, wat verlede jaar as president van die SR herverkies is en verskeie leierskapsrolle beklee, waaronder provinsiale tesourier van SASCO, en adjunk-president van die Suid-Afrikaanse Unie van Studente – ’n verteenwoordigende liggaam vir studenterade van universiteite regoor Suid-Afrika – erken dat dit moeilik was om sy studies en leierskapsverantwoordelikhede te balanseer.
Hy glo dat die bemeestering van tydsbestuur, delegering en prioritisering van wat belangrik is, hom gehelp het om leierskap en studentwees in ewewig te hou. “In leierskap moet jy altyd begryp dat jy nie die hoofkarakter sal wees nie. Jy moet ander toelaat om bemagtig te wees en as jy nie die tyd vir iets het nie, moet jy dit aan iemand anders delegeer.”
Ten opsigte van die toekoms bly sy pad oop. Ná afhandeling van sy honneursgraad oorweeg hy nou om ’n magister te verwerf, of om na regsgeleerdheid uit te brei, met die hoop om uiteindelik ’n doktorsgraad te verwerf, om sy toekoms in die politiek of die regering te versterk.
“Ek sien myself wel in die politiek, of om voltyds vir die staat te werk. My opvoeding sal my help om deur die range te vorder en, wie weet, dalk sal ek eendag in die Parlement eindig,” sê hy.
UWC SRC President, Mcntosh Khasembe, congratulated by students after being capped at his graduation in April. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCIt’s a balmy 26 degrees on a Thursday afternoon in April. A crowd of students in front of the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Jakes Gerwel Hall erupts into a celebratory song as they form a tight circle, clapping loudly and dancing.
At the centre of the circle is no ordinary student, but the Student Representative Council (SRC) President, Mcntosh Khasembe, draped in his graduation gown and a Palestinian scarf. The celebration marks the first leg of a journey shaped by academic dedication and student activism. The 22-year-old from Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg, the first graduate in his family, had just been capped and accomplished what is almost unattainable for most of his peers back home – a degree in industrial psychology and economics.
“Walking onto that stage to receive my degree was the breaking of a generational curse. As the first person in my family to graduate, I felt like I was not walking alone, but carrying with me the struggles my parents faced through inequality and injustice when they were young. I was representing many in Orange Farm who never got the opportunity to graduate,” said Khasembe.
“My father never got the opportunity to further his studies beyond matric because he needed to work and support his family. My mother never finished Grade 12…she existed during a tough time where access to education was really difficult for women due to gender stereotypes and the historical role of women in society.”
UWC SRC President, Mcntosh Khasembe, invested by Deputy Registrar, Dr Ahmed Shaikjee. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCThe second-born of four children, Khasembe credits his success to the sacrifices made by his parents: Thompson Banda, a bottle store manager, and Barbara Khasembe, a former kitchen staff member at Unisa who is now unemployed. Despite financial struggles, they sent him to a private school, Ed-U College, where he matriculated with a bachelor’s pass and distinctions – unlocking the door to UWC in 2022.
Khasembe acknowledges that growing up in a humble working-class home shaped his leadership style and worldview. This is often reflected in his graduation speeches, where he always acknowledges service staff such as security guards and cleaners who prepare Jakes Gerwel Hall for ceremonies.
“I acknowledge them because it reminds me of where I come from. I grew up seeing how exhausted my mother would be when returning from work. I understand the role service staff play in making every event a success, even though they are rarely recognised,” he said.
One of the stark memories of growing up not having enough was during the COVID-19 lockdown – something that inspired him to be involved in student activism. With his father working as the family’s sole breadwinner, the ban on alcohol sales during the lockdown had a severe impact on their household income.
UWC SRC President, Mcntosh Khasembe, with his parents, Barbara Khasembe and Thompson Banda. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC“My father really struggled to make ends meet, and I remember seeing him in tears when he thought no one was watching,” he said.
“That moment really affected me and pushed me towards activism. Receiving my school fee statements and realising how much he owed the school started shaping my thoughts. I started to have more questions, watched more current affairs, and I became very invested in how leaders make decisions without always realising how those decisions affect ordinary people and their livelihoods.”
At UWC, Khasembe’s leadership qualities – driven by a desire to help others – surfaced almost immediately. One of his early leadership roles was as a House Committee member for the Unibell residence when it opened its doors to first-year students in 2023. During his third year, he was elected as the chairperson of the South African Students Congress SASCO, which opened doors to the SRC presidency late in 2024.
Khasembe, who was re-elected as SRC president late last year and holds several leadership roles, including provincial treasurer of SASCO, and deputy president of the South African Union of Students – a representative body for SRCs across universities in South Africa – admits that balancing his studies and leadership responsibilities has been no small feat.
He believes that mastering time management, delegating, and prioritising what is important has helped him juggle leadership and being a student. “In leadership, you must always understand that you will not be the main character. You must allow others to be empowered, and if you don’t have time for something, delegate it to someone else.”
As he looks to the future, his path remains open. After completing his honours degree, he is considering pursuing a master’s degree or branching into law, with hopes of eventually obtaining a doctorate to strengthen his future in politics or government.
“I do see myself in politics or working in government full-time. My education will help me grow through the ranks and, who knows, maybe one day I’ll end up in Parliament,” he said.
