“My Grandfather's Salary Was a Can of Beef": Graduate Shares Inspiring Story
- A graduate and a woman from Limpopo, Dimakatso Makinta, shared the story of how her grandfather struggled as she grew up under challenging conditions
- The Central University of Technology graduate, Dimakatso Makinta, says her grandmother was paid R400 whilst her granddad's salary was just a tin of canned meat
- The story of Dimakatso Makinta seeks to inspire many South Africans - with focus, one can achieve academic success
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In an influential story of academic excellence, Dimakatso Makinta, has opted against withholding a success story as she recently bagged a degree in project management.
Makinta's story is relayed by Varsity World, a publication that documents testimonies from those that grew up under challenging conditions, but decided not to give up.
Taking a look at her LinkedIn page, Makinta studied at the Central University of Technology in the Free State and is in possession of a Professional Qualification and Level 8 qualification in Project Management - she is working for Mimecast.
According to the Facebook page, Makinta grew up in a disadvantaged surrounding where she says eating meat and bread was just a privilege.
She recounts how her mother had to work for a meagre salary of under R1 000 per month while her grandmother earned a monthly salary of R400. Makinta said:
Source: Facebook
"Just like every other black child story. Mom was 14 years when she had me. A very painful situation she was in. Me, Mom, as well as three of my mom's siblings depended on my grandma, who was a kitchen girl, and grandpa, who was a garden boy.”
As her family struggled to make ends meet, she went further to say her grandfather's payment was just a tin of canned meat. She added:
“Grandmother earned R400 a month, while grandfather, the only payment he received from his employer was a “tin beef” every Wednesday. The only meat I knew was the tin beef which we had to share every other Wednesday. Bread was not for us, that was way too expensive.”
Source: Facebook
Speaking about her grandmother's struggles, the new graduate continued to say her Gogo came back home with leftovers. She continued:
“Grandma returned home each day with the food she was given by her employer. You know when you just bite meat or bread and then decide, arghh I cannot eat this, then you throw it away? My grandma collected all those leftovers for us.
“Finally, mom had to hustle for a job too and the only thing she knew was cooking. She then worked at a restaurant as a cook and earning just below R1 000. That R1 000 she had to look after me and her three younger sisters.
“You know the struggle? I was young and all I did was to enjoy food from other people's mouths, for as long as there was cheese and bacon - I was super happy.
“We wore torn clothes, third-to-forth-hand clothes from other people.”
The Facebook post has attracted comments from the followers who shared the same sentiments in as far as congratulating the resilient woman.
@Kamani Ramasamy said:
"Please continue with the rest of your story. Wow, you and your family are amazing. Thank you for sharing. We are proud of you."
@Machipa Letsoalo said:
"What an inspiring story. Congratulations to you and your grandma's generation."
@Sing van Maglera summed it up:
"The sky is the limit which we will never limit. But on earth, if you put your mindset towards achieving something you want, nothing will stop you."
Meanwhile, Briefly.co.za ran a report on Namibian woman, Ndatega Asheela-Shikalepo, who celebrated her academic achievement as she was also accepted by the High Court of Namibia.
Asheela-Shakalepo's recent milestone was penned by Varsity World, an online publication seeking to celebrate academic excellence.
The website has detailed Asheela-Shakalepo's journey to stardom, saying that she was conferred with a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Pretoria.
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Source: Briefly News
