Young Scientist’s Tearful Graduation Reunion With Dad at University of Fort Hare, SA Raves

• A young lady’s reaction to seeing her father in the crowd during her graduation ceremony warmed the hearts of many
• The young scientist received a PhD in Botany at the University of Fort Hare’s 2025 autumn graduation
• Comments poured in from South African online users, filling the post with sweet messages

A touching moment at a recent graduation ceremony has melted hearts across Mzansi, after a young graduate broke down in tears upon spotting her father in the crowd.

Graduate cries as she spots her dad in the crowd

The emotional scene unfolded just moments after the graduate received her qualification, and as she walked down the stage towards her seat, her eyes scanned the crowd. She suddenly caught sight of her father, who had managed to attend the ceremony, which caused her to burst into tears.

In the video posted by TikTok user @sandymaps1, she can be seen hugging her father as the significance of the moment sank in. Several attendees captured the heartfelt reaction on camera, which has since gone viral on social media.

Viewers online were quick to applaud the father for showing up and supporting his daughter, with many noting how important such moments are for both parent and child. The emotional video has been viewed thousands of times, sparking conversations about the role of parents in academic success and the power of showing up.

The young scientist received a PhD in Botany at the University of Fort Hare’s 2025 autumn graduation and has successfully merged her academic research with entrepreneurship through the launch of SandyMaps Personal Care, according to the University of Fort Hare LinkedIn post.

The brand sells body and hair care products made with plant extracts and essential oils that she discovered throughout her research.

Dr. Maposa stated that she was surrounded by the rich traditions of herbal medicine during her upbringing in the Eastern Cape's small town of Ngqamakwe.

"The therapeutic qualities of plants have always captivated me, but I also observed that this wealth of traditional knowledge was frequently underappreciated and in danger of disappearing."

Watch the heartwarming video below:

Mzansi is in awe of the father-daughter bond

Many people in South Africa loved the heartwarming interaction between the father and daughter. Others shared their own stories of overcoming obstacles and having loved ones by their side at major milestones.

Mpho Qhubu said:

"Couldn’t my dad just wait one more year to witness this moment with me? I literally got a PhD just to keep his surname forever."

Mbeks added:

"It sounds like she didn't know he was there..... Even the caption says spotted..... Or ndim ndihamba egrabileni."

User expressed:

"It's Ntate for me, some people are lucky to have their dads."

Janine commented:

"Ohhh, I am in tears that Tata has a story behind it. He is the supportive one. Present dads."

Didintle Matlala shared:

"The beauty of being a present Dad. You will get the recognition you deserve. You don’t have to be a millionaire, you don’t need expensive gifts. Just show up from day one."

More PhD graduates' stories

• Briefly News reported that a graduate from the University of Pretoria made history as she was named the first person to obtain a PhD in Astrophysics.
• This young woman is changing the narratives after being named the black female recipient of a PhD in Applied Data Science from the University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Lebogang Matholwane Mathole walked across the graduation stage at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and into the history books as the university's first-ever PhD graduate in Local Economic Development.

Source: Briefly News