Grade 9 Dropout Lusanda Ncisana Earns UKZN PhD in Crop Science Against All Odds

• Lusanda Ncisana, who grew up in Mthatha's Ngangelizwe Township, left school after Grade 9 before returning two years later to complete his education
• Ncisana attended university classes without being registered after NSFAS funding issues blocked him from enrolling for his second year at Fort Hare
• He lost his mother during his studies and faced major research disruptions due to COVID-19 while working toward his doctorate

A man who left school after Grade 9 has gone on to earn a Doctorate in Crop Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Lusanda Ncisana's journey from Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, to the halls of academia is one built on sheer determination and what he calls "active hope" — choosing to act rather than wait.

Ncisana dropped out of school after completing Grade 9. Two years later, following his cultural initiation, he returned to finish his secondary schooling with a clearer sense of purpose.

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From Fort Hare to UKZN against the odds

After spending two more years working, he enrolled for a Bachelor of Science at the University of Fort Hare. Despite performing exceptionally well in his first year, a NSFAS funding breakdown prevented him from officially registering for his second year. Rather than walk away, Ncisana continued attending lectures as an unregistered student until he eventually secured funding through the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier.

The obstacles did not stop there. During his doctoral studies, he lost his mother, who had been his greatest source of support. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely disrupted his research, forcing him to adapt at every turn.

Drought-resistant crops and a future-focused thesis

Ncisana's doctoral research, supervised by Dr Ntuthuko Mkhize and Prof Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi at UKZN, examined how forage radish genotypes (Raphanus sativus) perform under water stress conditions. His findings showed that specific new genotypes are capable of producing consistent crop yields while using considerably less irrigation water, a significant contribution to climate-smart agriculture in drought-prone parts of South Africa.

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He now lectures at the University of Limpopo, where he mentors emerging scientists and champions education as a way to break the cycle of generational poverty. His story is a reminder that the path to a doctorate does not have to begin in a classroom.

More on inspiring South African graduates

• Briefly News recently reported on a UKZN graduate who built an AI system inspired by his parents, earning a top award for his final-year project.
• A forensic pathologist walked across the stage to collect his Master's degree with a deliberate tribute in his hair, and South Africans praised his mission.
• At 80, a Karoo sheep farmer graduated from UCT with a Master's degree, moving people across the country with his achievement.

Source: Briefly News