WSU Graduate Sonelise Sibali Dies 10 Days After Receiving His Degree in Eastern Cape
- Sonelise Sibali, 26, was admitted unconscious to Mthatha General Hospital just days after graduating from Walter Sisulu University
- Sibali spent seven years completing a three-year degree, facing severe financial hardship and multiple deregistration periods
- His sister confirmed he was the first in the family to graduate and had plans to pursue an honours degree before his sudden death
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Source: Facebook
EASTERN CAPE — A 26-year-old Walter Sisulu University graduate has died at Mthatha General Hospital, just ten days after receiving his degree at a ceremony on 25 September 2025.
News24 reported that Sonelise Sibali, originally from Nyanisweni Location in Qumbu, Eastern Cape, was brought to the hospital unconscious on Tuesday morning following a short illness. He passed away approximately two hours after being admitted, according to his sister, Athandile Sibali. The family is currently awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death.
A 7-year journey to graduation
Sibali's path to earning a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences was anything but straightforward. What should have been a three-year degree took him seven years to complete, largely due to severe financial constraints and a lack of accommodation support.
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His mother, Nosonwabiso, who works as a domestic worker, was his primary source of financial support throughout his studies. Sibali also faced significant mental health challenges during this period, which led to multiple deregistration periods from the university. He ultimately persisted through a combination of support from university structures, counselling services, friends, and family, eventually crossing the stage to collect his degree earlier this month.
First in the family to graduate
Athandile confirmed that her brother held a distinction within their family — he was the first member to graduate from university. In the period before his death, Sibali had spoken about his intention to enrol for an honours degree, signalling his ambition to build on what he had achieved. The family now mourns a milestone that came at a painful cost, having celebrated his graduation only days before his sudden hospitalisation and death.
View his relative's Facebook post announcing his death here:
80-year-old farmer graduates
In a related article, Briefly News reported on an 80-year-old Karoo sheep farmer who graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Master of Commerce in Economics.
His research examined how Karoo farmers survived a severe drought from 2013 to 2022 without state aid. His achievement drew widespread praise and showed that learning can continue at any age.
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Source: Briefly News
