Dumisani Gxawu

no picture

Firstly, I feel I owe the people who selected me for the scholarship a big THANK YOU. Passing my examinations is the only way of doing that. I am more than a little determined than ever before to use this inviting chance in developing myself academically. Moreover furthering my studies in Physics is what I had always wanted to do.

Dumisani is my first name and Gxawu is my surname. I was born on 25-05-67 at Tabankulu district in Transkai. I am second born to Grace and Franklin Gxawu. My location is Bungeni and I think it is fair to say it is a remote area in the sense that: (1) Life is not so fast in comparison with other areas like Durban. (2) Farming for example is practiced as in other areas but in a very primitive way and the production of major crops is not appreciable to most people. This is the reason why men have to leave to cities and mines to seek employment so as to supplement food shortage and other things.

Although the number of people who are literate is quite substantial there are very few people who have post matric qualifications. This can be attributed to the disregard of education values by most parents and their getting used to hardships.

How Am I Going To Use The Grant

It has been confirmed in writing that I have been granted a scholarship of R5000.00. A sum of about R3100.00 will be paid directly to the university. This includes tuition fees (R2888.00), a lab deposit (R100.00) and some penalties for late registration. There might be some change which, I think, shall be paid to me as a refund. If ever that happens I will take that refund as a pocket money. I bring to your notice the fact that I have decided to rent a private house which is about five minutes walk from the campus. This I have done because of the demanding nature of the course. The rent is R260.00 a month. Therefore the remainder of the scholarship will help me to pay part of the rent for the whole year.

Family Background

I have three brothers and two sisters. Two of my brothers left school early because of family financial problems. One of my brothers, the youngest one, and my two sisters are still schooling with the elder sister of the two doing her matric.

Family Financial Background

People according to the kind of life they are leading. For instance we say they are poor if they cannot afford the basic necessities. If that is the case it is then fair to say their financial background is poor.

My father is employed by the KwaZulu department of works as a general laborer. He earns roughly R800.00 a month. He has to shoulder the responsibility of paying my brothers’ and sisters’ fees. My brother is employed by the Gold and Uranium Division which falls under the Anglo American mining company. He works just as a miner and earns not more than R1500.00 per month.

School and Post School Back Ground

I started schooling at Bungeni J.S. School where I passed standard seven. That was in 1983. The following year I enrolled for standard 8 at Palmerton S.S. School at Lusikisiki district also in Transkei. I won a book price for being a top Physics student in that district. That was when I was doing standard nine. In 1986 I matriculated with a first class pass.

On account of the lack of financial support I could not study in 1987. The following year I enrolled for engineering at the University of Durban-Westville. In 1989 I switched over to science for reasons beyond my control. The eruption of violence in September 1990 had a very bad effect to my education. During the examination time specifically I had a hard time. I did not have a place to stay and prepare for my examination and I could not write my third Physics paper. The following I completed my degree with a good pass in both Physics and Mathematics.

Community Involvement

With the political climate and financial circumstances we have in South Africa, people are getting bitter by day. It is in the light of such things that the Bungeni Youth Movement was incepted. It ensures that the community in general and the youth in particular do not resort to liquor and other things, detrimental to their lives, to solve their problems. It keeps them busy in various ways. I am a member of that movement.

I think it is an accepted idea that no one can divorce his life from things that are directly or indirectly linked to his life. Against this background everyone is associated with some organizations in some way or other. I am a member of the student organization, the SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENT CONGRESS.