The story of joyce Nyamburi

It is that time of the year, yet again; when those that should be getting ready to learn are at odds with those that should be teaching. What is it that we are failing to learn from events of the previous years? Whilst it is well to demand citizens’ rights and hold those voted into power accountable, at what point are we intoxicated by this culture of entitlement? Where is the spirit of succeeding against all odds? What are we placing in order by stoning the police, shattering windows and trashing public assets?

I put pen to paper to honour the courage of Joyce Nyamburi (not her real, to protect hear against victimisation), a young girl from Zimbabwe, who came to this beautiful country in 2007 to pursue her tertiary education and fulfil her dream of becoming a Pharmacologist.  In 2007, when Joyce was ready to travel to South Africa, the Zimbabwean authorities informed her that there is a delay in the issuing of her travel documents. In great panic she informed the University of North West (Potchefstroom) that she will not make it on time to sit for the five days entrance tests, as required by the institution. No assistance or resolution was offered by the institution to ensure that Joyce can write the tests and hopefully enrol as a Pharmacology student. She had reached a level where it was clear that she is not expected to engage the institution any further on the matter. Her travel papers arrived on a Thursday, a day before the end of entrance tests. The resolve to pursue her dream convinced her that she must still travel to South Africa, and request the opportunity to write the tests. On her arrival at the university, on the Friday, she was informed that no special arrangements will be offered to her except writing all the four tests on the day of her arrival. Realising that she has no other option, she agreed to sit and write the tests from midday to 4pm. Since nothing beats courage and conviction, she passed all the tests with distinction. Her journey to greatness had begun; she was now ready to enjoy the hardwork and the fun of being a student. At this stage it would have been fair to conclude that her nightmare had come to end. But it was not going to be that simple. The path to a Pharmacology qualification was going to be a challenge she never expected. The beautiful language of Afrikaans was poised to be a barrier she had to confront, if she chose to continue with her studies. Afrikaans is a medium of instruction at North West University (Potchefstroom), and the application forms are very clear about this.

However, for Joyce Nyamburi, a language she cannot speak and understand was not going to preclude her from achieving the qualification she dreamed of for so long.  She started her academic year in this foreign country, lectured in a foreign language, but determined to succeed and graduate. Her attempt at informing her lecturers that she is Zimbabwean and never ever heard the Afrikaans language did not make her academic life any comfortable. The Google translations application and the English and Afrikaans dictionary were destined to be her greatest companions in assisting her to learn, comprehend course material and pass her exams.

Joyce Nyamburi will graduate this year and no one will be able to stop that joyous event, not even the lecturers who refused to accept the fact that she could not speak or understand the Afrikaans language. The students that found comfort and excitement in calling her and other black students, “babie”, will at least realise that dehumanising another human being does not leave them more human. “Babie” is short for baboon, used by some white students to refer to black African students. It took Joyce a few days to realise that every time she was called “babie” it had nothing to do with the famous Barbie, the fashion doll. For Joyce, being called a baboon did not make feel and behave like one. She chose the route of hard work and resolve. She knew that achievement does not discriminate against race or status. No amount of being vilified was going to make her quit and fail her dreams and country.    

It can be said that South Africans have the right to demand services, such as housing, education, security, water, sanitation, roads, jobs, etc. But a culture of entitlement that seems to be festering will increasingly weaken South Africans and turn this great nation into a people ready to receive endlessly, without accepting the responsibility to work hard and contribute towards building a more prosperous country. Until such time that South Africans realise that they have no ordained right to be more well-off compared to other Africans on this continent, this country will slide into a state of stagnation and a nation marching to self-destruction.  It must be unacceptable that those that carry the duty to teach the eager learners at the beginning of year opt to confront their unresolved employment matters by denying learners the right to be taught. It is absurd that learners can select to abandon classes to protest against the locking out of those that arrive late at school. It is encouraging to observe learners that speak out in defence of their rights. But the burning of a library to demonstrate the anger of the moment is very destructive, and indicative of a people on a diminishing moral compass.    

 The South African nation must actively seek the likes of Joyce Nyamburi and support, nature and protect that spirit.