Stellenbosch University
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How #SU99 has changed lives
Author: Development & Alumni / Ontwikkeling & Alumni
Published: 21/02/2018

Life changing, grateful and still so unreal. That is how a few recent Stellenbosch University (SU) graduates describe their feelings after being informed that the entire outstanding amounts of their student debt will be completely paid off, thanks to generous donors who have contributed to the University's precentenary fundraising campaign #SU99.

The campaign, aimed at alleviating student debt, was launched in 2017 with a target of only R99 999, but this target was subsequently upgraded to R999 999 after generous support from staff, alumni, donors and friends of the University.

"I was not expecting it. To be one of the recipients is an absolute privilege and an honour. There are so many people who are in need of this, but I got it and I just want to thank God for this opportunity," says Lebo Komane, who graduated with a BCom degree at SU's December 2017 graduation week.

"This means the world to my family. My parents must provide for me and my two younger brothers – one is still in school and the other also at university. And honestly, I don't know how they supported me for four years. They sacrificed so much."

Lebo is now especially looking forward to her new job in Johannesburg while studying on a part-time basis. She adds that travel to the United Kingdom is on her future to-do list, where she hopes to gain more experience in the commerce industry. But she is adamant that she'll definitely be paying it forward by contributing in her community and making a difference in someone else's life.

For recipient Chantal Lemmetjies, it still feels like an amazing dream. "My mom couldn't believe it either. After years of dealing with the weight of a huge debt on their shoulders, the generosity of strangers seemed inconceivable."

Chantal says her family's financial struggle was real and it was a constant worry where the money would come from. "So to the donors – from me and my family – thank you, it means the world to be debt free. You may not realise what a big difference you have made, but believe me, you are changing lives for the better."

Chantal obtained her BSc Food Science degree in December and says she hopes to become a quality manager and also to lend a helping hand when it comes to the Western Cape's water crisis. "I want to plough back and make a difference in society and helping others achieve their dreams."

Vincent Witbooi, who is armed with a sought-after engineering degree, recalls listening to the Rector talking about the #SU99 campaign during his graduation ceremony and wondering whether he will find his degree or an invoice for the final outstanding balance in his scroll. "I got the latter. NSFAS did not pay the remaining balance on my student account; this had me stressed, but I had to remain calm – my parents travelled a long way to get to campus for my graduation and I didn't want to spoil that moment for them. I prayed on my situation and God sent the #SU99 donors my way to not only wipe my student account debt, but to set my mind at ease and secure a happy stress-free festive season."

And what does it mean for Vincent and his family to be debt free? "This means I get to help and improve the lives of my parents and grandmother at an earlier stage of my career now that I don't have debt in the back of my mind," he adds.

Vincent is currently working at Eskom and plans on making the best of the opportunities within the company and to later pursue his MBA degree, with a long-term goal to give back to his community and those in need by paying it forward.

Davina Mac Donald says she found the good news hard to digest and had to pinch herself a few times. "To me it was too good to be true." But when reality finally set in, all she could do was marvel at this "miracle".

"It is amazing. My family has had quite a bit of financial difficulty for the three years that I was at university and I could see the weight lifted off their shoulders when they received the news. It gives us an opportunity to have a proper Christmas and helps them to be able to afford my little brother's school fees with a little more ease in 2018."

Davina says she will take some time off to settle in the working world before she returns to further her studies. She wants to ultimately obtain a PhD in Biochemistry in an effort to find more effective ways to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases in children, with the focus on lupus and leukaemia.