Former Petrol Attendant becomes a Medical Doctor, the story of Ntando Makhubela.
If rages to riches was a person, it would have been Ntando Makhubela from Mbombela Nelspruit. His story inspired thousands of social media users and provided hope and strength to many facing similar challenges.
25-year-old Ntando Makhubela finished high school with flying colors. He matriculated from Cyril Clarke Secondary School in 2014 with distinctions in maths, biology and physics but could not afford to go to university due to financial problems.
Ntando realized that a journey of thousand miles starts with a step, he worked as a petrol attended and served clients well till someone realize the potential in him.
He got help to land a scholarship to study medicine in Cuba through The South Africa-Cuba Medical Programme which was birthed in 1998.
“I did apply to Wits but they didn’t take me for the course [medicine] that I wanted and I had a bursary as well… [they] told me they were full and couldn’t take more students,” he told News outlets.
“I was studying a Bachelor of Science for two weeks and then I decided to come back home because I had to pay for myself and I didn’t have money.”
Ntando Makhubela returned home to Mbombela where he lived with his mother and younger sister. In May 2015 he started working as a petrol attendant.
“I was then approached by the ANC Youth League chairperson in my area. He was aware that I did well in school and he gave me the application form and I applied.”
The following year Ntando Makhubela received a scholarship from the Mpumalanga health department and was part of a group of 56 students from the province traveling to Cuba to study medicine.
The South Africa-Cuba Medical Programme was introduced in 1998. Makhubela said he will only really starting studying medicine in 2017, as the first year is spent learning Spanish.
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“They teach in Spanish, everything is in Spanish. So the first year we have to learn Spanish.”
Asked what he wanted to do when he completed his studies, Makhubela said he wanted to return home and contribute to his community in Mpumalanga.
“I want to come back and be someone in my community… I want to come back and help the communities here,” he said.