By Buziwe Nocuze
Lungisani Mbutuma, 24, who will graduate in May with a B.Ed degree from Walter Sisulu University, used part of his NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) loan to build a house.
Lungisani, from Nyavini village in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, passed Grade 12 in 2018 and took a gap year in 2019 because he didn’t have enough money to study.
“I didn’t sit at home and feel sorry for myself,” said Lungisani. “I went out doing piece jobs so that I could save money for my education. In 2020 I applied at WSU. I was admitted and I was given NSFAS money.
“The money I saved while doing piece jobs was not enough. I prayed hard that I would get an NSFAS allowance, and God answered my prayers.”
Lungisani has since built himself a two-roomed house in his village.
“I used my residential allowance and transport money to build my house. Then I went out and looked for a place to stay close to the Komani campus so that I wouldn’t have to pay for transport,” said Lungisani.
“I was raised by my grandparents. My mother died while I was still young and my father died five years ago. Building a house made my grandmother proud.”
Advising other students to use their NSFAS money wisely, Lungisani said: “All it needs is for them to be disciplined when it comes to money. They must remember where they come from and never allow pressure to make them do things they don’t want. They can build something for themselves while they still have their parents.”
After graduating and getting a job, Lungisani said he intends to build a house for his grandmother. “I cannot just leave her like that. I need to make her more proud.”
Pictured above: Lungisani Mbutuma used his NSFAS accommodation and transport allowance to build himself a two-roomed house.
Image source: Supplied
