Siboniso Mcobothi's research for his Master's degree in education at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) sheds light on an issue that is often overlooked in South Africa's education crisis. Where headlines often spotlight learner struggles, Mcobothi focused on another stark reality: the growing threat of violence faced by teachers.
What makes his academic achievements extraordinary is the personal tragedy that cast a shadow on his recent graduation: Before he completed his Master's degree, his beloved mother Ntombizakhe, whom he describes as his “guiding light", succumbed to cancer.
Although his mother wasn't there to see him don his graduation gown this time, her legacy still inspires him. “She believed in education's power to change lives," he says. “Now I'm living that truth."
Mcobothi completed his degree in education at the 肆客足球 of Zululand before receiving a National Research Foundation (NRF) scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at SU. Drawn by the institution's academic excellence and reputation, he went on to complete his BEdHons in curriculum inquiry before tackling a groundbreaking Master's degree.
Research for his Master's thesis titled “Teachers' Experiences of Violence from Learners in Three High Schools in the KwaZulu-Natal Pinetown District", was conducted in the township areas of Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu, where communities are plagued by poverty and crime.
“These areas are crime hot spots," Mcobothi explains. “Teachers find themselves caught in the crossfire, facing threats from learners who are often affiliated with gangs or exposed to violent environments."
The facts are difficult to ignore. Learners, some still in primary school, have become involved in gangs like the notorious “West Gang", carrying dangerous weapons to school and threatening the safety of classmates and teachers alike. Mcobothi's findings trace the roots of this behaviour back to the social conditions in which these learners are raised: households destabilised by poverty, unemployment and crime. In one haunting recollection from his own teaching experience, a young learner explained his behaviour by saying he worked for his drug-dealing uncle in exchange for meals.
While alarming, Mcobothi's thesis is not a work of despair. It is a blueprint for action. He identified systemic failures that leave teachers vulnerable and proposes collaborative solutions involving the Department of Education, school management teams, community policing forums and non-profit organisations. “If stakeholders work together as a collective, we can combat violence not only in schools, but also in the broader community," he says.
As he navigated the complexities of his research, Mcobothi faced an immense personal challenge when his mother's health quickly deteriorated due to cancer. As a single mother, Ntombizakhe was his staunchest supporter. “She was the most important person in my life, my biggest cheerleader," he says. “She believed in academic excellence and led by example, earning two degrees despite growing up in challenging circumstances."
Her academic journey – a BA degree in supply chain management and a postgraduate diploma in risk management earned while working at the Road Accident Fund – mirrors the resilience she instilled in her son. “Her degrees were her pride. Now mine are hers too," he notes.
Her death was devastating. Mcobothi took a leave of absence of three months to care for her during her final days. “It was very painful to watch her deteriorate day by day. Even today, my soul is not at rest because of how fast everything happened."
Yet he found solace in continuing the journey she had inspired. Despite his grief, he kept going with his studies. “If you have a purpose in life, you need to stay focused," he says. A quote by Nelson Mandela became his compass: “It always seems impossible until it's done."
Mcobothi also paid tribute his Master's degree supervisors at SU. “Dr Simthembile Xeketwana and Prof Maureen Robinson were very supportive, understanding, patient and encouraging in my efforts to achieve this milestone."
Today, Mcobothi is pursuing a PhD in public development and management at SU's Bellville campus while lecturing in public administration and safety in society at Boland TVET College in Caledon. His next research project will investigate the influence of political violence and unionism in schools, another neglected area he feels compelled to expose.
“Teaching is the mother of all professions," he says. “My passion for education inspired me to contribute to the development of young people in the Boland region."
Mcobothi is also treasurer of the house committee of Huis Russel Botman, balancing academic responsibilities with student leadership. The memory of his mother – her tenacity, her belief in education and her unyielding support – continues to spur him on.
PHOTO: Kudzie Craig
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