Student Activist Graduates with Social Sciences Degree

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Graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science degree, majoring in Sociology and Labour Studies, was a proud and humbling moment for student activist, Mr Molaodi Wa Sekake.

Molaodi, who hails from Clermont, chose to study this particular degree because of his personal experiences and background.

‘Growing up, my father worked in a factory but the money he received wasn’t enough to buy basic food items. We couldn’t afford much. I wanted to find out why this was happening to us. This made me study the power dynamics between labour and poverty, more so because of my social conditions,’ he said.

With the loss of his father in 2004, coupled with ongoing financial difficulties, Sesake relied on funding opportunities and schemes to pay for his studies and accommodation. ‘These were stumbling blocks for me. I would often register quite late and would miss key lectures and tests.’

Being a member of the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) and the Society of Commons, allowed Sesake to open alternate spaces of learning where he, together with other students, shared their lived experiences in order to reciprocate information to aid in academia.

‘Joining and being a part of these organisations allowed me to go beyond textbook knowledge and to be pedagogically flexible. It helped me with my activist work and allowed me to understand, listen and engage meaningfully with people from different backgrounds,’ he said.

Coming from a township, Molaodi saw the need to uplift his community, especially the youth. He used creative mediums such as poetry, hip-hop and art to inform the youth about the value of education.

He hopes to pursue a PhD in the future.

Melissa Mungroo