Keatlegile Mabena

Nominee's Province:
Gauteng

Age:
26

Project Name/Description:
Lecturer and Author

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/keatlegile.mabena.71

After enduring a painful loss of his mother at the delicate age of 15, who was tragically murdered by her lover, Keatlegile Mabena, 26, has achieved what many his age would not even dream of. He is a university lecturer, an author and a motivator to learners at his former school, Mmamogwai Secondary School in Moiletswane village near Brits, in the North West. “In my informal conversations I always tell my story of how education became my passport to a better future,” says Mabena. “I always strive to epitomise and create sustainability, and advance human life to become better, bigger, and greater.” He is currently studying towards a PhD degree in Development Studies at Unisa, on the back of a string of cum laude achievements from BA qualification to honours and masters degrees in population and development studies. This gifted young professor has been a lecturer of development studies at the University of South Africa (Unisa) for three years. “As a lecturer I am entrusted with the role of providing direction to students, holding them by the hand until the completion of their qualifications,” he declares. “When I prepare and conduct online classes, I pour myself into those lessons, and I really appreciate the positive feedback from students because it is a sign that I have had an impact on their lives in some shape or form.” Mabena recently self-published a book entitled Breaking the Chains about his coming to terms with his mother’s painful death. “The purpose of the book is to remind people that you can turn your pain into power, that pain is a circumstance but suffering is a choice,” he courageously explains. The book is available directly from Mabena, through any of his social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn – for R230 a copy excluding delivery.