From a sickly boy to a radio star, doctor and now lawyer, Dr Ronnie Masilela shares a story of resilience and how the transformative power of education can change one’s life.
At 71, Masilela from Dennilton, Mpumalanga, recently defied the odds by graduating with an LLB degree from Unisa.
The medical doctor and former Ukhozi FM radio commentator believes education remains a powerful tool for black South Africans to transform their lives and that it’s never too late to chase dreams and make a difference.
Raised in poverty by his grandparents, Masilela faced early challenges due to undiagnosed asthma.
“My grandparents took me to a doctor after years of struggling. That’s when I learned I had asthma,” he recalled.
Despite health setbacks, his passion for football kept him driven. “I loved the game, but my coach benched me. However, that didn’t stop me because I wanted to know more.”
A radio purchased by his grandparents introduced Masilela to sports commentator Thetha Masombuka.
“That man brought soccer to life for me. After listening to him, I knew that commentary is something I would like to do.”
After matriculating, Masilela landed a job at the SABC in 1982 as a commentator, living his passion. However, workplace challenges arose.
“When I first joined radio, that was a different world of sports. I went to the stadium more often, interacted with people I never thought I would, and saw the team I supported [Orlando Pirates] play numerous times. But there were issues within the SABC because of the time. You’d have a white manager trying to teach you how to speak your language. I fought those battles.”
The death of his grandparents sparked a new dream, which was medicine. “I wanted to understand what caused their deaths,” Masilela explained.
Leaving the SABC after frequent conflicts, he enrolled at Medunsa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University), earning a BSc and becoming a doctor at 46. He later worked at Chris Baragwanath and Rahima Moosa hospitals.
“I thought I would specialise in paediatrics, but because I quickly got an appointment as a superintendent, I had to prioritise the needs of the other medical officers,” said Masilela.
Masilela’s thirst for knowledge led him to pursue an LLB through Unisa, graduating just three months ago.
“I discovered I could merge medicine and law to address medical negligence in public health,” he stated.
His qualifications position him to tackle systemic issues in healthcare, he said. Reflecting on his journey, Masilela urges the youth to persevere.
“Fight the pain of the past. Education is how we escape poverty and build a better generation,” he emphasised.
Now, he aims to practice law, focusing on medical negligence.
