Siphenkosi Nqoro, an inspirational admitted attorney is now on cloud nine after completing his matric with outstanding results. He worked 12-hour night shifts as a petrol attendant while pursuing his LLB degree full-time at the University of Fort Hare, in South Africa.
“Law is something I have always wanted to do, and I promised myself that despite the odds, I’d always pursue my ambition, said Siphenkosi, adding; “After high school, I needed to find paid work to help my unemployed parents.”
Siphenkosi started working as a full-time petrol attendant at a Shell garage in Mdantsane because he knew his parents were struggling and he felt compelled to care for them.
But as time passed, he remembered the pledge he had made to himself that one day he would study law. In 2016, Siphenkosi was admitted as a law student at the University of Fort Hare and he never looked back.
“I knew I would have to juggle my studies and work, so I had to talk to my work supervisor. He was glad to hear that I’ll be attending university full-time, and he gave me permission to pursue the degree.”
“I used to work the night shift, bathe and prepare for school, and then be expected to go to work again, but the garage staff was quite flexible. Sometimes I would approach my superiors and ask them to adapt my schedule, and they would do it gracefully,” said Siphenkosi.
In 2017, he ran into difficulties with NSFAS, and received no finance, leaving him with a debt to the University. He had to work very hard to pay his debt before his degree certificate was released.
Against all odds, Siphenkosi Nqoro graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Law from the University of Fort Hare in 2021.
Thereafter, he began his articles of clerkship with an East London law firm, Gondongwana Ngonyama Pakade Attorneys.
In 2023, he wrote and passed his board exams set by the Bar Association.
In July 2024, he was sworn in as an Attorney of the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
“My advice to others, who may fear to chase their dreams, is to start as soon as they can, despite the odds.”
“I came to the university with one blanket and saw my peers receiving financial help from home, but it was different for me – I had to be the provider.”
“Anyone with the same dream I had must be willing to go the extra mile,” said Siphenkosi Nqoro.
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