Refusing to let his disability define his future, Mr Zibusiso Mthembu of rural eMkhomazi on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Mthembu turned his life – which had been impacted by sudden blindness, struggles at school and constant doubt – into one of courage, support, and success. He lost his sight when he was just 12 years old. One day he could see, the next, everything changed! A doctor explained the condition simply to his grandmother, who has since passed on. “The doctor told her there was blood behind my eyes which was affecting my vision,” said Mthembu.
At the time, Mthembu was in Grade 7, doing well, having never failed a grade. But his life changed suddenly with the impairment. The following year, he had to move to a special school and repeat Grade 5 so he could learn Braille. It was a painful experience.
“My friends were in Grade 8 while I was now in Grade 5. I felt very upset because I had never failed before, but suddenly I was three years behind,” he said. “I became a difficult learner because I was confused and did not understand why I was going to school anymore.”
Raised by his grandmother from when he was a toddler until his late teens, Mthembu says her care kept him grounded through the most difficult times.
Everything changed when he heard a story on Ukhozi FM featuring a woman speaking about becoming a chartered accountant despite hardships.
That moment shifted his thinking. “That was the turning point for me,” said Mthembu. “I started to change my mindset. I wanted to study something in finance, and I started working harder.”
From there, his results slowly began to improve.
When he later arrived at UKZN, one of his biggest fears was whether he would be supported as a visually impaired student.
But those fears disappeared quickly. Within a week of registering, UKZN’s Disability Support Unit contacted him and explained the support available.
“They told me how they would be there for me throughout my studies. Every semester, they informed my lecturers and staff about how to accommodate me.”
That support made a huge difference in his academic life, helping him study on the same level as other students.
Still, challenges remained. One of the hardest was not being able to see what lecturers wrote on the board.
“I cannot always see what is on the board,” he said. “So, I work hard on my own, and when I don’t understand, I ask classmates or my lecturers and tutors.”
He credits UKZN’s Foundation Programme for helping him adjust after years of disruption in his schooling. “It prepared me mentally and emotionally for university,” he said.
Outside academics, Mthembu also worked on himself, improving his confidence and communication skills despite struggling with a stutter.
“I have improved my speech a lot,” he said. “I try to stay calm when I talk.”
Through it all, his motivation never faded; he wanted to build a better life for his family and future generations.
Now studying for an Honours degree in Finance, he hopes to work in the finance field or the supply chain sector.
His message to other young people living with disabilities is simple, yet powerful: “Do not give up. Your future is waiting for you. Universities have support systems that can help you succeed,” he said.
Looking back, Mthembu says his journey is proof that disability is not the end of a dream.
Words: Oliver Meth
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini
