- Mpho Makgotlho from Mabopane worked as a cleaner at TUT's Pretoria campus while pursuing his postgraduate degree
- The 40-year-old had previously lost his job at a gold mine in Mpumalanga, leaving him unable to provide for his young son
- His master's research focused on extracting platinum group metals from chrome tailings using flotation and leaching processes
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
A 40-year-old university cleaner has earned a master's degree cumlaude in metallurgical engineering after years of unemployment, financial hardship and balancing a mop with postgraduate research.
Source: UGC
Mpho Makgotlho, who grew up in Mabopane, Pretoria, graduated from the Tshwane University of Technology last week, completing a journey that wound through a shuttered gold mine, a homemade detergent business and the corridors he spent his mornings cleaning.
From the Mine to the Cleaning Cart
Makgotlho first studied metallurgical engineering at TUT, earning his diploma in 2011 before completing a BTech qualification through part-time study. He went on to work as a trainee supervisor at a gold mine in Mpumalanga, spending his days between the laboratory and the refinery.
After nearly four years, the company ran into financial trouble, and the mine closed, leaving him without income ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Life was so difficult because I had a baby, a son, whom I needed to provide for. I couldn't provide because I was jobless," he said.
To keep going, he borrowed money from his mother and started a small detergent business. In 2020, he spotted an advertisement for a permanent cleaning position at TUT and applied. A second company interviewed him for a more senior role, but only the university made him an offer. He began working at the Pretoria campus in January 2022.
Afternoons Dedicated to Research
Rather than treating the cleaning job as a ceiling, Makgotlho treated it as a platform. Already holding a BTech, he registered for his master's degree and structured his days around his duties, reserving his afternoons for research once his shift ended.
Confidence was not immediate. "I was a cleaner, and at the same time, I was pursuing my postgraduate studies. I was not confident at all," he admitted.
But the role reshaped how he thought about work and dignity.
"You can't work in a dirty space. A cleaner has a huge impact on productivity. When the place is clean, you can produce good results," he said. "That's when I realised the importance of cleaners. They are very important. Every company needs a cleaner."
When the results came through, Makgotlho struggled to find the words. "When I completed my master's degree cumlaude, it was a mixed emotional feeling. I don't even know how to explain it. I was so happy," he told News24.
Woman Bags PhD from Same University She Worked as Security Guard
In other news, TUKO also highlighted facts about Boikanyo, known as Mumsy, who earned a PhD from North-West University after first working there as a security officer.
Her two daughters watched through tears as she crossed the graduation stage, marking the culmination of a journey that took her from guarding the university to joining its academic staff.
Source: TUKO.co.ke