This past Friday, at the beautiful Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, I walked across the graduation stage — not just as a student completing a course, but as a woman standing in her power, honouring a journey of purpose, pain, and perseverance.
I graduated from IQ Academy with a Higher Certificate in Local Governance, and as I stood there in my cap and gown, surrounded by love, I knew: this was more than just a milestone — it was a spiritual awakening.
The applause echoed, the camera flashes flickered, and in that moment, my heart whispered, You did it. But it wasn’t just about me. It was about the thousands of women like me — those who dare to dream in a system that was not built for us. It was about grassroots activists, survivors, mothers, daughters, young leaders — all of us choosing education as a tool of resistance.
This course, though academic, felt deeply personal. My political activism, rooted in justice, gender equity, and human rights, found a new companion in this certificate. As someone who works closely with communities affected by poverty, corruption, and broken governance, this qualification means I now have language and leverage.
I can walk into rooms not only with passion, but with policy. I can organise in the streets and engage in municipal spaces — with clarity, with confidence, and with conviction.
What moved me most on that day wasn’t only my name being called. It was seeing halls filled with people — young and old — choosing to reclaim their power through education. To everyone who graduated that day: I am so proud of you. You’ve reminded me that courage is contagious, and that it’s never too late to become the person you’ve always wanted to be.
To IQ Academy, thank you. Thank you for making education accessible and empowering. Thank you for affirming that leadership belongs to all of us — not just those in suits, but those in overalls, those on the frontlines, those in the trenches.
This journey has changed me. It deepened my activism, sharpened my politics, and reminded me that change begins where we live — at the local level. This is where services either work or fail. This is where people either thrive or suffer. And this is where I want to lead — with heart, with skill, and with unwavering integrity.
As I continue to grow in the world of politics and governance, I carry this certificate not just as a document, but as a declaration: I am ready to serve. I am ready to build. I am ready to lead.
To my friend and uncle who stood beside me — thank you. You were my witnesses, my cheerleaders, my anchor. Your presence meant the world.
And to every woman out there: don’t wait for permission. Educate yourself. Empower yourself. You are who you’ve been waiting for.
Here’s to new beginnings, bold dreams, and unapologetic leadership. I am a graduate. I am an activist. I am the future — and the future is now.
