“My twin brother and I would pray that we wouldn't be in the same class as each other because we knew that only one of us would win the R5 from our father for being the best in class!”
“My twin brother and I would pray that we wouldn't be in the same class as each other because we knew that only one of us would win the R5 from our father for being the best in class!”
It was support like this from his parents that made Ayanda Ntsho the success story that he is today. Born in Salem and raised in Grahamstown, this graduate of Ntsika High School, Port Elizabeth Technikon and the University of KwaZulu-Natal is now a chartered accountant and the Divisional Finance Manager of SA Express, living in Johannesburg with his wife and young son.
A true Grahamstown success story who returned to Grahamstown for a visit last weekend to help spread some of the positive energy for learning his parents instilled in him and his siblings. Ntsho realised that the Grahamstown he left behind still has a large number of youths who need the same positive encouragement he received as a youngster.
“When I was in school, we weren't made aware of the different careers we could pursue or how to apply for bursaries and loans to further our studies,” said Ntsho. So last weekend, organised through the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of South Africa of which Ntsho is a member, he set up a careers day presentation on Saturday at Nombulelo High School.
Present were companies like Anglo Africa, who spoke to the pupils about the importance of strong bursary applications. Sadly the turnout was poor. Of the 3 124 Grade 9 and matric pupilswho should have been present from the six high schools that were invited, only 160 arrived.
“This highlighted another fundamental problem for me,” said Ntsho, “Apparently Friday was grant day and many of the children are entitled to child-support grants, which is why they didn't come.” According to Ntsho, boredom is one of the biggest threats to the pupils' future and commented on how he'd seen children in their uniforms at shebeens after school.
His observations and copmmitment have resulted in what promises to be an exciting project. “I've put through the application forms to start the foundation, called the NFN Foundation, named after my parents.”
What Ntsho hopes to do is give pupils in small towns the same positive encouragement his parents gave him. Monetary encouragement in the form of paying for school fees or buying of school supplies will be given to those who are working hard. Networking opportunities and stepping-stones ton making it in the business world are valuable assets he can help supply.
“The fund will also focus on establishing after-school activities for the learners, keeping them active and healthy,” said Ntsho, who values the positive impact playing after-school sports had on him. Ntsho hopes to enlist the help from fellow high-ranking colleagues.
“Most of the South African business success stories came from small towns just like Grahamstown – towns that are suffering and need help with motivating their youths. We are the people to do that,” he said. “I'm not unique, I'm not special. I came from a poor background. I lost my parents at a fairly young age. That's nothing different from what most people go through,” said Ntsho.
“Everyone has the capacity to be where I am today. You just need to realise that potential.”
