Profile of Bulelani Mvengenya by Temba Mkhosi

The profile of Bulelani Mvengenya

By: Temba Mkosi

The majority of students in the lecture venue seem bored. One is even picking their nose. A few minutes later something interesting occurs. One of the student answers the lecturer saying poverty can be a good thing. This does not sit well with Bulelani as he moves around in his seat waiting for the student to finish. His quick and passionate, accompanied by hand gestures, response leads to a heated debate between the two. Bulelani saying there is nothing good about poverty.

A mediator, poet, motivational speaker, Bulelani Mvengenya was raised in the rural village of Mqanduli, outside of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. His community nicknamed him General because he displays great character and leadership skills. He was elected as the 2018 SRC students’ benefits councillor. Judith Reynolds, one of his lecturers, said, “When I saw that General was running for SRC it really made sense to me that he was running for the student benefits position. I know from the Fees Must Fall protests last year that it is an issue that he really cares about. He showed commitment to the cause of reducing fees and helping students get through their studies without enormous debt. I could see how much the protest affected him emotionally.” His positive attitude lead him to this position. Yet it was not always sunny in his life.

The beginning of his pain began when he lost his twin brother in less than 36 months. Being the fifth of eight children, money was low in his family. Growing up in poverty he almost gave up on education. While in grade four he dropped out of Lutubeni Junior Secondary School. His time at the school was painful for him. “I had to leave the school because the mistreating and neglect I was receiving was unbearable.” He was an angry and rude child while at the school because he was expressing his pain of mistreatment and lack of assistance by the school.  His rebellious state would lead to him to path of destruction. It seemed all over for him but something changed him. He found God and things changed.

He would later re-enrol himself in school again. “In my new school I had lost all my (bad) identity. My name was finally Bulelani Mvengenya like my parents named me.” His new school gave him his dignity back and supported him. The attitude he gained from this school would stay with him forever.

Funny enough he had to return to the school where he felt he was being looked down upon because he was from another village. “High school was like 3 days,” he say with excitement. All the children who bullied him for coming from a poor village were still there. Saying that he will not succeed. He would reply to them with, “just drink your coffee.” It would this determination and the ignoring of negativity that would lead him to being the only one in his village and school to attend university and pass them.

His former principle Mr Marwede said, “As a student he distinguished himself as a very diligent, a hardworking and a capable student who left an indelible mark with his good disposition and exceptionally good character. His leadership skills were appreciated by all and he was elected the President of the RCL in 2014.” He added, “He had a passion to assist fellow learners and assisted in peer teaching while doing his Matric, conducting lessons in Grade 10-12.” When he returns home he helps students of his community with homework and applying to universities. He wishes to end the gap between rural education and city education by being an inspiration to the children from rural, less privileged backgrounds.

He is currently studying toward degree in Anthropology. His life at Rhodes University was assisted by the BA Foundation degree option which helped him fit in to the way of things at the university. In his first year he says he struggled with the world of Rhodes University and being in a class with different economic and better academic structured students than him. Yet this never stopped him. General continues to be an inspiration for students who do not fit in at Rhodes University. Judith said, “A colleague was talking the other day about how students from rural areas or even township schools can lack confidence and because of things like not having 'fancy' English accents and not having fancy phones. I used General as an example of someone who does not fit with this pattern. He doesn't seem to care about things like accents or material things. If he cares about an issue he'll involve himself in it and not worry about what other people think.”

Sihle, one of his closest friends, said, “Gen(enral) is a very loving person - clingy at times. He enjoys the idea of education and advocates for in ways many can't or don't. He loves talking and that's one of the things I enjoy when I'm with or around him. He's a very caring person nje generally. He helps a lot too.” He added, “He believes in oneness as way to better us all. Also, he likes to listen to my music man when everyone isn't.” This shows the impact General has on people around him. Also how he uplifts everyone.

As the new SRC students’ benefits councillor one of his favourite quote is, “We are engaged in the preparations for the future that we shall never see but the future that will be enjoyed by our children". He continues to fight to help other students struggling from poverty by mediating and help them fit into the university life to better their future.

General’s story helps people from less privileged backgrounds understand how to make it to university. It is the mental strength that helps you not the situation. He dreams to be a geography teacher because his father always wanted to be a teacher but could not be one because of no money for education. This is not his only dream. He says the sky is the limit maybe I could be something even greater than the president.