Women's Day
9 August 2024
Journey With Us and Luyanda Sokhela
“Our success is proof of the wisdom and resilience of the women who came before us.
Let us continue to light the way for those who follow in our path” ~ Luyanda Sokhela
N3TC bursary graduate inspires with her authenticity, wisdom, and sense of responsibility
Luyanda Sokhela was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. She matriculated in 2015 as head girl of Haythorne Secondary School and achieved excellent academic results with a Bachelors Admission Pass. During her final school years, Miss Sokhela was a student at PROTEC Pietermaritzburg Academy – a Saturday and Vacation School and an N3TC Touching Lives partner – which required extra academic commitment from her but also enabled her to attain the understanding she required to excel at school.
It was at this point that N3TC’s path crossed with that of Miss Sokhela. Through its Touching Lives Programme, N3TC funded her tuition at PROTEC, and thanks to her consistently good academic performance, she was awarded an N3TC Tertiary Bursary. This enabled Miss Sokhela to gain admission into the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she completed a BSc Honours degree in Civil Engineering in 2020 despite various academic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Miss Sokhela amassed vast work experience during her time on the UKZN Campus. She worked as an online Mathematics tutor with TeachMe2; conducted tutorial services for first-year Engineering Drawing and Design students – an area fraught with difficulties, particularly for disadvantaged students who do not have ready access to computers; and worked as a research and development officer for Enactus UKZN for two years – an almost impossible load for a final year student. In recognition of her leadership skills, she received the WM de Wet Award from Enactus UKZN in her final year.
Growing up, Miss Sokhela did not have a clear idea of what she wanted to do with her life. Initially, she wanted to become a doctor but her mother, who understood her better than anyone else, discouraged the idea. “I would not have survived being a doctor,” she said. “At the time, I felt unseen and unsupported by her, but I later appreciated her honesty and valuable insight,” explains Miss Sokhela.
She says she enjoys doing things outside of her comfort zone to prove to herself that nothing is beyond her reach. “My desire to see how far I can push myself continues to be one of my strongest driving forces.”
She smiles as she recalls a childhood memory: “I am not a great singer, but I was selected for the primary school choir simply because I would not stop singing – day and night – until I got the spot.” The same applied to dancing. “Friends and I danced with joyful abandon at a school concert, although I honestly should not have been on a stage,” she laughs. “Luckily, I eventually realised that it is better to focus my energy on what I am good at. It would serve me far better than pipe dreams.”
While enrolled at the PROTEC Pietermaritzburg Academy, Miss Sokhela had the unique opportunity to view the design drawings of the Grayston Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge project (which now links the suburbs of Alexandra and Sandton across the M1 highway in Johannesburg). “Here, it finally dawned on me, how fascinated I am by infrastructure projects; and the way in which engineers empower communities with their technical skills and know-how. That’s when I knew I had found my professional home.”
Life, however, was not always smooth sailing. In February 2014, at the tender age of 15, Miss Sokhela lost her mother – her guiding light and anchor. “At the time, I felt that I had to be strong for my siblings and the rest of the family. I ignored my feelings and didn’t allow myself time to grieve. But grief is sneaky, it creeps up on you, and hits you when you least expect it.” In 2017 she suffered another major loss when her close childhood friend passed away. “His death took a great toll on me. Old wounds reopened, and I was suddenly feeling the deep hurt of losing two prominent people in my life in a short space of time”.
Miss Sokhela bravely shared her journey with major depression which was diagnosed at that time. “I had to put my studies on hold to focus on my health and well-being. This set me back dismally – isolating me from friends, classmates, and those around me – but it also taught me much about myself and the importance of taking care of oneself.”
“Isinamuva liyabukwa" -
Those whose journey are delayed will experience the greatest joy.
“We are our own biggest assets. We have to invest in our well-being as we would in our assets. It is ok to journey through life at your pace. Your unique process will prepare you best to tackle future challenges”, she continued.
After completing her studies, Miss Sokhela entered the job market as a graduate engineer at Impumelelo Consulting Engineers. She now works at Royal HaskoningDHV as a Junior Engineer in the Water Department, while she is also building her career as a researcher and a public speaker. “I presented at the WISA (Water Institute of South Africa) Biennial Conference in June 2024, and am set to present another paper at the South African Institute of Civil Engineers (SAICE) conference later this month. I hope to grow my technical skills to register as a professional engineer, finish my Master's degree, contribute to the engineering profession, and perhaps even join academia one day.”
Miss Sokhela says she draws comfort and motivation from the women who have pushed boundaries to expand possibilities for women, and especially black women, to be successful in South Africa and abroad. “From watching my mother gracefully raising four children on a shoestring budget while still caring for those less fortunate; listening to the stories of my grandmother’s struggles to be seen and heard, and her resilience and strength; feeling the gentle hands of neighbours holding me tight; and experiencing the wisdom of my teachers and mentors – women inspire me. Every big achievement in my life has always been associated with women who believed in me and mentioned my name in rooms full of opportunities. We have the responsibility to ensure that we do even better for the next generation of women.”
She says she is especially indebted to two women who helped to pave the way for her. “I have always looked up to the late Ms Ndoni Mcunu. She was a brilliant scientist and climate change advocate who helped me realise what lies within me; and Ms Rose Smuts, the executive director of PROTEC Pietermaritzburg Academy, who ALWAYS believed in me.”
Now, Miss Sokhela is continuing their legacy by sharing an interest and passion for people. “I enjoy the diversity of people, their company and conversations, networking, building relationships, teaching and mentoring others, and unlocking their potential.”
Despite her full diary, Miss Sokhela continues to maintain regular contact with the PROTEC Pietermaritzburg Academy. She makes herself available to guide learners battling to find their way – be it on a career panel discussion, or acting as a host for a Grade 12 Work Experience Week. Nothing is too much trouble for her.
“If I were ever to change careers, it would be to become an educator,” she says. “Teachers have the power and responsibility to light the way for others, to help change narratives and outdated thinking patterns, and to build brighter futures for those yet to be born.”
She greets us with a final thought:
“Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu" -
A person is a person through other people.
“Our shared humanity (you, me and our community) are the most important building blocks of society. I am guided daily by my faith. To whom much is given, much more will be required [Luke 12:48] is my constant reminder that I have been blessed and I have the responsibility to benefit others with my talents, knowledge, and time,” ends Miss Sokhela.