AFRICA | A young African man who worked as security guard to pay his school fees finally wins, bags bachelors, masters degrees and PhD in Engineering.
A determined young African man named Fabrice Kapya who previously worked as a car guard to sponsor his education has achieved remarkable success in his education despite his challenges. He earned all his academic degrees to the highest qualifications.
Fabrice, a South African used to work as a car park attendant at Wonderpark Mall in Pretoria and despite the repetitive nature of his work, he found comfort in reading books. He mentioned that his colleagues often teased him about his love of reading, saying he belonged in school.
“A few years ago, I was working as a car park attendant at Wonderpark Mall in Pretoria. Despite the repetitive nature of my work, I discovered an unexpected source of comfort: books,” Fabrice said in an interview with the university.
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“Whenever I had a free moment, I devoted it to reading… My former colleagues would often catch me reading. They’d say with a mix of playfulness and sincerity: ‘Fabrice, you don’t belong here, you should go back to school,” she added.
He mentioned that it was this instance that instilled getting his education but he was not financially buoyant due to his father’s date. Fabrice obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Likasi and after a friend convinced him to apply to the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Fabrice said he was accepted for an honors degree program, at the university and continued to work as a car guard while studying in 2019. In 2021 he was accepted into the university’s master’s program and was offered a position as an assistant lecturer.
He mentioned that before his master’s degree graduation, he already enrolled for his doctorate at the university. Fabrice earned his master’s degree in Industrial Systems Engineering.
Fabrice recalls that the foundations for his master’s and PhD research were laid during the time he spent guarding cars. He said it started with a simple observation and it grew into a passion for using mathematics to improve the efficiency of flexible production systems.
“While I was working at Wonderpark, I frequently observed trucks from various logistics companies delivering a wide range of products. These trucks usually followed strict schedules, ensuring that goods reached their destinations on time,” Fabrice said.
”However, when COVID-19 struck, I noticed a significant shift in consumer behaviour and the way certain products were being consumed. This shift got me thinking about the processes involved in the production of certain goods,” he added.
Fabrice said his research focuses extensively on areas like inventory management, production planning, and multi-state systems. It also contributes to the understanding and improvement of operational efficiency and effectiveness of systems.
Reflecting on his journey since arriving in South Africa six years ago, Fabrice hopes others will find inspiration and encouragement in his story, especially during the first few years while he juggled studying with working as a car guard.
He stated that his journey has been filled with persistence, hard work, and growth, and he is grateful for the support he received along the way.
Fabrice said as colleagues and the local community around Wonderpark Mall urged him on and supported him, the University of Pretoria community embraced him and offered encouragement when he needed it most.
Advising people with similar situations like his, Fabrice said success does not define a person, but losing does. He added that how one reacts to failure reveals who one truly is because life is not about winning, it is about having the courage to continue the journey after a setback.
”No matter the circumstances, always try your best and never give up. One day, you’ll look back on your life and appreciate the struggle, filled with gratitude for everything that happened along the way,” he said.
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