AFRICA | A 27-year-old African man named Njabulo Ntombela, who lost both parents at the age of 14, defied all odds to earn a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN.
He dedicated the degree to the woman who became his entire world: his 89-year-old great-grandmother, the woman who raised him when life shattered around him.
Ntombela's Story and How He Did It
When Ntombela’s parents died, he found himself at a crossroads no teenager should face, not knowing the next decision in his life.
But great-grandmother, affectionately called gogo, stepped in as his guardian, breadwinner, and emotional anchor in their rural home in Nkandla, South Africa. She provided food, shelter, stability, and unconditional love, which in turn made Ntombela determined.
Even after leaving home to further his studies, first in Durban and then Pietermaritzburg, he remained deeply connected to his great-grandmother, seeing her as a motivation for him to achieve success.
“She was my foundation. Everything I am becoming, she started,” he said. ”
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He went on to UKZN in 2013 and graduated in 2017 with his LLB. On graduation day, Ntombela walked onto the stage dressed in full traditional Zulu attire, ready to honour his ‘gogo’ publicly.
He gently placed his graduation gown on her shoulders as the hall erupted in applause. The emotional moment instantly went viral—many called it the greatest graduation moment of 2018.
Njabulo later revealed he had been planning that tribute for years. “I wanted her to rise and shine in front of everyone. It was her moment,” he stated.
Despite her shy nature, she followed him onto the stage, creating a memory that both of them and thousands of viewers will never forget.
After the ceremony, the family held a small party to celebrate. When Ntombela thanked his great-grandmother for her sacrifices, she replied with pride: “No, thank you—because you’re the one who made us proud today.”
That single statement, he said, made his success feel even more meaningful. Having earned his LLB degree, Ntombela has also received multiple offers from law firms to begin his articles and officially start his legal career.
Yet his plans remain firmly rooted in gratitude and responsibility. “I will live to honour her,” he shared. “I don’t plan on having children while my grandmother is alive. I want to take care of her first, and of my siblings and aunts who supported me.”
He stated that his biggest dream is to change their living situation and reward his family for their sacrifices. “At home, we still have mud houses. I want to change that. Before I do anything for myself, I want to build my family a beautiful home,” he said.
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