Helping Octovia to complete her final year of study
Willard Batteries and Good Morning Angels assisted Octovia by providing the funds needed for her Hospitality Studies at Mpumalanga University.
21-year-old Octovia Makgate Malatji lives in deep rural Limpopo, in Sekgosese, Sephukubje Village near Tzaneen.
This year, she is a third-year Hospitality student at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela. Octovia is supported by her grandmother and sister, as both her parents have passed away.
She took a gap year after matric because she was not accepted by any of the universities she applied to. Octovia did not give up and was accepted in 2023 to study Hospitality in Mbombela.
She has done well academically despite struggling with funding. She has not been able to secure state funding through NSFAS, and her sister ended up paying off part of her outstanding fees.
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Octovia still has outstanding tuition fees for 2025, amounting to R58,000. Her family has exhausted all they could contribute, which is why Octovia wrote to Good Morning Angels.
REQUEST FOR: Makgate Octovia Malatji from Tzaneen in Limpopo
ANGEL 1: Dave Arnold, representing Willard Batteries
SPONSORING: The Willard Bursary Fund will assist Octovia with R60,000 towards her tuition fees for Hospitality Studies at Mpumalanga University.
ANGEL 2: The Good Morning Angels Fund NP
SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels Fund will assist Octovia with R58,000 towards her Hospitality Studies at Mpumalanga University.
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good day team,
My name is Makgate Octovia Malatji, and I am nominating myself all the way from the deep rural areas of Limpopo in Sekgosese, Sephukubje Village. I am 21 years old and currently a third-year student at the University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela Campus. I am studying towards my Diploma in Hospitality Management. I completed my matric in 2021, where I obtained a bachelor's degree pass. Unfortunately, an unplanned gap year occurred due to not being able to secure space at tertiary institutions.
While doing my matric, I applied for funding at NSFAS and other bursary opportunities, but my applications were unsuccessful. NSFAS rejected me, and some of the bursaries I applied for never responded.
After discovering that I could not secure space at any tertiary institution, I was not initially concerned about funding because I was taking a gap year. However, when I finally had to go to university, the financial struggle became apparent. Taking a gap year turned out to be beneficial as it allowed me time to research tertiary institutions, the course I wanted to study, its requirements, and career opportunities. It also provided me with time for self-reflection. I was determined to go to university like my peers, so I took matters into my own hands and started reapplying while also saving for application fees. Despite being rejected by NSFAS for 2022, I applied again in 2023 but was rejected once more. Nevertheless, I persisted in applying to universities, even those that had previously declined me due to space limitations. In December 2022, I finally received an acceptance email from the University of Mpumalanga for the Diploma in Hospitality Management.
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My initial reaction was shock and tears of relief, as I had been yearning for this opportunity. During my gap year, I often felt left behind as my peers progressed with their studies. Accepting my university offer was a proud moment, but financial difficulties persisted. Without funding from NSFAS, I had to rely on my grandmother and sister for tuition, accommodation, transport, and monthly expenses, as both my parents are deceased. This was one of the most challenging times of my life.
Despite these hardships, I remained focused on my academics. At the end of my first year (2023), I achieved good results, but my outstanding fees meant I could not register for my second year. My sister made significant financial sacrifices to help me pay a portion of my fees, allowing me to register for 2024. Although the full amount was not covered, I was grateful to continue my studies.
Throughout 2023, I worked extremely hard to qualify for a bursary, knowing that NSFAS continued to reject my applications. In June 2024, I finally secured a bursary that contributed a partial amount towards my tuition. This enabled me to complete my second year and write my exams. Despite financial struggles, I maintained strong academic performance and continuously sought improvement.
I am now in my final year, and receiving this bursary would mean the world to me. Continuing my education has always been a dream, and I aspire to further my studies beyond graduation. I chose Hospitality because of my deep passion for the industry. To me, hospitality is not just about cooking and serving; it is about helping people and creating joyful experiences. I enjoy working with others and learning about different personalities. My goal is to manage a five-star restaurant or hotel and eventually become an executive chef at one of South Africa’s top establishments.
I also dream of studying hospitality abroad to enhance my skills and industry knowledge. Receiving this bursary would be life-changing, alleviating the financial burden on my family and allowing me to complete my final year successfully. My family and I would deeply appreciate this opportunity. If granted financial assistance for tuition and accommodation, I promise to work hard and maintain a strong relationship with the bursary sponsors.
Life has taught me patience and resilience. I have committed myself to working diligently to graduate on time and make my family proud—especially my late parents, who I know are watching over me.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my request.
Best regards,
Malatji MO
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