Originally from Nzhelele in Venda, Limpopo, Mr Mphephu is using his experiences to inspire youth, especially from his hometown, to pursue their goals and make the most of educational opportunities. Recalling his humble family background – his father worked as a general worker while his mother took on occasional jobs as a helper to support the family.
"Sadly, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected hardship when my father lost his job. The experience became a turning point in my life,” he said.
Witnessing his father’s struggles motivated Mr Mphephu to make the most of every opportunity available to him. “From that point onward, I focused on one goal: making my parents proud and creating a better future for my family through education,” he said.
Mr Mphephu enrolled for a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology at UMP in 2023. However, his academic journey was not without challenges.
During his first year, he experienced financial difficulties after only receiving funding in June 2023, although he had begun his studies in February. For several months, he relied on support from family members who themselves had limited means.
“There were times when my meals consisted mainly of rice and soup because that was all I could afford,” he recalled.
Rather than allowing these circumstances to derail his studies, he remained focused on his goals and consistently excelled academically across modules that included software development, networking, databases, mathematics and emerging technologies.
His dedication was recognised at the 2026 UMP Academic Excellence Awards, where he was honoured with a prestigious award: Best First Degree in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences: Best Degree Across the University, and Best Graduate Across All University Qualifications.
“My first reaction was disbelief. Throughout my studies. I never imagined that I would be the person to receive that recognition,” he said, adding that receiving the award reinforced an important lesson.
“It made me realise that many of the limits we place on ourselves are not real. The experience taught me that with hard work, consistency and determination, achievements that seem impossible can become reality.”
Mr Mphephu credits his family and community for supporting him throughout his academic journey.
“My parents are proud because they witnessed the sacrifices, hard work and dedication that went into my studies. I also believe this achievement has inspired my younger brother by showing him that anything is possible when you remain committed to your goals."
He hopes his story will encourage young people from rural communities such as Nzhelele to pursue their goals and make the most of educational opportunities.
Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Mr Mphephu joined a graduate programme as a Software Engineer in December 2025. After receiving funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF), however, he decided to continue his academic journey and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology Honours degree.
Passionate about software engineering, cloud computing, DevOps, platform engineering and emerging technologies, Mr Mphephu hopes to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and support South Africa’s growing digital economy.
“I hope to build systems and technologies that improve people’s lives, create opportunities for young people and contribute to the growth of South Africa’s digital economy,” he said.
Mr Mphephu’s achievement reflects the value of perseverance, dedication and educational opportunity in unlocking potential and creating pathways for future success.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by Supplied. Copyright © UMP.