Dr Retha Smit has just collected her PhD in psychiatry from Stellenbosch University, and she’ll tell you straight that age had nothing to do with it!

Stellenbosch, South Africa (01 April 2026) – Stellenbosch University (SU) has shared an inspiring story that proves you’re never too old to learn. Last week, Dr. Retha Smit, at 67-years-young, donned the cap and gown as she received her PhD in psychiatry.

“Age was never a factor for me. Instead, I remain deeply grateful for the health and strength that allowed me to complete the journey I began in 2012,” she says as per SU.

Smit has worked in psychiatric research at Stellenbosch for nearly three decades, starting out in 1996 as a study coordinator for clinical trials in psychiatry, after gaining her diploma in general nursing and obstetrics. Psychiatry was a field she had no formal training in at the time but she learned on the job, and rose to become principal study coordinator of a busy psychiatric clinical trials unit, while keeping her bigger goal in sight the whole time.

Her love of learning came from her parents who instilled in her a deep appreciation for knowledge from an early age. It’s a belief she carried with her through the years of raising four children alone, working full-time, and at times holding down a second job to make ends meet.

“During those years, there was little opportunity for me to pursue further studies. However, I always carried the intention of continuing my education when the time was right.”

That time came in 2012, when her youngest child went to university and she seized the moment. Years later at 60, she completed her honours degree in psychology cum laude through UNISA. Then came a master’s in research psychology at Stellenbosch.

Her PhD, awarded at the university’s March 2026 graduation ceremony, marks another inspiring milestone!

As per SU, Smit’s PhD research focused on relapse in schizophrenia. Specifically, the factors beyond medication non-adherence that cause patients to deteriorate. Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population around the world yet ranks among the top ten causes of disability worldwide. Her research shows that sustainable improvement requires addressing biological, psychosocial, and structural factors together. In 2024, following training in Denmark, she conducted South Africa’s first virtual reality-based study on schizophrenia, using AVATAR therapy, a therapeutic approach that addresses persistent auditory hallucinations, or hearing voices that aren’t there.

Outside of her academic world, Smit keeps her creative muscles exercised by playing acoustic guitar, making music with friends, and has taught herself crochet and lace-making.

Looking ahead, her plans academically are to publishing her findings, co-supervise master’s students, and contribute to ongoing clinical trials.

Her advice to anyone thinking about going back to study is to keep focused on the goal. If your physical and mental health allow for it, then why not?

“It is never too late to reach your goal. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy good physical and mental health, the most important step is to set your mind on a goal. Consider the challenges you may face in achieving that goal and plan actively to overcome them.” she says.

“This achievement shows that with perseverance, a positive mindset, and self-belief, you can achieve what you set out to accomplish.”

Sources: Linked above.

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She was arrested and then barred from her degree. Her twin daughters just graduated from the same university together.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (29 March 2026) – In the early 1980s, a young woman named Patricia Grace Rorich was studying medicine at Stellenbosch University when she was arrested for protesting the injustices of apartheid.

When she was released, she was told she couldn’t continue her MBChB degree. She had to switch to a BSc in dietetics, instead. During her studies, she wasn’t allowed to live in residence because she was classified as coloured. She stayed with her uncle in Idas Valley, instead.

Patricia finished her degree, got married, and had twin daughters. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Clio and KD Sass were three years old when their mother died.

Their father, Ernest, raised the girls alone in Pinelands, Cape Town, surrounded by a large extended family. He told them their mother loved unconditionally and saw the good in everyone. He used to tell them that the brightest star in the sky was their mom, looking out for them. The twins only learned the full story of what had happened to Patricia at Stellenbosch when they were in Grade 11, the same year they started thinking about which university to apply to.

“When we heard it, we just knew that we had to come to Stellenbosch,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University. “Her story meant that we couldn’t succumb to a spirit of victimhood. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but we can always grow forward if we strive forthrightly.”

They arrived as Maties and spent their first four years living in residences within walking distance of each other. They studied together, supported each other through the pressure of university life, and both rose to leadership positions in their residences.

Walking to class and living in a residence where her mom had been denied held weight.

“It just brings so much humility – sadness for her and for so many others, but overall gratitude,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University.

Clio also felt her own version of that connection when she realised her chosen field had actually overlapped with her mom’s

“It felt very full circle being in a similar field to what our mother studied,” she said.

The journey didn’t come without challenges. KD’s degree in mathematics typically takes three years. It took her six, and required a Dean’s Concession to complete. She kept going because of the example her mom had set. She mentioned she’d bought her graduation dress in 2024, the year she first thought she’d be done.

“I’m very happy to now be wearing that dress for the first time for my graduation!” she said.

On 25 March 2026, Clio received her master’s degree in food science, awarded cum laude. KD received her BSc in mathematical sciences, biomathematics. They walked across the stage on the same day, at the same university where their mother’s dreams were once taken from her.

Their dad watched from the crowd.

“The fact that Clio and KD are graduating on the same day makes this occasion exceptionally special,” said Ernest Sass, as per Stellenbosch University. “When they were born, I could never have imagined that I would one day be their primary caregiver and provider. The sacrifices and uncertainties along the way were immense – and now, standing at this moment of their graduation, I am left speechless.”

The twins say their mom’s middle name, Grace, described who she was, and what she was denied.

“To live with grace is to show kindness, humility and goodwill,” Clio said. “Grace was not always given to my mother, yet she continued to give it freely to others. She rose above her circumstances, and we can all learn a powerful lesson from her life.”

Sources: Linked above.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Twins Graduate in Honour of Their Activist Mom Silenced by Apartheid appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Busisiwe Innocentia Mndebele spent years serving meals at Wits, now she’s serving inspiration, graduating with a BA in Political Studies at 49 years old… proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 March 2025) – Wits University is bursting with joy this graduation season, but one story in particular has everyone smiling a little wider, and maybe even wiping away a tear or two.

Meet Busisiwe Innocentia Mndebele, a 49-year-old staff member who just added a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies to her name… and all while dishing up meals at the university’s dining halls.

Yes, you read that right.

By day, Mndebele has been the heart of the Wits Dining Hall Catering Services, making sure students are fuelled and fed, whether they’re in Catered or Non-Catered Residences. Her warm meals and friendly service have supported countless students over the years. But behind that dedication to others, she’s been quietly chasing her own dream.

“It’s been quite a tough journey. I have been juggling family, school, work, and my personal life, but I have remained consistent and dedicated,” she shared.

Her journey started back in 2012 when she joined Wits as part of a service provider. Five years later, when she was officially insourced as a Wits employee, everything changed. With access to staff study benefits, she finally had the chance to turn her dream into a degree.

“My dream has always been to graduate in the field of politics,” she said.

“When I became a Wits employee, I gained access to study benefits. Since I couldn’t afford the fees before, I took this opportunity to pursue my studies and make my dream a reality.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

Thanks to Wits’ employee bursary programme, which covers 100% of tuition fees for staff members studying at the university, Mndebele was able to fully embrace her studies. But it wasn’t just the financial support, it was the belief that she could. And now, with her cap and gown, she’s showing the world that no dream is ever too late to chase.

“The University played a crucial role in my journey, as I wouldn’t have been able to afford the fees without its support. That assistance gave me the strength and determination to overcome challenges. Being a Wits graduate instills a sense of endless possibilities and fuels my desire to keep learning,” she added.

Moments like these are exactly why we celebrate graduations. Not just for the degree but for the determination, the resilience and the human spirit behind it all.

Busisiwe Mndebele’s story is more than just inspirational! It’s a reminder that dreams don’t expire. You can start again. You can grow. You can thrive.

And yes, you can go from serving meals to serving major grad goals.

Sources: Wits University 

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Pretoria’s most inspiring former car guard, Dr Kapya, recently celebrated his PhD graduation ceremony, where he stood proudly as a Doctor of Industrial Engineering and proof that the odds can and should be defied:

Pretoria, South Africa (18 September 2024) — Dr Tshinangi Fabrice Kapya has come a very long way from his days working as a car guard. How much his life has changed, beamed in full clarity at the University of Pretoria’s recent graduation ceremony. Here, Dr Kapya, a PhD graduate and Doctor of Industrial Engineering, positively shone not just as an outstanding student but as someone who defied the odds and won.

For Dr Kapya, none of it would’ve been possible if it wasn’t for the encouragement he received from friends.

“I was working as a car park attendant at Wonderpark Mall in Pretoria,” Dr Kapya recalls.

“Despite the repetitive nature of my work, I discovered an unexpected source of comfort: books. 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 sincerely: ‘Fabrice, you don’t belong here, you should go back to school.”

This was the spark that would change everything. Dr Kapya first received a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Likasi. But, with a friend’s encouragement on his side, he decided to apply to the University of Pretoria where he’d go on to be accepted for an honours degree programme—all while working as a car guard in 2019.

By 2021, he was accepted into the masters programme, and was even offered a position as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering!

Ambitious as ever, Dr Kapya already enrolled for his PhD before even touching the master’s graduation stage.

But, being a car guard didn’t just help him earn an income at the time. In fact, his time guarding cars actually helped map out the foundations for his research.

“While I was working at Wonderpark, I frequently observed trucks from various logistics companies delivering a ride range of products. These trucks usually followed strict schedules, ensuring that goods reached their destinations on time.

“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.”

Dr Kapya’s research ended up becoming focused on developing mathematic models for managing production systems for perishable goods; addressing challenges like changing production rates and demand influenced by stock.

The road to this recent graduation was long and winding. But, Dr Kapya hopes his story will inspire others to follower their dreams feverishly.

“Every morning before leaving the house, I had to remind myself that it would get better with time, that each day was an opportunity to conquer, to fight for a better future. I learnt to keep a strong face, to go to war with my depression, and to cling to my faith even when it felt like a thin thread.”—Dr Kapya. 

He further thanked the University for making him feel a part of something bigger and his classmates for being champions behind his dreams—from including him in study groups to covering his transport and paying his rent when he needed help.

Sources: University of Pretoria—Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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