Life hasn’t been easy for Lucky Themishi Maebela, but this dedicated University of the Western Cape gardener is digging deep, juggling his daily shifts with postgraduate studies to cultivate the future he deserves.
Western Cape, South Africa (08 June 2026) – Many students, staff, and visitors at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) know Lucky Themishi Maebela as the friendly face tending to the campus gardens. He is often spotted in his brown overalls, caring for the grounds that thousands cross each day.
But what many might not know is that as soon as he clocks out, another shift begins – one where Lucky swaps his gardening tools for textbooks and lecture notes.
According to UWC, the 29-year-old gardener is a postgraduate student, pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Child Studies after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Psychology, Philosophy and English.
From a young age, Lucky understood that education was the one thing that would offer him the pathway to a different future.
Growing up in Kgautswane near Burgersfort in Limpopo, Lucky’s journey to university was never guaranteed. His family lived in the Mogoleng Section, and every school day, he travelled about 14 kilometres to attend classes at Mathafeng Secondary School. After matric, he moved to Tembisa in 2018, hoping to find work and create opportunities for himself.
Sadly, it was during this pursuit for a better life that he was struck by a taxi. An accident which left him with severe facial injuries and visible scarring.
“People would look at me and become scared. Sometimes they would move away from me before even speaking to me. It was painful because people did not know my story. They only saw my face and made their own conclusions,” he says.
Lucky returned home to Limpopo to recover. Heartbroken but not defeated, he decided to start again. He went back to school, determined to improve his matric results and create new opportunities.
The decision came with its own challenges. However, Matshaile Secondary School in Kgautswane gave him a chance and enrolled him in Grade 11 in 2020.
At 23, he was older than most of his classmates. He admits that being older wasn’t easy.
But Lucky persevered, focused on his studies, started a business with his younger brother to earn an income and later caught the attention of a social worker who encouraged him to apply for university.
“He told me he could see that I wanted something from life,” Lucky recalled.
Together, they explored university options and submitted applications, including one to UWC. When his acceptance letter arrived, it represented far more than admission to a university. It was proof that his future had not been decided by an accident.
At UWC, Lucky found more than an education. He found belonging. He immersed himself in his studies and discovered a passion for understanding people, families and communities.
While studying, he works as a campus gardener to support himself. His three-month contract is due to end in June 2026, creating another period of uncertainty. Yet, uncertainty is something he has learned to live with.
“UWC gave me a second chance,” he said.
“This university helped me continue my studies and build a future. I hope I can continue working and growing here.”
Lucky’s ambitions stretch far beyond his current qualification. One day, he hopes to earn a PhD.
Knowing all too well what it feels like to be overlooked and judged, he also dreams of creating opportunities for others through the Rise and Be Seen Youth Development Foundation – an initiative he established to uplift young people through education, to reduce crime and provide support for those facing mental health challenges.
Sources: University of the Western Cape
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