Passion and courage have no age limit! Anelisa Matebese is turning her drive to serve communities into action as Cape Town’s youngest firefighter graduate.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 August 2026) – As she grew, Anelisa Matebese’s drive to make a meaningful contribution grew along with her. When the time came to step out into the world on her own two feet, choosing a career that aligned with that drive was the natural next step.
At just 19 years old, Anelisa became the youngest firefighting graduate in Cape Town’s 2026 Cadet Firefighter programme. She earned a resounding round of applause at her recent graduation ceremony, where she officially received her credentials as a junior firefighter for the City of Cape Town.
“As I grew older, I knew that I wanted to help the community. That I wanted to be part of those people who bring hope to the community. When I started the programme, most of my family were very doubtful and as small as you can say I am, there were so many doubts and fears that I might get injured. Especially with my mom,” shares Anelisa, who says she had to convince her mother that she had what it took to work and serve as a firefighter.
Her brother, Sesethu Matebese, was one of the relatives who attended the graduation ceremony. He expressed pride in Anelisa’s dedication to her training and for seeing it all the way through.
“I’m quite proud of her. This is a tremendous achievement. It shows her dedication because she spent a lot of time training.”
Anelisa is ready to protect her city with courage, commitment and service. She revealed that she enjoyed the programme most during the fire season, which offered real-life experience of the demands of the job.
“We got an opportunity to go out and fight real fires. We were able to respond to various calls. It was a nice experience because it was not in a controlled environment,” she said.
As Anelisa looks forward to stepping out and proving her prowess, she encourages young people to believe in their capabilities and never let the opinions or fears of others hold them back.
“I always say to myself that what the next person can do, I can also do it. So don’t ever listen to what people say you can’t do it. You can do it.”
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