Gogo Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Her Late Granddaughter Who Loved to Learn

Photo Credit: University of KwaZulu-Natal via Facebook

While accepting her PhD, a gogo carried with her the memory of her beloved granddaughter, a young soul whose love for learning matched her own.

Durban, South Africa (18 September 2025) – Graduations are a celebratory occasion, marking the sweet culmination of a long academic journey. But for Dr Pinky Ntombizonke Zwane, it also came with a wave of emotions as she took the moment to honour her late granddaughter. A little soul gone too soon, and whose love for learning matched her own.

As she crossed the stage to accept her well-earned PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) this week, she held up a photograph of her late six-year-old granddaughter, along with a message that read: ‘Gogo walked your last mile, Chuma’.

For Zwane, those few minutes were a moment of pride, which also held the memory of Chuma Lubanzi Maqoma, who passed away following a short illness five years ago.

According to UKZN, Zwane describes Chuma as a child who had an “old soul” and a profound love for learning. Despite her illness, the little girl was more concerned about missing school than her pain.

“She never complained about pain, only about having to attend virtual classes. Chuma hated to miss even a day of school. She wanted to be learning until her last breath,” Zwane shared.

Zwane said she had a very close connection with her granddaughter, who closely resembled her.

“I hope she’s proud of me, wherever she is. I imagined her alongside me on stage. I did this for her. Her courage pushed me to complete this degree.”

The graduation day was made even more meaningful by the presence of Zwane’s separated parents, who came together to attend the graduation ceremony and share in her special moment.

Zwane’s doctoral research explored how Life Orientation (LO) lecturers navigated the abrupt introduction of digital training via the Cisco platform.

The PhD graduate credits her success to God and also expressed gratitude to her prayer supporters, family, friends, and mentors for sustaining her during her darkest moments.

With her new qualification, Zwane hopes to create opportunities to share her experiences and advocate for stronger integration of digital skills in education.

“I feel a deep sense of humility and triumph. From being chased out of school for outstanding fees to standing here with a PhD, I know God has carried me all the way. My hope is that my story inspires others to never give up, no matter how impossible it may seem,” she said.