Ntombana Dlanga shows that the road to success is not straight, going into animal health after working as a domestic worker.
Free State, South Africa (13 August 2025) – There is a famous quote that says ‘dreams delayed are not dreams denied’, and Ntombana Dlanga’s journey is proof of that.
Growing up in a home led by a single mother working as a nursing assistant, higher education felt like a distant hope after she matriculated in 1997. The thought of university was off the table due to financial constraints. It was then that she took on domestic work in Gauteng between 1999 and 2001. Deep down, knowing she was capable of more.
Determined to change her future, she set her sights on studying. In 2001, she made her way to the Mahikeng Campus. Although her dream was to become a nurse, space limitations in the programme pushed her in a different direction. She turned to animal health, a decision that later shaped her entire career.
Financial barriers were still an issue, but with a combination of an edu-loan and a bursary from what was then known as TEFSA (now NSFAS), she managed to begin her studies. Being the first in her family to attend university came with challenges, but she pushed through.
After completing her bachelor’s degree in animal health in 2004, she continued with her honours while interning at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria. Balancing studies and work, she completed her degree with strong results, showing that dedication and time management could beat any odds.
Her hard work opened doors. Faced with multiple job offers, she accepted a position with the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, where she broke new ground as the first black woman to serve as an animal health technician.
Now based in Fauresmith and a mother of two, she holds the title of Assistant Director for Animal Health. Her life reflects her once far-off dreams and the rewards of resilience.
Ntombana’s story is a powerful reminder that where you start does not define where you will end up.
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