S’bonelo Gumede is officially a university graduate; after the ceremony, his father celebrated the accomplishment in the best way!
Johannesburg, South Africa (07 April 2024)—It is graduate season, and our timelines are flooding with happy faces of students who have worked hard to earn their degrees. A recent video shared by Wits University brought tears to our eyes. S’bonelo Gumede recently graduated, and his father’s reaction is the best!
S’bonelo is the last of seven children, born in rural KwaZulu-Natal. He has just become the first person to graduate from University. S’bonelo went to Wits to do a degree in Psychology but found a passion for film and made the switch. While he completed his studies, he continued his Psychology degree too, as an elective.
“I came to Wits, to do my Psychology degree when I fell in love with Filmmaking and decided to change courses and do BA in Film and Television (While still pursuing Psychology Part time with Wits Plus), I also had the honour to also be a tutor in Film. When I switched to do an Art degree I promised my parents that I will do something big for them when I get my first job or first pay cheque. Luckily with my honours degree Wits was able to offer me a job so on my graduation I got my first Pay and I was able to bring my parents from KZN to Gauteng and get them a hotel and show them around the city, this was their first time out of the rural area for them.
I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Film and TV. This is mainly because where I came from doing Art is frowned upon and I would like to spread awareness to other kids from rural areas that it is possible to make it out doing Art. I am pursuing my Masters with no funding, I continued doing this even if I had to pay for myself because I believe that it’s for a greater good.
As a filmmaker, the movies I make do touch base on the life of people from where I come from. I believe that people from rural areas have so many stories to be told and that’s what I am here to do. I have had the honour to work on some films that have aired nationally mostly on Mzansi Magic as a Camera Assistant my biggest is to someday be Director of Photography telling our stories.”
S’bonelo has made not only his family but South Africa proud too! In fact, every student that is about to graduate or just has, you make us proud. If curious, you can view S’bonelo’s filmmaking portfolio here.
Take a look at the heartwarming video below:
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