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Dr. Tshinangi Fabrice Kapya went from parking cars at Wonderpark Mall to earning a PhD in Industrial Engineering at the University of Pretoria (UP).

Kapya’s journey is a testament to perseverance and determination. He received his PhD during UP’s recent 2024 Spring Graduation ceremonies.

Reflecting on his humble beginnings, he recalls, “A few years ago, I was a car park attendant. Whenever I had free time, I read books.”

“My colleagues would joke, ‘Fabrice, you don’t belong here, you should go back to school.’”

Generosity of friends

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kapya held a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Likasi.

Kapya already had a tough time paying for his degree after the death of his father. It was thanks to the generosity of friends that he was able to finance his studies.

After arriving in South Africa as an asylum seeker in 2018, he began working as a car guard at Wonderpark Mall in Pretoria from 7am to 8pm, where he made around R2 000 a month.

“I had about R900 to R1 000 left every month after covering all expenses such as rent and groceries,” Kapya said.

A friend applied on his behalf to UP, where he enrolled in an honours programme in 2019 while continuing his work as a car guard.

The idea of saving for tuition seemed almost impossible, but Kapya knew education was his way out, and so he sacrificed whatever he could.

“There were days when I had to skip meals to make sure I had enough money saved for my monthly school deposit,” he explained.

From car guard to lecturer

Kapya’s academic achievements snowballed from there. He went on to earn a master’s degree and a role as an assistant lecturer in 2021, followed by his PhD enrolment.

His research in Industrial Engineering focused on mathematical models to improve production systems for perishable goods.

The idea for his PhD was sparked by his observations of logistics trucks while working at the mall.

“While I was working at Wonderpark, I frequently observed trucks from various logistics companies delivering a wide range of products,” the former car guard added.

“These trucks usually followed strict schedules, ensuring that goods reached their destinations on time. However, when COVID-19 struck, I noticed a significant shift in consumer behaviour and the way certain products were being consumed.”

Despite the challenges of balancing work, studies, and personal hardship, Kapya found support from the UP community and his classmates.

“True success, in my eyes, is not measured by degrees or titles but by the positive change we bring to the world around us and that is exactly what Prof Yadavalli, Prof Femi, this university and its people did for me,” Kapya added.

Do you know of similar success story?

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