Buffalo City celebrated a young man who used to sell ice cream in East London, Esplanade so that he can be able to buy school uniform. Sisipho Hamlomo is now a lecturer in Mathematical Statistics at Rhodes University.
Sisipho Hamlomo is a true definition of the sky is the limit because he did let his hardships stand in a way of reaching his dreams. Sisipho’s family was really struggling to make ends meet, they depended on social grants and that made things really difficult for them. His parents could not even afford to buy them basic needs like school uniform. Hamlomo recalls on time where he had to go to school with no shoes and jacket during cold weather.
The were moments where I felt like going to school was not worth it. I remember my teacher would ask me why am I wearing a shirt on a cold weather and I would lie and say I did not look at the weather. Mrs Dabula decided to buy me my first school jacket, – Sisipho Hamlomo.
Sisipho’s inspiring story started when he was going to do Grade 10 and needed a new school uniform, then he decided to sell ice cream to tourists and beachgoers in Esplanade. The business went well and he was able to buy himself a full school uniform. Sisipho was raised in East London by his parents together with his siblings, a brother and three sisters and they later relocated to Centane where he matriculated at Isolomzi Senior Secondary.
Sisipho pushed through his adversity and went on to thrive with his studies. During school holidays he continued to sell ice cream. In Grade 11 his Mathematics teacher Ms Mgudlwa set him on a path that changed his life. Sisipho hated Mathematics, he struggled with it but when Ms Mgudlwa started to teach his clas it all just clicked.
After matric, Sisipho took a gap year and taught Mathematics at his previous school before applying at Rhodes University. His application was successful and got funding through the Rural Education Access Programme.
Success is a process never an event. Live each day proud of all things you have acquired and remember where you come from, – Sisipho Hamlomo.
Sisipho Hamlomo studied at Rhodes University obtaining a BSc in Mathematical Statistics and Mathematics in 2019, a BSc (Hons) in Mathematical Statistics and Mathematics in 2020 and his MSc Mathematical Statistics in 2022 from Rhodes University. He teaches undergraduates Statistics and Mathematical Statistics and also supervises postgraduate students. He is not done yet with his studies, currently he is doing Doctors of Philosophy in Aplied Mathematics under the supervision of Dr Atemkeng.
The Buffalo City Tourism team took time to congratulate Sisipho Hamlomo for his inspiring accomplishment.
