Family deaths caused her to look after four children who were not her own, and delayed her study plans

A PORT Elizabeth woman who waited 14 years to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker will this month finally graduate from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

But it has not been an easy road for Nozuko Monde, 37, of Zwide township, who now works as a social worker at the Child and Family Welfare Society in Uitenhage.

Monde, who is originally from Maxhegweni village in Peddie, passed Grade 12 with exemption in 1994 but had to wait 14 years before she could enrol for a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work in 2008.

Monde worked briefly in Port Elizabeth as a shop teller after school before returning to Peddie to help her mother run a creche.

But disaster struck Monde between 2001 and 2008 when she lost her older sister, brother, mother, aunt and cousin, leaving her to care for four children which were not her own.

She was encouraged to follow a career in social work by Zanolwazi Primary School principal Norman Fumba, where she taught Grade R pupils.

Fumba and his wife Nolundi helped her apply for a bursary which covered Monde's fees.

She will graduate on April 23.

"I'm happy that I will be graduating," she said.

"At the end of the month I will have a graduation party at my village in Peddie.

"I want to motivate others that they too can do it.

"If you are determined you can achieve anything."