It's Dr Lillian Dube to you - Veteran to get honorary doctorate

Lillian Dube has gone from a humble maid earning R80 a month, to a screen goddess, and now an honorary doctor.

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will next week confer a DTech (Honoris Causa) endorsements Drama and Film Production on Dube for her body of work that spans over 30 years.

The television and film veteran has dabbled as a tea lady at a furniture factory in Johannesburg, and worked as a credit clerk for retail stores before she achieved showbiz fame.

In their citation TUT noted in part: "The honorary degree is based on your contribution to the broad field of the Arts in particular and social causes in general."

Yesterday, an emotional Dube said she was humbled by the gesture.

"I feel like I could wake up my late mother, she said to me while growing up that whatever work you do, do it diligently. She said even if you sweep the floors, make people want to know who did the great work. I have taken that lesson with me all my life. Whatever I do, I do wholeheartedly and these are the fruits."

Dube has starred in countless television dramas and comedies, most notably as Baratang in Mopheme, the iconic Sotho dramaand as Sister Bettina in the edutainment series Soul Cityfrom 1994 to 2009. She also played MaSebobe on Generations.

She created, produced and starred in Skwizas, the SABC2 sitcom from 2008 and she is currently one of the stars of SABC3 comedy Taryn and Sharon.

Dube is also the face of Clientele insurance campaigns and infomercials.

She has also been cast in numerous films such as Leon Schuster's Oh Shucks... I'm Gatvol; Gog' Helen; Cry, The Beloved Country; and Mapantsula.