The University of the Witwatersrand conferred postgraduate diplomas in the arts upon a number of students on Monday, and Gumede was one of them. Gumede is a well-known actor who has appeared in a number of television shows.
In an interview with Sowetan, Gumede, who played the role of Mandla Ndlovu in Isibaya, stated that he still cannot believe that he has accomplished this goal. The veteran actor has been performing for many years and feels that now that he has established himself in the industry, it is time for him to try his hand at other things.
He described his success in achieving his goal of earning a degree from an institution of higher learning as “a dream come true,” and he explained that this was something that he had desired to do ever since he was a small boy.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always told myself that in order to achieve anything I want to do, I need to have some sort of certification or degree. Second, I have children who are currently enrolled in higher education institutions, and one of them is 28 years old and is majoring in engineering. I hoped to convince them that anything is possible by showing them that anything is. They were ecstatic and filled with pride when they witnessed me receiving my diploma on Monday.
“The most important factor in determining whether or not I would continue my study was the fact that, while I was filming Isibaya, I became ill and had to be sent to the intensive care unit. The vast majority of persons who venture in there are never seen or heard from again. As soon as I realized I was going to make it out of that situation alive, I told myself that I owed the universe some sort of gratitude for the chance to live. I asked my parents for permission to return to school so that I might realize my ambition. “Now that I have the qualification, I plan to continue my education and eventually become a lecturer,” Gumede explained.
In spite of the fact that the voyage was challenging for the actor, he never once entertained the idea of giving up. He described the initial year, 2019, as being a living nightmare for him. Gumede was in such a hurry to graduate that he even declined several employment opportunities so that he could concentrate on his education.
“Studying is challenging, and it demands a committed effort on your part. Both the cost of tuition and the cost of books might be quite high. However, I would want to thank Bomb Production for contributing to the cost of my education.
“Studying compelled me to give up a lot of things, like hanging out with amajita (my friends) and going out because of the books. I said no to a few different positions, particularly those that were located in other areas of the country. Even when I was involved in a production called Nongogo, I was required to balance my time between studying and attending rehearsals. Gumede would like to take some time off for the time being so that he can concentrate on his recently opened acting school.
In the meantime, the University of Witwatersrand has announced on its website that it has presented a doctorate honoris causa to a literary giant named Zakes Mda. This recognition is in recognition of Mda’s role as an outstanding ambassador for African excellence through his body of work. According to a statement released by the university, “Playwright and novelist Zakes Mda was conferred an honorary doctorate in literature in honour of his contribution to South Africa and the world’s cultural and artistic arena,” respectively.
In an interview with Sowetan, Angus Gibson of Bomb Production stated unequivocally that they were on Gumede’s side. The Bomb family has always considered Bongani to be a member of the clan.