Family’s first to graduate

by | Apr 2, 2014 | Featured 1, News

CELEBRATION: Simphiwe Mazibuko's family has supported him throughout his studies. Pictured from behind are his father, Buti Mazibuko and sister Ntompifuthi Mazibuko. From left to right are his sisters, Jabulile Mazibuko and Nonkululeko Mazibuko, Simphiwe Mazibuko and his mother Thenji Mazibuko. Photo: Lameez Omarjee

CELEBRATION: Simphiwe Mazibuko’s family has supported him throughout his studies. Pictured from behind are his father, Buti and sister Ntompifuthi. From left to right are his sisters, Jabulile and Nonkululeko, Simphiwe and his mother Thenji. Photo: Lameez Omarjee

The last born and only son in his family, but the first to walk the steps of the Great Hall and graduate Monday morning, Simphiwe Mazibuko’s five year journey concluded with a BSc in maths, economics and risk.

Supportive family

Like many Witsies’, he was not immune to the challenges that come with the edge.  His father, Buti Mazibuko, was a  machine operator and mother, Thenji Mazibuko, a florist, worked hard to fund his studies.  When it became too expensive for them, his studies were funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Moving to Joburg “was very painful” for his family, according to his eldest sister, Jabulile.

“We were even crying when we left him here, even my dad’s heart was broken.  But we knew he would finish because he is a hard worker,” she said.

Jabulile has two children of her own who look up to their uncle Simphiwe and want to study at Wits because of him.

For his family, seeing him graduate makes them proud considering the sacrifices they made.  Buti took the day off work to see his son graduate.  For his son’s future he hopes “he works and gets a business to provide for his family.”

His mother, Thenji,  said she worried when she left Simphiwe at Wits.

“At first I was scared when he went to Wits, that he would get involved with the wrong friends and face peer pressure … but he never did something wrong.  He finished.  He came to do what he wanted to do.  He has been good,” she said.

Mathematical interest

Simphiwe grew up in Duduza township outside of Johannesburg and initially intended to complete a Bachelor of Actuarial Science (BActSci) degree but had to complete an extended BSc programme to qualify for the course.  A year after he qualified for actuarial science, he decided to pursue a BSc in mathematical science, economics and risk instead.

[pullquote]“I try and give back, especially when I look at where I come from.  I help where I can, use what I know can help.”[/pullquote]

Simphiwe had an interest in maths since high school and when he was in grade nine developed an interest in the field of actuarial science and built up an aptitude for numbers.

“University maths is different to maths in high school, you build a different perspective of maths,” he said. However, the difficulty of his programme has not deterred him and he plans on returning to do his Honours in maths.

Simphiwe said hee always wanted to come to Wits. 

“I just saw myself here and not anywhere else I guess,” he said.    

During his studies he tutored matric maths for three years.  Three of his former students received distinctions in maths at the end of last year.  

“I try and give back, especially when I look at where I come from.  I help where I can, use what I know can help,” he said.

Simphiwe now works for Santam and divides his time between Johannesburg and Cape Town. He took the day off work to graduate.  His sisters, Nonkululeko and Ntompifuthi, said although their brother is serious , he always makes them laugh.

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Few girls actuarially

by | Mar 24, 2014 | News

Only one black female graduated with an honours degree in actuarial science last year from the School of Statistics and Actuarial Science last year.

Female representation in Actuarial Science  

The issue of black female representation in actuarial science has been an issue in past years, said Moses Mkhize, Wits coordinator of the SA Actuaries Development Programme (SAADP).

“The issue with this problem is that it reinforces the stigma that actuarial science is for males,” said Mkhize.

Kelebogile Setlatjile was the lone black female graduate in her honours programme last year. She could not be reached for comment by Wits Vuvuzela.

Director of Actuarial Studies Prof Stephan Jurisich defended the honours programme’s diversity, saying the graduation demographics changed from year to year.

“You cannot use last year’s class as being representative of Wits,” he said.

The current actuarial science honours class has 42 students with 12 of them black females, eight of those women are Indian and only four are African. Eight of the female students are white.  There are no coloured women studying actuarial science in the honours programme this year.

[pullquote]“The issue with this problem is that it reinforces the stigma that actuarial science is for males,”[/pullquote]

Jurisich said the Actuarial Science Honours course was demanding and passing required navigating difficult academic requirements.

South African Actuaries Development  Programme 

However, Jurisich confirmed that managing diversity in the actuarial science programme had been difficult and had been helped with the intervention of SAADP.

The SAADP was established to create awareness and understanding of actuarial skills, particularly for students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

SAADP chief executive Nowkanda Mkhize said the entrance requirements into actuarial science were high and “the students need to be strong mathematically.”

S’onqonba Maseko, who graduated from the Wits Actuarial Science Honours programme in 2009, said she had never felt disenfranchised by her race or gender but said there were too few black females studying actuarial science.

“Actuarial science is not a career option that a lot of young black girls know about when growing up. This is related to the past of South Africa and the limited opportunities that existed for black girls,” Maseko said.

“There is some catching up to be done through letting more black girls know about the career and give them the support to discover their own potential.”

According to an article published in Business Day last year, the profession of actuarial science has made strides in improving its diversity. Over the last 15 years, the number of black actuarial fellows grew from 2.2% to 16%, whereas the number of female fellows increased from 6% to 20%.

Wits actuaries actually the best

by | Aug 16, 2013 | News

Wits has produced the most actuarial graduates from previously disadvantaged homes.

The latest report by the South African Actuaries Development Programme (SAADP) revealed that of all the bursaries given out at three universities, Wits had the most graduates. Wits has not only produced the most actuarial science graduates, but also has the most qualified actuaries.

[pullquote]“Often actuary students do not have the strongest social lives. We facilitate social breaks where the students can meet and share their experiences and problems. Balance is important,”[/pullquote]

Nokwanda Mkhize, director of the SAADP programme, told Wits Vuvuzela that in 2002, before the programme started, there was only one black qualified actuary in South Africa. She said there were three coloured and 14 Indian actuaries of the qualified actuaries in South Africa at that time.

These figures were what drove the development of the programme.

Cyril Ramaphosa, the first chairman of the SAADP board at its inception in 2003, was instrumental in commissioning the programme.

“Ramaphosa called the strategy of the programme the ‘shotgun approach’. This was because Ramaphosa realised that it would take around 20 years to fix the science and maths issue in schools.

“At that time he knew that there were students excelling in those subjects and they should be identified and be given extensive support at the tertiary level.”

The SAADP strives to increase the number of black actuaries in South Africa. The programme identifies crucial talent and supports students from selection until qualification.

“The programme focuses on assisting students to unlearn the bad exam and test skills that often invovle cramming,” Mkhize said. Mkhize said that students are under the guidance of a coordinator and mentor at each of the three univerisites that the programme is offered.

The other universities are the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria, which is the most recent university to join. Asked what key elements contribute to the programmes’s success, Mkhize said: “It is hands-on from the time a student is selected until graduation.

“Often actuary students do not have the strongest social lives. We facilitate social breaks where the students can meet and share their experiences and problems. Balance is important,” she said.

Mkhize added that Ramaphosa’s passion was no doubt a contributing factor to the programme’s success. “He really cared about the students. At times, when a student had problems, he would take money not from the programme but from his own pocket to really make a difference.”