Kenny Kunene motivates Witsies

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NO POLITICS, JUST MOTIVATION: Businessman and Patriotic Alliance (PA) Secretary General, Kenny Kunene was invited by the Wits Black Lawyers Association as part of their Motivational Talk series where he told students never to abort their dreams. Photo: Nqobile Dludla

Give yourself the opportunity to dream big, said Patriotic Alliance (PA) secretary-general and businessman Kenny Kunene to Wits students on Wednesday.

Kunene was speaking at a seminar organised by the Wits Black Lawyers’ Association (BLA) at Wits University.

“It is through a practical story that I believe that one can draw inspiration because we can quote so many words but if one doesn’t understand the journey that has been traveled, one would not be able to understand how one got to where he is today,” Kunene told the audience.

Taking the wide-eyed crowd to a small house in Odendaalsrus, Kunene relived the indignity of taking out buckets full of human faeces almost daily as part of his youth. He also spoke of his small business of selling fruits in high school to afford the clothes his rich friends wore at that time.

It was during this time that Kunene was exposed to mining, through his encounter and relationship with gold smugglers which eventually landed him behind bars for running a ponzi scheme.

“I have never defined my life through pain. I have literally changed every pain into champagne. Never allow negativity to define your life. Let positivity be your lifestyle, your past must not define you.

Those who make it academically and business wise are those who specialise and work harder than others. If you’re going to be a lawyer, ask yourself, what will make me a better lawyer? Education is the foundation. The reason I’ve gotten so far is that at least I had a teacher’s qualification,” he said.

BLA chairperson, Zareef Minty said: “It’s a privilege to bring my mentor to our established university, Kenny is not only a great inspiration to our young students but he is also someone who can motivate a crowd of people better than anyone.”

BLA promises innovative student development

 

New team, new plans: The newly elected BLA Student Chapter executive council. (Five more members were not available to take the photo)          Photo: Nqobile Dludla

New team, new plans: The newly elected BLA Student Chapter executive council. (Five more members were not available to take the photo)                                                                                       Photo: Nqobile Dludla

The newly elected Black Lawyers Association (BLA) Wits Student Chapter executive council said it was ready to earn the confidence it needs from law students.

This comes just weeks after the rigorous LSC elections produced candidates aimed at accelerating student development and improving services in the Law school. The newly elected BLA executive council was announced last Thursday, March, 19.

Among other things Zareef Minty, chairperson, said the new executive council intends to prioritise innovative student development through mentorship programmes.

“The BLA allows students to develop the opportunity to get involved with meeting advocates, following and seeing how procedure is done practically before getting into fourth year of your degree,” said Minty.

Through a series of educational activities, the BLA intends to create a line of communication between students and the legal profession and promote integration between the two.

Citing the LSC’s Career Week in which big law firms entice potential recruits, Ritondeni Matamela, career liaison officer, said unlike the LSC, their aim is to expose law students to other small firms. “We as the BLA will focus on small firms which are in partnership with our mother body and try to bring them to the students. We want to say to students that you don’t only have to go to the top five law firms; there are many other alternative options available.”

 

Introducing the 2014 BLA executive council 

Chairperson: Zareef Minty

Deputy Chair: Zuko Khoza

Secretary: Palesa Ntentesa

Deputy Secretary: Khwezi Zulu

Treasurer: Sandile Mncwabe

Entertainment:  Takudza Muromba

Academic: Mapule Setlaleleng

Career liaison officer: Ritondeni Matamela

Media and publicity: Seadimo Tlale

Community outreach: Vuyo Ngubane