In the heart of Sasolburg, in a forgotten little mining town called Clydesdale, a star was quietly being born. Today, 34-year-old Ntsoaki Mphuthi is not just a PhD candidate in Chemistry, she is the epitome of resilience, brilliance and possibility. Her story, rooted in township dust and dreams, is one that inspires and commands applause.
A Humble Beginning
Ntsoaki was born in Clydesdale and began her schooling at Clydesdale Primary. After the passing of her father in 1997, her family relocated to Harry Gwala, a section of Zamdela affectionately known as “France.” She continued her early schooling at Lehutso Primary School from Grade 2 until Grade 7, and later moved on to Cedar Secondary School, all within the township of Zamdela.
The youngest of six siblings, four brothers and a sister, Ntsoaki grew up in a home that, despite financial limitations, overflowed with love, discipline and support. She was the kind of child who stood out, even in crowded classrooms. “I was always that girl, disciplined, focused, smart,” she says. “Even in primary school, I knew I was different. I always topped the class.”
Excellence in the Midst of Adversity
Her academic excellence continued into high school. “That’s when I realized I wasn’t the only one. There were many of us now,” she laughs. But rather than falter, she thrived alongside her peers. Her high school choices reflected a strong leaning toward science – Maths, Physical Science, Life Science, subjects she was drawn to naturally, especially given that most of her older siblings had walked similar paths.
Matric was a bit of a wake-up call. “I didn’t work as hard as I should have,” she admits. “I was distracted by friends and I was overconfident. But still, I did very well.”
When Hope Finds You
After matric, the road to university wasn’t easy. She had been accepted to both the University of Pretoria and North-West University (NWU), but financial constraints meant she couldn’t register. “I remember standing in queues with friends, watching them register, knowing I couldn’t,” she recalls.
That changed when a former Maths teacher saw her results and sent them to the Free State Department of Education. Ntsoaki had made the province’s Top 100 learners and qualified for a bursary. “It was divine. I always say, if you ever doubt God’s existence, listen to the story of my life.”
With that bursary, she enrolled at NWU in Mafikeng for a BSc in Biology and Chemistry. While she initially dreamed of becoming a microbiologist, Chemistry eventually won her over. She completed her Honours and Master’s degrees, earning cum laude in her Master’s, and is now finalizing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg.
The Road Less Travelled—and Much Longer
Ntsoaki is quick to point out that her PhD has been the most difficult and humbling experience of her life.
“Yeah PhD was hard. The most humbling degree ever. I’ve always been on top of my game, my first degree, second degree, even my master’s, I got cum laude. But the PhD? It was something else. I wasn’t on my A-game like I used to be. There were ups and downs, moments where I genuinely thought of quitting. I told myself, ‘It’s okay, I already have a Master’s. I can live with that.’ But something kept me going.”
So what kept her going?
“It’s the people. Colleagues graduating every year, family encouraging me to finish. And in my workplace, everyone from junior to senior levels has a PhD. It’s not a ‘nice to have’, it’s a ‘why don’t you have it?’ That pressure was real. That, and the quiet support from family and friends, kept me going.”
She juggled her PhD part-time while working full-time as a researcher. Fortunately, her job and her academic research overlapped, allowing her to pursue both. But that didn’t make it easy.
“You sleep PhD, dream PhD, live PhD, eat PhD” she laughs. “There’s no time for ‘Netflix and chill.’ I remember I bought books thinking I’d start reading for fun again. Five years later, those books are decorations. I’ve read so many research papers that I don’t even want to see another paragraph.”
“You isolate yourself. You stop going out. You even forget life exists outside of the lab and research meetings. It humbles you, I won’t lie.”
Fifteen years after entering university in 2010, she’s still there, still pushing, still proving, still rising.
“Fifteen years in school straight, make that 27 when you consider primary and secondary. I remember joking that the next level would be people asking, ‘So, how many PhDs do you have now?’ But no. I’m done,” she laughs. “Because to do a PhD, your work has to be novel, something that’s never been done before. There’s no shortcut.”
On the Frontlines of Innovation
Today, Ntsoaki is a research scientist at Mintek, a leading science and technology institution. She works on diagnostic devices for diseases like HIV, cholera and diabetes – developing affordable, locally made test kits using nanotechnology. Her work bridges the gap between scientific research and real-world application.
“Most of our test kits are imported and expensive. We want to make sure that our own communities have access to reliable, affordable testing.”
Looking Ahead, With a Clear Mind
Now that the PhD journey is nearly complete, Ntsoaki is starting to rediscover life outside of academia.
“I started going for walks and runs again, trying to get fit and reconnect with myself. Reading might come back too, eventually. But I just want to feel like myself again.”
A Word to the Dreamers
To young learners in Harry Gwala or any township in South Africa, Ntsoaki has this message:
“Be disciplined. Stay focused. Education will open doors for you. That’s what got me out.”
She doesn’t dream of professorships or overseas lectures. Instead, she wants to rise within her field, becoming a senior, then principal, and eventually a chief scientist. Her roots are strong. Her purpose is clear.
She is the township girl next door who dared to believe she could be more.
And she was right.
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