Thabo completed a BCom degree in 2010 at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus. He is currently employed as stakeholder and inter-government manager responsible for the Gauteng Region at the Department of Higher Education and Training.

 

“I manage stakeholder relations, create and manage relationships with the three spheres of government, and establish partnerships in government and the private sector in support of the post-school education and training sector,” Thabo says.

 

Despite having a very busy work life, he continues to be active in the community. He has a keen interest in youth development and youth empowerment initiatives, particularly in Rustenburg, Bojanala and Khutsong in Merafong.

 

He is, for instance, involved in the #MakeEducationFashionable campaign, which assists young people with online applications for TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges and universities, and also for financial assistance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

 

Youthful contributions

 

Thabo’s life of service began as far back as Tswasongu Secondary School in Khutsong, where he served on the Representative Council of Learners and later as Congress of South African Students leadership.

 

At the NWU, Thabo was chairperson of both the Young Communist League of South Africa, and the South African Students Congress (SASCO), and later secretary-general of the Mahikeng Campus Student Representative Council (SRC).

 

In 2012, he was elected to serve as the national president of the South African Union of Students, a national federation of university SRCs. In 2015, he was elected as deputy president of SASCO and thereafter became its president until 2017.

 

Freedom and responsibility

 

Human rights are very close to Thabo’s heart. When he thinks about it, the word ‘freedom’ comes to mind. “For me, it is about the freedom to associate, learn, and grow in an environment that allows one's potential to me maximised.”

 

Equally important to him, is the idea of responsibility. “Be accountable for your own actions, learn from your shortcomings and work on them,” is his message to young people.

 

His wish for South Africa and its people is that citizens should take back their power from politicians. “We should all start being active as citizens; we should hold our leaders accountable and drive our own personal and professional development.”

 

“Associate yourself with greatness, to be the greatest.”

 

- Thabo Moloja