FORMER TAXI DRIVER NOW TEACHER AT EBONY PRIMARY SCHOOL

KAE News broke the inspirational story of Pelican Nkazimulo Khumalo. Upon publishing we got a call from the Gauteng MEC of Education’s office and as they say the rest is history.

Pelican was a taxi driver for the Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) and graduated to become a teacher last year the 12th of November. He graduated with a BSC in Education from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

It was Khumalo’s mentor and former teacher at Eqinisweni Secondary School, Enock Sishenge who made us aware of his Inspirational story.

Since we broke the story Khumalo has been featured in national newspapers The Star, The Citizen and Daily Sun. He has appeared on eTV and Newsroom Afrika. Furthermore, he has been on air in virtually every commercial radio station i.e Ukhozi FM, Metro FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Lesesi Laka, Radio 2000 etc.

On the 29th of November 2019, KAE News was called to the IPTA Midrand offices. On the day, Khumalo was refunded his tuition fees by Chairman Buti Mkhonza on behalf of the association.

Last year Khumalo received more than 30 job offers from schools. He received job offers in Soweto, Diepsloot and other parts of the country. On advise of his mentor, Sishenge, he took the teacher post at KAE’s oldest school, Ebony Park Primary School. The reason for this was to serve under his district (Johannesburg East) and to give back to his community since he’s a product of Ivory Park.

Khumalo teaches Mathematics and IsiZulu to Grade 5 and 6 learners at Ebony Park Primary School. The former taxi driver described his first teaching days as a “new challenge”. He said he received a warm welcome from teachers, learners and SGB members.

Pelican is in the planning stages to launch an educational foundation. The foundation will be called The Pelican Khumalo Foundation and it will seek to assist and encourage people to receive an education more especially his brothers at the taxi rank.

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