“Twin sisters Ms Setoaba Matshediso Keketso and Ms Setoaba Motshedisi Kekeletso graduate Cum Laude in Marketing Management at VUT, marking a shared journey of discipline, resilience, and purpose.”
22 April 2026 | Story by: Thembelihle Masimula| Picture: Keitumetsi Mokgope
3 minutes read time.
On 22 April 2026, as the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) continued its journey on the Road to 60, a quiet yet powerful story unfolded among the 60th generation of graduates. It was not marked by noise or spectacle, but by something far more enduring, shared purpose, discipline, and an unbreakable bond.
Ms Setoaba Matshediso Keketso and Ms Setoaba Motshedisi Kekeletso, twin sisters from Bloemfontein, walked the graduation stage together, each earning a Cum Laude in the Advanced Diploma in Marketing Management. It was a moment of double celebration, but also the culmination of a journey defined by consistency, sacrifice, and mutual support.
While their achievement places them side by side, the sisters are intentional about who they are as individuals. Beyond the mirror of twinship, they carry distinct personalities that shaped how they approached their studies. Matshediso describes herself as disciplined and structured, while Motshedisi brings a more expressive and outgoing energy.
In that contrast, they found strength.
What could have been a simple coincidence became a deliberate partnership. Studying together meant more than sharing notes, it meant holding each other accountable, pushing through moments of doubt, and remaining anchored when distractions threatened to pull them away from their goals.
“We did not plan to study the same course at first, but once we started enjoying it, we decided to continue together and support each other,” said Ms Matshediso Keketso.
Their journey into higher education was not without its challenges. Like many students, the early stages tested their focus. The freedom of university life brought distractions, and adapting to academic expectations required discipline they had to consciously build.
For both sisters, the turning point came from a place deeper than ambition. It came from home.
Guided by a strong family foundation, particularly the influence of their mother, they found the motivation to realign and remain committed.
“It was difficult in the beginning because it is easy to get distracted, but we started prioritising because we did not want to disappoint our mother,” said Ms Motshedisi Kekeletso.
One of the most demanding aspects of their studies was the Research module, a space that required independent thinking, analysis, and intellectual maturity. It challenged them, but it also refined them.
Through it all, their approach remained simple and consistent, they showed up for each other.
“We always studied together and kept each other accountable. That helped us stay focused and consistent,” added Ms Motshedisi Kekeletso.
Their story is not only about academic excellence. It is about partnership without dependency, individuality without division, and the quiet discipline that often goes unseen.
As VUT advances towards its 60th anniversary, stories like that of the Setoaba twins bring a human heartbeat to the milestone. They remind us that excellence is rarely loud. It is built in shared moments, in routine, in resilience, and in the decision, day after day, to keep going.
For the 60th generation of VUT graduates, their journey stands as a reflection of what is possible when purpose meets support.
Together, yet distinctly their own, the Setoaba sisters step into the future not only as graduates, but as a testament to the power of unity, discipline, and belief.