“VUT’s Modiehi Makhetha reflects on resilience, motherhood and perseverance after receiving the Highest Achievement Qualification Award in Logistics.”
22 September 2026 | Story by: Ntebogeleng Digasu | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
4 minutes read time.
Helping her mother run a mobile kitchen sparked a curiosity that would ultimately shape Ms Modiehi Josephine Makhetha’s future. That curiosity led the Vaal native to pursue Logistics at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), where she achieved an outstanding 84.71% average and was honoured at the inaugural Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards on 18 September 2026.
Ms Makhetha received the Highest Achievement Qualification Award in the Diploma in Logistics category within the Faculty of Management Sciences, together with a special award valued at R40,394, marking another milestone in an academic journey shaped by resilience, sacrifice and determination.
Her passion for logistics and supply chain management can be traced back to her childhood experiences helping her mother operate a mobile kitchen outside industrial areas and local markets. While serving customers and handling the day-to-day demands of the business, she found herself fascinated not only by the products being sold but by how those products reached their destination.
“I wanted to understand the full cycle of where all the products we were using were coming from and the process of all aspects involved,” she explained.
What began as a simple curiosity about the movement of goods eventually developed into a professional ambition. Today, Ms Makhetha is pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Logistics Management and hopes to build a career in logistics, supply chain management and procurement, particularly within the public sector.
Her academic success, however, did not come without challenges.
As a mother to a seven-year-old daughter, she had to balance the demands of higher education with family responsibilities. During her third year of study, she also experienced the loss of her grandmother, who had been one of her greatest sources of support. Together with her mother, she spent time caring for her grandmother during her final days.
Despite the emotional toll, Ms Makhetha remained committed to completing her studies and achieving her goals.
“I overcame all these challenges by trying my best to be persistent, dedicated and disciplined,” she said.
She explained that perseverance did not mean ignoring difficult emotions. Instead, she learned the importance of allowing herself time to rest, reflect and recover while maintaining focus on her long-term aspirations.
“At times I allowed myself to cry, to rest and to gather strength again. Prayer and faith kept me going when things became difficult,” she said.
For Ms Makhetha, receiving the award was about more than academic achievement. It symbolised years of sacrifice, support and hard work from both herself and her family.
“It means that the sacrifices of my parents and myself are finally paying off. It means my hard work is recognised in a profound way that I could not have imagined,” she said.
She credits her success to the unwavering support of her mother, brother, daughter, life partner, grandmother and lecturers at VUT, all of whom played a meaningful role in her journey.
Although proud of what she has achieved, Ms Makhetha remains focused on the future. She hopes to continue her studies, take on leadership roles within the logistics sector and eventually mentor young people entering the profession.
Her own experience has shaped the message she would like to share with students who may doubt their ability to succeed because of their circumstances.
“Your background does not determine your destination,” she said.
“Keep working hard, remain disciplined and believe in yourself even when the journey becomes difficult. Success is possible if you stay committed to your goals.”
From serving customers alongside her mother at a mobile kitchen to becoming one of VUT’s top academic achievers, Ms Makhetha’s journey reflects the power of curiosity, perseverance and determination.
As she continues her studies in Logistics Management, she hopes not only to build a successful career in the sector but also to inspire other students to believe that their circumstances do not define their future. Her recognition at the Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards stands as proof that humble beginnings, coupled with dedication and hard work, can lead to remarkable success.