“VUT graduate Thabo Monaheng overcame disability and financial hardship to build a successful career while championing inclusion in higher education.”
20 July 2026 | Story by: By Tayron Mhlongo | Picture: Supplied
3 minutes read time.
For many students, earning a university qualification is the fulfilment of a dream. For Mr Thabo Monaheng, it represented something far greater: proof that determination can overcome barriers that often seem impossible.
Born and raised in Sebokeng, Mr Monaheng enrolled at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in 2018 to study Public Relations, graduating in 2022 despite living with a physical disability, financial hardship and the daily challenges that accompanied both. Today, his journey stands as one of the inspiring alumni stories being celebrated through VUT’s Road to 60 campaign.
Mr Monaheng now works as a Senior Clerk in Communications at Eskom’s Lethabo Power Station after joining the organisation through the Eskom YES Programme in 2025. His responsibilities include coordinating educational and community outreach programmes, producing internal newsletters, managing the Visitors Centre, facilitating power station tours and organising career guidance initiatives for schools across the Vaal Triangle.
Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, he also serves as a Youth Professional Network Representative and spokesperson, where he advocates for youth development and leadership. His work reflects his belief that success is measured not only by personal achievement but also by the positive impact one has on others.
Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and a physical disability shaped his outlook on life from an early age. Rather than allowing his circumstances to define him, he chose to focus on what was possible.
“I train my focus on possibilities rather than limitations.”
For Mr Monaheng, success is not defined by titles or accolades.
“Success is achieving meaningful goals while making a positive difference in the lives of others.”
His years at VUT were not easy. Financial challenges limited National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) support and the additional costs associated with living with a disability often threatened to derail his studies. There were times when the support he expected did not materialise, forcing him to rely on perseverance and determination to keep moving forward.
What made the difference, he says, was the people around him. Lecturers who believed in his potential and fellow students who encouraged him created an environment where he felt supported during some of his most difficult moments.
Looking back, he regards completing his diploma as one of his greatest achievements. It became the foundation on which he has built his career and inspired him to continue pursuing personal and professional growth.
His experience has also strengthened his conviction that higher education institutions must do more to ensure that inclusion becomes a lived reality rather than simply a policy commitment. He believes differently abled students would benefit from stronger industry partnerships, practical workplace exposure, mentorship programmes, entrepreneurship support and access to start-up funding that prepares them for life beyond graduation.
As VUT celebrates six decades of transforming lives, stories such as Mr Monaheng’s demonstrate that the University’s impact extends well beyond the classroom. His journey is a reminder that when determination is matched with opportunity and support, barriers can be broken and futures can be transformed.
His message to current VUT students is both simple and powerful:
“Believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals, embrace every opportunity for growth, and never allow your circumstances to define your ceiling.”
It is advice shaped by lived experience. Mr Monaheng’s story is not simply about overcoming adversity. It is about choosing hope over hardship, turning obstacles into opportunities and using personal success to create opportunities for others. As VUT marks its 60th anniversary, his journey reflects the values that continue to define the University: resilience, inclusion and the belief that education has the power to change lives