{"id":43157,"date":"2026-09-22T17:26:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T17:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=43157"},"modified":"2026-09-22T17:27:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T17:27:00","slug":"from-eco-vehicle-driver-to-graduate-mash-makhado-powers-through-adversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/from-eco-vehicle-driver-to-graduate-mash-makhado-powers-through-adversity\/","title":{"rendered":"From eco-vehicle driver to graduate: Mash Makhado powers through adversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT Electrical Engineering graduate Tshegofatso Mashudu Makhado shares her inspiring journey of perseverance, motherhood, leadership and success in engineering.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

22 September 2026 | Story by: Shaun Michael Ndoui | Picture:<\/strong> Keitumetse Mokgope<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Ms Tshegofatso Mashudu Makhado graduates with a Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Power), a testament to perseverance, sacrifice and determination.\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Tshegofatso Mashudu (Mash) Makhado, graduation was about more than receiving a qualification. It marked the successful completion of a journey defined by perseverance, sacrifice and determination, one that took her from the classrooms of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) to the driver’s seat of a nationally competing eco-vehicle and ultimately to the graduation stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 15 September 2026, Ms Makhado graduated with a Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Power), celebrating a milestone that reflects years of hard work and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Nzhelele, popularly known as London in Limpopo, Ms Makhado’s interest in engineering began when she watched Eskom electricians repairing infrastructure in her community. Curious about how electricity powers homes, schools and businesses, she developed a passion for understanding the systems that keep communities connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That passion led her to VUT in 2018, where she embarked on what she describes as a journey of Ukondelela – perseverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her university experience, however, was not without challenges. During her final year in 2023, she fell pregnant, a life-changing development that interrupted her studies. The birth of her child coincided with examination season, forcing her to take a step back from her academic commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supported by her family, particularly her mother who helped care for her child and her father who continued to encourage her, Ms Makhado refused to let the setback define her future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I knew I still had a dream to fulfil, and I was not prepared to give up on it,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Determined to complete her qualification, she returned to VUT and successfully completed her remaining academic requirements and in-service training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her resilience was matched by her leadership abilities. In August 2026, Ms Makhado represented VUT at the Eco Vehicle Race hosted by the University of the Free State in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloemfontein. Serving as both a team leader and one of the drivers of VUT’s eco-vehicle, she helped demonstrate the practical engineering skills and innovation developed by VUT students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition featured demanding Smart Lap and Endurance challenges that tested both vehicle performance and teamwork. As one of the drivers, Ms Makhado was entrusted with putting the student-designed vehicle through its paces while proudly representing the university on a national platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working alongside fellow team leader Mr Doctor Mkhonza, she completed specialised training as an engineering mediator, strengthening her leadership and problem-solving skills. Her contribution helped VUT secure an impressive second-place finish in the 2.0 category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on the achievement, she emphasised the importance of working together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A win for Team A is a win for the team. We are from the same university, and we had to divide ourselves to improve our chances of winning,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Makhado, the competition represented more than a podium finish. It was proof that the challenges she had overcome throughout her studies had prepared her to lead, collaborate and excel under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also chose to celebrate her roots on graduation day by wearing traditional Venda attire. The decision was a proud expression of her heritage and a message to other young women that success and cultural identity can go hand in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back on her VUT journey, Ms Makhado credits the university with providing the practical and industry-focused education she was seeking. Proudly identifying herself as a Mavuti, she believes the institution helped shape her into both an engineer and a resilient individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice to prospective students is simple: “University is not primary school, and university is not high school. You will face challenges and sometimes fail, but failure is not the end. Learn from it, keep going and never lose sight of your goal.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her diploma secured, national competition experience behind her and plans to pursue an Advanced Diploma, Ms Makhado is already looking ahead to the next chapter of her academic and professional journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From overcoming personal setbacks and raising a child while pursuing her studies to driving VUT’s eco-vehicle onto the national podium, Ms Tshegofatso Mashudu Makhado’s story is a powerful reminder that perseverance can turn obstacles into opportunities and dreams into achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch the full experience on Flickr <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“VUT Electrical Engineering graduate Tshegofatso Mashudu Makhado shares her inspiring journey of perseverance, motherhood, leadership and success in engineering.” 22 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":43175,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t