Stop partying and pick up the books — that’s the advice from Rhodes University’s oldest undergraduate student in its 120-year history.
Fifty years after matriculating, 72-year-old Michael de Kock Willemse walked, crutch in hand, to a standing ovation from students, professors and vice-chancellor Sizwe Mabizela, before receiving his undergraduate degree with honours in anthropology and politics.
The walk across the Settlers Monument auditorium in Makhanda earlier in April was the culmination of a four-year journey, which included overcoming a deep vein thrombosis operation.
“You know Rhodes kind of has this major accolade that they are the hardest drinkers,” he said.
“But one of the things I always said was ‘stop partying because you only have this time and it’s a lot of money to go to university’.
“Young people, of course, being young, will always think ‘well, dad can pay it’, but if you are there, just make the best of it.
“My view is also that you are never too old to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others, and the country you live in.”
His turn to academia started more than a decade ago after losing his job in aviation as a company secretary when it got liquidated.
“That put me in near ruin because I not only lost my salary but the shares I had been paid as a bonus.”
The idea to apply to university came from a friend who told him that, now that he was a pensioner, he could apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
“I did not just go and study because it was a freebie. That was not the point.
“I worked in aviation all my life and flew all over the world to do air cargo movement of exports and imports.
“I said well now is the chance, and when you get your first degree you get to move to the next — honours and then master’s.”
While he was apprehensive about going back to register for an undergrad and studying with students young enough to be his grandchildren, the Cape Town resident said being on campus was a great experience.
Most of the challenges he faced were due to health complications and even subsequent funding issues with financial aid, which reduced how much it was paying towards his accommodation fees.
“Most students knew me and loved me, and the lecturers were fantastic.
“In my first year in 2020, I got four distinctions.
“But then in 2021, I could not go back in the second semester because I got diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, which caused blood clots in my leg.
“I had to finish the semester at home. They said I could come back in 2022, but I had to be vaccinated, but I could not because of the thrombosis.
“In 2023, I had permission to return, but I also got a cataract in my right eye and had to get it removed.”
Now while the septuagenarian considers going back for his next degree, he said he planned to use his new qualification to do some online work for a US-based company developing AI.
The Herald
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