From Grade 9 dropout to PhD: The story of a Black scientist who refused to be defined by poverty

Lusanda Ncisana left school after Grade 9. Two years later, after his initiation, he returned to education with renewed purpose. This year, he graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with a PhD in Crop Science. His journey, from the township streets of Ngangelizwe in Mthatha to the halls of academia, is a powerful rebuke to a system that still tries to tell Black children where they belong.

Ncisana describes his path as one of active hope. He refuses to let circumstances define what is possible. To him, education was never just about qualifications. It taught him discipline, responsibility, respect, humility, and the importance of serving others.

“Education was never simply about obtaining a qualification; it was about creating opportunities where none seemed to exist,” said Ncisana.

What obstacles did Ncisana overcome to get his PhD?

After completing his secondary education, Ncisana worked for two years before enrolling for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Fort Hare. But the obstacles came quickly. After a strong first year, with distinctions in several modules, he could not register for his second year because of funding problems with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Instead of giving up, Ncisana kept attending classes while searching for a way forward. He approached the Office of the Premier in the Eastern Cape, where a secretary explained how to apply for financial assistance. He followed the guidance, secured funding, and registered.

“That experience reinforced a lesson that continues to guide me today: solutions become more meaningful when they are shared with others,” he said.

The challenges did not stop there. He lost his mother, whose belief in him had been a major source of strength. Then the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his research plans. Yet he kept going.

What is 'active hope'?

For Ncisana, books became a source of guidance, a way of finding answers and developing new perspectives. This evolved into what he calls active hope: the belief that progress requires action.

“Passive hope waits for circumstances to improve, while active hope takes action, seeks knowledge, adapts to change, and believes that tomorrow can be better because of what we do today,” he explained.

His passion for science and environmental stewardship began at school. It eventually translated into doctoral research at UKZN, supervised by Dr Ntuthuko Mkhize and Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi. His thesis, titled “Responses of Selected Forage Brassica (Raphanus sativus) Genotypes to Water Stress”, focused on improving agricultural sustainability in a South Africa increasingly affected by water scarcity.

The findings were significant. Newly developed forage radish genotypes could maintain comparable yields while using substantially less irrigation water. This is practical knowledge for climate-smart, water-efficient agriculture, exactly what our country needs.

Why does Ncisana's story matter for South Africa?

Ncisana is now a university lecturer at the University of Limpopo. He believes education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and creating lasting change. His story is not just personal triumph. It is a reminder that talent and determination exist in every township, but without funding and support, too much of it is wasted.

“Success is rarely determined by the absence of obstacles. Rather, it is shaped by the decisions we make when confronted with them,” he said.

His journey challenges the colonial and apartheid legacies that still shape who gets to be a scientist in this country. It is a call to invest in Black excellence, not as charity, but as justice.