Growing up in the village of Magoro in Limpopo, Xichavo Irvin Makhubele was raised in a home where generations lived side by side, and where the rhythms of daily life were shaped by community, faith and perseverance.

He was brought up largely by his grandmother Joyce, alongside his great-grandmother, in a household that was often filled with people. From Thursday to Saturday, his grandmother sold traditional beer, umqombothi, drawing neighbours and visitors into their home.

“It made our home lively and full of people,” Makhubele recalls. “It taught me how to interact with different people and understand community life.” Church was equally formative. As a regular member of the worship team and band, he developed discipline and a sense of purpose that would later anchor his academic journey.

A foundation shaped by family and ambition

Makhubele attended Kulani Primary School before moving on to Nwamalobye Secondary School, where his academic drive began to take shape. Competitive by nature, he was consistently placed among the top learners in his class. “By Grade 12, I knew I needed to work hard because my future depended on it,” he says.

Becoming the first person in his family to attend university was an achievement that carried the hopes of those who had supported him from the beginning. “It means everything to me. It showed my family that, despite challenges, it is possible to break barriers and create new opportunities.”

At the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape, he completed a Bachelor of Administration in Public Administration. Choosing to study away from home was a deliberate decision. “I wanted to challenge myself, learn other languages and experience different cultures,” he explains. 

Coming from a humble rural background brought challenges of its own. “I sometimes felt different from other students who seemed more exposed or came from families with more financial resources. Financial challenges were also difficult. You need money for clothes, books and travel, and sometimes bursary payments are delayed. Another challenge was peer pressure – university exposes you to many different lifestyles, and I had to constantly remind myself of my goals and stay disciplined.”

Balancing work, study and determination

After completing his undergraduate degree, Makhubele secured a position with the City of Johannesburg Municipality. At the same time, he enrolled for a Bachelor of Public Administration Honours at Stellenbosch University (SU), following a flexible model that combined block sessions with interactive telematics learning.

The arrangement allowed him to work while studying, with examinations written at the SU Pretoria centre. It was a demanding balance. During his honours year, the pressure intensified. One particularly challenging module tested his resolve after he failed an assessment due to a small error. “It was frustrating, especially knowing I was so close,” he says. “But I reminded myself of my goal, practised more, corrected my mistakes and kept going.”

That persistence was shaped, in no small part, by the steady encouragement of his grandmother. Her guidance, both practical and emotional, remained a constant throughout his journey. “She always encouraged me to focus on my education and reminded me that I was capable, no matter our circumstances,” he says.

On graduation day, the significance of the moment was not lost on him. Several members of his family – including his mother, Nkhensani Winny Makhubele, his aunt, Polite Makhubele, and his younger sister, Siyabonga Ngobeni –travelled from Limpopo to Stellenbosch to attend the ceremony.

“It means everything to me,” he says. “They have seen my journey from the beginning – the challenges, the sacrifices and the hard work. To have them there in person watching me graduate is a full-circle moment. It's a very emotional and memorable day. We took several family pictures together to remember it forever.”

Although his grandmother could not attend, her presence was central to the occasion. “She has supported me throughout my studies. This achievement is as much hers as it is mine.”

A public servant for life

Makhubele is committed to building a meaningful career in public service. Already working in the field, he is applying what he has learned while continuing to grow professionally. “I enjoy that the theory I studied is now becoming practical,” he says. “I want to contribute meaningfully and take on more responsibility.”

At the same time, he hopes to extend that impact beyond his own career. Coming from an under-resourced community, he is acutely aware of how limited access to information can shape young people’s choices. “I want to help learners understand the opportunities available to them,” he says. “Many are not fully informed about careers like public administration.”

His message to those growing up in villages like Magoro is grounded in experience. “University is not out of reach,” he says. “With discipline, focus and the right support, you can achieve your goals, no matter where you come from.”