Many would say that Phumzile September has overcome the impossible. From facing the challenges of alcoholism for 22 years to dropping out of high school and going back to get her degree as a social worker at the age of 53, September’s life is a testament to the power of never giving up.
September was born in Lady Grey, Eastern Cape, under the care and devotion of her grandmother Esther September. She described her household as loving and caring, to the point that she had no idea her grandma wasn’t her biological mother.
Heartache at a young age
Her grandmother passed away when September was 15. It was a tough time and she rebelled, experiencing the emptiness and loneliness caused by the shock and sadness, and the search for a sense of belonging.
“I was rebellious and became an alcoholic,” September says.
She says the circumstances following her mother’s death caused her to see things differently. Unfortunately, she dropped out of Malcomess Secondary School in standard 9 (grade 11) in 1989.
At the age of 16, she lived alone and met a good Samaritan named John Michales, who worked at a coal business in Lady Grey.
“John gave me a tea girl job opportunity and from there, my life changed for the better.”
September went to Rex Ndebuka Secondary School in Lady Grey to complete her matriculation, but she became pregnant. In 1992, she and her child went to live with her aunt Funiwe Mkhize in Welkom, who instantly became a source of comfort and stability for her.
She tells Health for Mzansi that between 1992 and 1994, she travelled to Johannesburg in search of better opportunities, however, she ended up in Cape Town.
“I reached Cape Town shortly before the 1994 elections,” she says and adds that she was welcomed by her cousin, Nonkululeko November.
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Empowering herself
During those years she worked as a domestic worker in Somerset West, then Durbanville and as a cleaner at Standard Bank in Somerset West.
She states that the emptiness left by not having her child was consuming her and she went to pick her up.
While working as a cleaner at one of the financial organisations, she taught herself data capturing and receptionist communication abilities. Her commitment led to her advancement to the position of release manager in the Old Mutual loan division.
“I always stole skills with my eyes while working for different corporates.”
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Obtaining her social work degree
In 2007, September’s life took a dramatic turn when her friend Luyanda Ngangana, invited her to church. This experience led September to quit drinking and refocus her life. In 2010, she returned to school and earned her high school diploma.
“The day I set myself in church, I left the alcohol, which I was addicted to for 22 years.”
This paved the way to a more fulfilling path. In 2015 she enrolled at Stellenbosch University, where she studied social work and she graduated in 2022.
September sees her education as a culmination of a lifelong commitment to helping others, which began when she fostered two children 16 years ago.
That’s not all, because September found a new job as an IsiXhosa tutor at Stellenbosch University from 2017 until 2020. During this time, she founded “Know the Lingo”, a conversational IsiXhosa basic online course.
Protecting children
September has been working for Patch since September 2023, assisting in the fight against child sexual abuse. She is a translator at Patch, where she assists Xhosa clients who do not speak English.
And how did she get to this point?
“With hard work and dedication, anyone can overcome adversity and make a difference in their lives,” she says.
Despite the many challenges she has faced in her own life, September is now determined to use her experiences to help others overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals. She is a living example of how it is never too late to make a positive impact on the world, no matter what challenges we face. She hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams, even when the odds are against them.
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