Meet Wits Youngest Engineering Student- 15-Year-Old Tapiwa Shendalane

The first time Tapiwa Shendelane realised she was intelligent was in lower primary school and now, she has already achieved so much at the age of 15. Shendelane is studying engineering at Wits University after she received six distinctions in matric. Tapiwa thanks her 67-year-old grandmother for always pushing her to put her books first.
She was raised by her grandmother who she said played a great role in her success.

“Age is nothing but a  number”, the 15-year-old Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering student said. “Age means nothing to me. I believe that education creates success and I want to encourage every young person to work hard despite their circumstances,” she explained.

Shendelane’s school career began in a village called Hluvukani, near Thulamahashe. Her mother is unemployed and her father is a prison warder in Limpompo. ‘I used to get 100% in tests all the time without even putting in an effort. Even in my matric year, I didn’t expect to do as well as I did, because I did not put in an effort”.

Shendelane always wanted to be a doctor , but changed her mind in January. She opted for engineering instead because she wanted to challenge herself.

“I can’t wait to graduate and make a difference,” Shendelane said.