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Born and raised in Kgautswane, Ohrigstad, Limpopo Province, Vusi Karabo’s path to university was anything but smooth. After arriving at the University of Venda on 5 January 2020, he faced nearly three months of uncertainty before gaining admission on 15 March. “It was one of the toughest moments of my life,” he recalls. “I had left home with a dream to change my background after years of working on farms.”
At just 18, Vusi was already working as an orange picker, later moving to a cold room in a butchery where he broke bones and meat for a living. These early struggles shaped his determination to not just survive but thrive—and to ensure that others wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
Driven by a deep desire to serve, Vusi ran for Chairperson of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law in 2022 but was unsuccessful. However, he came back stronger in 2023 and won the position. His service didn’t stop there—he became a tutor for Entrepreneurship and Business Management and also led as Chairperson of the National Union Municipal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Student-Preneur Division. His relentless dedication earned him the trust and admiration of his peers, who elected him as SRC President later that year.
“My journey has taught me that destiny helpers exist,” Vusi says with humility. “God always locates His grace to the lost sheep. Poverty can turn you into peo-ple’s puppet if you don’t act. No one is coming to save you—you have to pack your bags and move. Along the way, you’ll find people who are meant to help you rise.”
Now pursuing his Honours in Business Management, Mr. Mokoena Vusi Kara-bo is not just graduating—he is setting an example for students across the country that greatness can come from the humblest beginnings.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
