By Zanele Makola
19-year-old world junior 100m and 200m champion, Bayanda Walaza, matriculated from Curro Hazeldean High School in Tshwane with a bachelor’s pass. After a verbal agreement with the University of Pretoria (UP) to pursue a degree in Logistics, he ultimately enrolled at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to study Supply Chain Management.
The Olympic silver medallist explained that TUT went above and beyond to persuade him to join their institution, leading him to change his plans and opt for a different path across town.
“TUT showed me that they will support me every step of the way. They told me, ‘We will do this and that,’ which honestly showed how much they truly wanted me to be here. They did everything to make sure I got everything I needed,” Walaza told SABC.
Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, hosted a welcome breakfast for the star athlete. The event marked his official welcome and served as motivation for him to stay focused on his academic journey and preparation for the 2026 Milano Olympic Games.
Prof. Maluleke emphasised TUT’s commitment to excellence and work-integrated learning while highlighting the resilience and determination of its students. He also shared a message from Rudyard Kipling’s poem If, which underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and overcoming obstacles.
Bayanda is settling in well and is happy with his decision to join the TUT family.
“TUT has produced many well-known athletes that I look up to, and I believe being in this environment will help me go far,” he said.
