My second home

The second oldest town in South Africa, Stellenbosch is known for its natural beauty and oak-lined avenues as well as a century-long tradition of quality teaching. Stellenbosch University is among the finest academic institutions in Africa. It’s also a magnet for international students from all over the world.
Mariselle Stofberg
Desiree Gases

Tulonga Kandyimbi is originally from Namibia. Tulonga Kandyimbi was born and raised in Ongwediva, a town in the northern part of Namibia. He matriculated at St. Boniface College in the Kavango region in the year 2020. “It has been my aspiration to study at Stellenbosch University and by the grace of God I managed to get accepted for mechanical engineering,” Tulonga says.

“My experience at Stellenbosch University has been amazing so far. Being so far away from home, I still feel like Stellenbosch is my second home. This is because of the whole-hearted welcoming I received from the Stellenbosch community.”

Tulonga Kandyimbi chose to study at Stellenbosch because he wanted to experience an environment that’s different from the one in which he grew up in. Furthermore, he wanted to see the diversity in cultures and see how things are done in a different country like South Africa. He is convinced that a man who has interacted with many people is well versed with the richness of life.

In addition, Tulonga Kandyimbi learned how to socialise and work with people from different cultures and this is what helped him grow as a prospective engineer. He wants to be an engineer who is capable of working in any part of the world and, most importantly, become more capable in uplifting Namibia with the knowledge he is seeking. When it comes to the physical and psychological benefits of being exposed to nature and especially to scenery that is filled with lush plant life, Stellenbosch fits the description very well. Moreover, the green scenery makes Stellenbosch very conducive for learning.

“Studying engineering has been a fun experience and Stellenbosch University has taught me to be open to new ideas as we are advised to develop a sense of community in order to be able to work together and help each other with study material,” says Tulonga Kandyimbi.

Tulonga Kandyimbi had a lot of fun during his welcoming week as they had a lot of tours around campus in the supervision of their seniors. They were taken around and this helped with settling in very well. He enjoys playing soccer with his new friends and Tulonga Kandyimbi is glad he learned how to play tennis as he always assumed it was a difficult sport.

“In conclusion, the Stellenbosch community is filled with kind and loving people. Help is more or less always readily available. Therefore, I would advise any aspiring students of grade 12 learners to feel free to apply to Stellenbosch University to pursue their dreams. Studying at one of the best universities in Africa is a privilege and a stepping stone to building a strong foundation on which to construct your life. Stellenbosch will definitely present more opportunities to you as there’s a diverse mix of cultures and people.”