How a Grade 9 dropout went on to earn a PhD in Crop Science at UKZN - IOL

That is how Lusanda Ncisana described his educational journey after earning his PhD in Crop Science.

Ncisana left school after Grade 9, but two years later, after his initiation, he continued his education with purpose. Fast forward to this year, he graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with a PhD in Crop Science  

His research focuses on water-efficient agriculture while mentoring future scientists.

Ncisana was raised in Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha, Eastern Cape and describes the journey as one of “active hope”; in other words, he refuses to let his circumstances define what was possible.

To others, education might be about qualifications, but his experience taught him about discipline, responsibility, respect, humility, and serving others.

He completed his secondary education, worked for two years, and then enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Fort Hare.

“Education was never simply about obtaining a qualification; it was about creating opportunities where none seemed to exist,” said Ncisana.

After completing his first year and earning distinctions in several modules, he was unable to register for his second year due to challenges with funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Not giving up, Ncisana continued attending classes while searching for a solution.

He eventually approached the Office of the Premier in the Eastern Cape, where a secretary explained the process for applying for financial assistance. He followed the guidance, secured funding, and registered.

“That experience reinforced a lesson that continues to guide me today: solutions become more meaningful when they are shared with others,” he said.

This was not the end of his challenges. He lost his mother, whose belief in him had been a major source of strength, and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his research plans.

He said books had become a source of guidance, a way of "finding answers, developing new perspectives, and solving problems.” 

This evolved into what he calls active hope, the belief that progress requires action.

He explains further: “Passive hope waits for circumstances to improve, while active hope takes action, seeks knowledge, adapts to change, and believes that tomorrow can be better because of what we do today.”

His passion for science and environmental stewardship began at school, and this interest would eventually translate into his doctoral research at UKZN.

His PhD research was supervised by Dr Ntuthuko Mkhize and Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi. Titled “Responses of Selected Forage Brassica (Raphanus sativus) Genotypes to Water Stress”, it focused on improving agricultural sustainability in South Africa, a country increasingly affected by water scarcity. His findings demonstrated that newly developed forage radish genotypes could maintain comparable yields while using substantially less irrigation water, contributing practical knowledge towards climate-smart and water-efficient agriculture.

Ncisana is now a university lecturer at the University of Limpopo and is a believer that education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and creating lasting change.

“Success is rarely determined by the absence of obstacles. Rather, it is shaped by the decisions we make when confronted with them,” he said.