First-generation doctor's inspiring story

IN the heart of Limpopo, Roossenekal is a tiny town that embodies aspiration and community spirit, where residents hold the belief that even the smallest places can produce giants.

- 

This week, Reuben Lefa Masia embodies that belief as he graduates from Stellenbosch University (SU) with an MBChB-fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.

Masia's journey began in kindergarten, where he boldly declared his ambition to don the white coat of a physician.

"I never grew out of that conviction," he said, reflecting on how his desire matured through experiences that deepened his passion for helping others.

"Serving people at their most vulnerable and fighting the diseases that burden our communities is a calling that I hold dear." His formative years at Roossenekal Primary School played a significant role in shaping his character. "My teachers poured their heart into us every day," Masia recalled.