Black, female, 22, jobless – the KZN average

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Nomthandazo Mbuthuma may represent the average KZN individual, but she has big dreams. Photo: GCINA NDWALANE

Durban - Nomthandazo Mbuthuma is not just a pretty face. She is also the average face of KwaZulu-Natal – a 22-year-old black African woman with no income, and a matric certificate as her highest qualification.

These characteristics were derived from the results of last year’s census released on Tuesday, which were then calculated to produce the statistics and circumstances of the average KZN person.

And Mbuthuma is that person. The bubbly student-teacher was born and raised in Harding, and graduated from Hafuleni High School in 2007.

Not being able to follow her dream of studying teaching, Mbuthuma enrolled in a one-year construction learnership. But, being unable to secure employment in that field upon completion, she started work as a cashier and retail assistant in a clothing shop.

Two years later, she moved to Umlazi and enrolled for a BA Education at Unisa, using funds obtained through a loan.

When The Mercury met her on Wednesday, she was at an internet café applying for a Funza Lushaka bursary to pay for the next two years of her studies.

“[Life] is hard, especially now that I am studying,” said Mbuthuma. “I have no income and only one parent.”

Her father died when she was four and she was raised – with her four brothers and one sister – by her mother.

She said that spending time with her family and going to church were among her favourite things to do.

“My dream is to be a good teacher. I want to have children one day, maybe in five years’ time, but only after I am married.”

Mbuthuma has a boyfriend, but she laughed when asked whether she wanted to marry him.

She said she wanted to teach Zulu after she graduated and to earn a good income.

The Mercury