to train as a teacher, sponsored by his sister who had just entered the nursing profession. He became a teacher in 1992, and also enrolled as a distance learner in a Further Diploma in Education (FDE) Management with UJ (then Rand Afrikaans University). Afterwards, he did a Bachelor of Education degree, specialising in curriculum development, also as a distance learner. Studies at UJ “I had a passionate curriculum lecturer who introduced me to the sabre-toothed curriculum, an ageless existentialist curriculum paradigm. UJ has a highly organised, well-resourced library, and on Fridays, I would leave the library around 11 pm without even noticing it was late … I miss UJ, the campus and its ambiance”, says Lesiba. Lesiba went on to do four modules of an LLB at Unisa, before enrolling in 2011 for his Master of Public Administration at the University of Limpopo, again as a distance learner. In 2000, he became one of the first councillors of the Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo, following the phasing out of the Transitional Local Councils (TLCs) where he was serving as the deputy chair of the Lephalale TLC. His political activism and participation in the life of the Lephalale community earned him a street named after him there, Lesiba Mosehla Street. A leader in transformation Lesiba takes pride in leading South Africa’s transformation agenda in his different capacities and platforms, and lives by two dictums: ‘Remain higher than hope’ – Fatimah Meyer; and ‘Tumeloke Thebe’…meaning your faith is your strength. He still plans to establish his own law firm one day. He likes working with the elderly and disabled, he says. “It makes me appreciate the life cycle of humans and humanity in its diversity”, he says, adding, “I believe that humans can only survive along with plants and locusts/fauna/fish … as long as there is soil and water”.
Lesiba Mosehla, 51, is the manager of intersectoral collaboration and policy at the Department of Health (DOH) in Limpopo, a position he has held for 15 years since leaving Olifantsdrift Primary School (now Ditloung Primary School) as its principal. “I see myself as a person who has the ability to make a difference in people at the lowest level, despite being at a higher level. I have remained an educator of note, with community members and former learners appreciating my contribution in their lives”, he says. In his provincial government seat, which he took in 2002, he coordinates planning within the DOH in line with national and provincial priorities and provides technical support for policy development. “I am ethical, and would go to extra lengths to ensure that ethical conduct is upheld in
performing duties”, says Lesiba. Humble beginings
Lesiba was born in Tshwane and raised by his maternal grandparents in Mapela Village, in the Waterberg district in the Limpopo province. He attended Mapela Primary School, then Mantutule High School where he matriculated in 1988. “At school, I wanted to go to the army, then I wanted to be a pilot. In Grade 11 we were abruptly switched to humanities due to strikes that led to our maths and science teachers running away from the school. I started writing letters to the then president of Black Lawyers Association, Ntate Petje, as I aspired to be a lawyer”, he recalls. Lesiba repeated his matric to get a university exemption to study law, but because of a lack of funding, he enrolled at Mokopane College
Lesiba Mosehla: Public health administrator, educator and politician.
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ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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