Investing in Mpho Mashego, A Future Doctor

My name is Mpho Mashego, and I come from the rural village of Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga. Growing up in a place where healthcare resources are limited didn’t discourage me — it shaped my purpose. It inspired me to pursue medicine so that one day I can return home and serve the community that raised me.

I am currently in my third year of MBChB (Medicine) at Stellenbosch university , a journey that has stretched me, strengthened me, and confirmed that this is exactly where I am meant to be. Every clinical experience, every long study night, and every moment of learning reminds me why I chose this path — because someone in a rural clinic will one day depend on my hands, my knowledge, and my compassion.

My journey into Medicine came with great sacrifice. Before starting medical school, I worked as a Medical Scientist under the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in the Anatomical Pathology Division. Leaving that secure, stable career to return to full-time studies was one of the biggest and most courageous decisions...