CIDA City Campus - New Video

A new video showcasing CIDA City Campus

The video was filmed on campus over the last few weeks, and features students and staff from CIDA.  Thanks to all who took part!

Ebenezer Essoka, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank addresses CIDA students

The Banking System Guru

By Lizzy McDaniels

Ebenezer Essoka

CIDA City Campus is no ordinary university. It’s a unique institution of higher learning in that it exposes its students to a variety of leaders, entrepreneurs and influential individuals in different fields to motivate and prepare them for life in the corporate world. On 28th September, CIDA brought one of the most influential men in the banking system, Ebenezer Essoka, to address the students.

Chief Executive Officer, South Africa and Area General Manager Southern Africa of Standard Chartered Bank, Ebenezer has over 28 years of banking experience, holds a BSc and an MBA in Finance as well as a Diploma in International Business from Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA. Furthermore, he has attended senior development programmes at INSEAD, The London Business School, Templeton College, Oxford University and Cambridge University / IFC Sustainability Programme.

With so much influence and experience, who wouldn't want to listen to him? The hall was fully packed with eager students waiting to absorb information and advice from this remarkable man.

Ebenezer recounted how he had always wanted to become a leader and he was very focused on his dream.  Just 7 years after joining Standard Chartered Bank in 1986,  he became the first African to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of a Standard Chartered Bank subsidiary, after 135 years of Group operations in the continent.

'Leadership is responsibility'

‘Leadership is responsibility’ he said, ‘be professional enough to stand relevant anywhere, any time, without a complex.  If there be any complex at all, it should be a superiority complex.  This can be achieved by studying regularly, whether one is still in a formal school or not. You need to keep yourself updated with the current trends.’

Further, he encouraged students to be involved in community services, which, he said, 'guarantees the sustainability of one’s well being.'  Finally, Ebenezer advised students to take a stand in the banking system, arguing that for as long as banks are owned by politicians, people will never know financial freedom, ‘banks only become successful when they are owned by entrepreneurs’.

Married with twin teenage boys, there’s no doubt that his family misses him as he travels all around the world on business. Still as energetic as ever at over 50 years of age, his family remains his inspiration and motivation.

For us, meeting Ebenezer was truly inspirational, an experience never to be forgotten.

CIDA students discuss their involvement with Extranet

Phephisile Mathizerd

 Since coming to CIDA the first structure I was touched by was “SIFE” (Students In Free Enterprise), which is a student organisation where we start community beneficial projects which are our own brainchild; we come up with the concepts and the plans for executing them, then we actually go out there and carry them out.  We get to help other people which is the main objective but beyond that we also get to apply what we learn in the BBA, for example operations management.

It’s rather challenging because you are practically running an organisation, and you are dealing with people’s lives.  You really have to deliver and if you don’t you fail the community.

I am also involved with ENKE, which is not an acronym, it means “ink”; their slogan is “Make your mark”.  We get to impact other people’s lives, especially young children.    I am very passionate about creating change and making a difference in my community and as a BBA student I will have my own business by the time I leave here. I wish to not only to make money but to touch people’s lives in the process.

Tsebo Mochali

I’m from a poor town in the Free State called Virginia.  I matriculated 8 years ago, and got an opportunity to go to one of the top universities but had to drop out because I couldn’t afford the fees.  It was then I got introduced to CIDA, which was great because CIDA does 10 times what other institutions do, particularly in terms of what we do as part of Extranet.

I came to CIDA last year, and we ran projects through primary and secondary schools in Alexandra and Soweto, where we take the basic business skills that we have learned and give back to the little ones.  The most amazing part of giving back is seeing the facial expressions of the people you touch once they have really understood what you are meant to teach them.

I registered with the ICT academy last year, and I’m pleased to say after just one year I am a certified network technician, certified by COMTEL which is a globally recognised certificate.  There are many people where we come from who need the same opportunity.  If CIDA was 20 times bigger than it is now it would assist and reach out further, so we wish CIDA could grow.  It is not only students in South Africa that need the sort of education that CIDA provides, but students all around the world.

Betty Raphiri

SIFE is just amazing, you get to interact with people and you know what they’re going though because you went through that and you get to touch their lives.  CIDA is supporting SIFE, and we’re changing lives out there.  It teaches us that you can make money, and while you’re making money you should love people and then use that money to support people. Meeting young people at Alexandra is just amazing.  When you see those young people they will tell you their dreams, and it touches you, you want to do something in their lives to make their dreams come true.
We try to motivate them and by showing them what we are doing it encourages them. We are not products of our circumstances we are products of the choices we make.

Perusha Denston

I’m from a suburb in the South of Johannesburg called Rosettenville, I am 19 years old and matriculated in 2010.
My stay here has been wonderful, I have met people from different walks of life, I have leant to be tolerant and to socialise with people - it has helped me to appreciate people.  Last year I joined SIFE, I have always had a desire to help people and give back to the community.  SIFE has taught me a lot.







The team took part in National SIFE competitions again this year; competing against 26 other teams from other South African universities, they brought three awards back to CIDA:


 • 1st place in Team and projects sustainability – Sponsored by SASOL

• 1st place in Entrepreneurial Approach – sponsored by HARMONY

• 2nd place in Economic Factors – sponsored by NEDBANK

CIDA City Campus Graduation 2012

On July 6th 2012, CIDA City Campus hosted its 9th graduation ceremony at Braamfontein Conference and Recreation Centre.  CIDA staff, parents and donors witnessed 97 students graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, specialising in Finance, Investment, Human Resources, Marketing or IT qualifications.  

Chancellor of CIDA City Campus, Nonqubela Mazwai, offered these words of wisdom to the bright energetic new graduates, “Believe in yourself and what you have learned and carry that with you in your hearts.  Remember CIDA’s most important lesson of all; as you have been given, so, in turn should you give back to others.  Now that you are equipped to tackle the business world, don’t expect opportunities to knock on your door but rather go out and actively seek them and give of your best.”

Vice Chancellor, Jürgen Kogl and
Chancellor, Nonqubela Mazwai

Vice Chancellor, Jürgen Kogl said that the graduation would not have been as successful without the generosity of CIDA’s partners, adding “CIDA wish to thank the Diamond Empowerment Fund, Management Today Magazine, TransUnion and the Cambridge University Press for their incredible support for our event.  Our most sincere gratitude goes to TransUnion for their on-going and loyal support.  TransUnion has sponsored 421 students to date; this includes 86 students that graduated this year and 82 who graduated last year.  The remaining number is made up of those currently studying.”

“Despite being deeply saddened as we read and hear the media comments on the Limpopo school books debacle, we at CIDA continue to be very proud of our Institution and students’ success.  To share a few, on this day of graduation, 85% of the graduates are already in full time employment.  For each BBA graduate that comes out of CIDA they are likely to earn R6.5 million conservatively over the course of 40-year working career!  If that number seems extreme to you then note this is taking an average salary of R162 500 per annum over a 40 year career.” he concluded.

Relatives celebrate another graduate

It was a very moving and joyous occasion, with many of the parents attending witnessing the first member of their families ever to gain a degree.  Some danced, all cheered, and some shed tears of joy and pride.

Lesego Mathware of the
Diamond Empowerment Fund with Nontobeko Majola,
Nompumelelo Songelwa & Travelyn Swartz

Senzekile Mtshali - CIDA Alumna

Senzekile Mtshali

‘All I knew was that if I wanted to be something, I would have to study for it.’

Smiling across the table, Senzekile looks every bit the corporate protégée.  Confident, articulate, intelligent and attractive, she would seem to have the world at her feet.  Working in IT for The African Bank,  she looks like she takes good care of herself - and can afford to.

Nothing in her face betrays any signs of the struggles and stress, the doubt and uncertainty, or the pain and loss which at the tender age of 23 she has not merely survived, but triumphed over.

‘I came from KZN, it’s quite a rural area.  It was a typical household; the kids stay alone at home while the mother goes to the city to work for the family. It was the only way we could have bread on the table.’

The youngest of four sisters, Senzekile was the lucky one.  Her two eldest sisters soon had to join their mother in the city, who was working as a cleaner, to make ends meet while she went to school.  She was a good student, and was often selected to represent the school.  Then, tragedy struck; unknown to Senzekile her mother had been suffering from TB, and was eventually too ill to work and was forced to return home.

‘I was 14, and I had never been told about her being ill.  I remember when she first came she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t walk, she couldn’t do anything.’ she recalls.  ‘Before I’d go to school I would prepare some food for her to eat during the day, then after school I would bath her, feed her, and talk to her until she fell asleep.  Sometimes it would be really late at night because she couldn’t sleep due to the pain.’

Senzekile continued to study hard, doing her homework at night by candlelight as their home had no electricity.  For a while, her mother’s health appeared to improve, but then, ‘around April, she woke me up one night and told me that this was just about the end of her journey.  She asked me to stay in school, to provide for the family because the rest of them had had to drop out of school to look after the rest of us.  It was unreal; I thought it was probably the pain, just a momentary thing, but she promised that she was just going to stay for my birthday then she would leave.  Exactly a month after my birthday she passed away.’

Following her mother’s funeral, Senzekile went to live with an aunt. ‘It was a typical Cinderella story’ she says, showing off the scars and calluses on her hands, ‘I did gardening and housework, all just to come back to a plate of food after school.’  Eventually, she went home again to live by herself.

She struggled to pay school her fees until the head teacher came to the rescue by helping to organise a bursary for her.  He was also the person who introduced her to CIDA City Campus.  Senzekile had looked into other universities, but full bursaries were only available to second year students who had already demonstrated a commitment, ‘for someone in my position that didn’t make sense.  All I could tell them was “Yes, I want to study.”  It wasn’t enough for them.’

Arriving at CIDA in 2007, Senzekile describes it as a place of healing before anything else.  Many of the students she encountered had similarly been through difficult experiences.  ‘CIDA focuses on the person,’ she explains ‘as well as providing the academic lessons.  It’s the sense of community and interdependence on one another, knowing that I am because somebody else is.  It’s those things that have more impact on a person’s life than just what they learn in books.’

Having graduated in 2010, Senzekile was given an internship at The Africa Bank as a network engineer.  ‘At first I had that fear of the unknown.  You need to actually do what you learned. The people that I work with are very experienced; most of them have worked in the industry 10 or more years.’  Not only was she the youngest and one of only a couple of black people, Senzekile remains the only female in her team, ‘I’m a lady, there’s still that sceptical stigma around, but as we went on that’s when I realised I do know what I’m doing.  When sometimes things don’t work out my colleagues ask me how I would have handled the situation.’  She has also come up with some bright ideas that have expanded the bank’s business; setting up credit facilities in furniture stores.  ‘I have seen other interns come through but most of them don’t stay – I was taken on even before my internship was over.’

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed or unrewarded; at the end of her first year she received an award for ‘best newcomer’ in the IT team.  ‘I have it at home’ she says proudly, ‘and when I walk in and see it there it always hits me that I never dreamed I would have something hanging on my wall from such a reputable company recognising me after just a year of employment.’

Senzekile has not kept her success to herself though.  Between them, her sisters have 5 children and now Senzekile is putting all of them through school.   She’s done the same for her next eldest sister who she funded to go back to school to complete her studies, and who now is doing a four year course in primary health care.   ‘It’s a chain reaction, had it not been for me finding out about CIDA and getting the quality education that got me to where I am now, I wouldn't have been able to provide for my family.  Even worse, I could still be at home while my sisters work and send home money, then that would mean their kids would have to go through the same thing I did because there wouldn't be anyone to provide for their education.  It’s a complete turnaround.”’

Her own future plans are on hold for the moment, while she concentrates on her career and takes care of her family.  ‘I’m not married, not yet.  I am a career girl, but I would wish to marry, not any time soon though.’ she smiles, but she takes her commitments very seriously, ‘I’m the pillar of the family, so I’m very committed at the moment while I’m still taking my family to school and looking after them.  I’m also building us a house.’ she adds, as if it’s a minor detail.

Harbouring hopes for a better future for her own children, Senzekile has a clear idea of the kind of education they should have. ‘I see my children’s future as being totally different to how it was when I grew up.  I wouldn’t want that for my kids, I didn’t have an easy upbringing.  Regardless of which university they would go to, or how it was funded, it was the interpersonal skills that I leaned at CIDA which were more important.  So if they are to go to a university it should have that same sense of community.’

To the person who provided her scholarship, she has this message; ‘It’s amazing that someone believed in me, someone who had never even met me.’  She takes a moment to compose herself.  ‘I get emotional’ she apologises, unnecessarily.

 ‘I can never ever thank them enough.  Without them I would have no idea where I would be – rather I do have an idea, and it’s not a good one.  The typical jobs in my hometown for somebody who hasn’t had any further education would be to work in the clothing factories.  It’s very hard work and it doesn’t provide much.’

 ‘I never would have believed I would have gone this far.   It’s so far from what I had dreamed of, and this is only just the beginning.’