Mirror Miglactic

By: Phetane Rapetswane



This narrative is about Mbongeni Allan Magubane, a young man who hails from Estcourt - a small town in KwaZulu-Natal about 200kms north of Durban and it is a town surrounded by the picturesque Drakensburg Mountains. When asked to describe his home town in one word he responded with a twinkle in his eye as he simply labelled his home town “Beautiful”. He further went on to describe Estcourt as a small, private town which has an aura about it”, and he takes great joy and pride in calling this town his home.



Allan is doing a BA law, a course which he is thoroughly enjoying, and he has termed his brief stint at Rhodes as “living the dream”. When quizzed about why he came chose Rhodes university, he said that he enjoyed the fact that he would be going to a prestigious university in a small town which is similar to his own town, he also chose Rhodes, because of its academic culture, and because it has a very chilled nature about it. He also mentioned with great delight that all the perceptions and reasons for him coming to Rhodes, turned out to be the right one, and so he has no regrets what so ever about joining this institution.



Allan who described him self in five words is “always trying to be Christ-like” as this is what he believes is the very foundation of what being a Christian is all about. This is of relevance, because in all he does it is his faith that keeps him going, and it is his faith that has helped him adapt to life at Rhodes in Grahamstown, which is well over a 1000kms away from where his heart always lies. He has describes his experience as Rhodes as Awesome, as he has met new people, and has enjoyed the diversity that Rhodes has, especially since KZN really only had Zulus. He said that Rhodes has taught him how to be independent, and it has taught him how to be patient, and him how to defend who he is as a person, and what he stands for, yet he keeps an open mind to growth and change if necessary.



It is this exact kind of attitude that has helped Allan take Rotaract by storm in Grahamstown, as he is now the secretary of the society in his first year which is definitely an achievement not to be scoffed at. He really enjoys helping people, and he said that Rotaract gives people the opportunity to help others whom are less fortunate than most Rhodents, especially here in Grahamstown, as this is a very poor place in the poorest province in the country, so there definitely isn’t a shortage of people to help.”


Allan believes that his character has definitely changed since he arrived at Rhodes. He believes that he has matured, and that he knows far less than what he thought he knew which has made him willing to learn, and embrace some of the change that being at this Institution brings. He feels that coming to Rhodes was a timely reminder of the fact that if he works hard, he’ll eventually reap what he sows, as he continues on his journey towards achieving greatness and even more importantly finding peace within himself.