WHO IS XOLILE NGWENYA? Xolile Ngwenya is a God fearing woman who is driven by her goals and ambitions to succeed in everything that she puts her mind to.
I was born in Baragwanath hospital, Diepkloof Soweto in 1987. According to family reports, my mother almost died during a very difficult child birth until the Doctor made the decision to perform an emergency C-section.
I grew up in Meadowlands, Soweto and started my schooling there at Thembalethu L. P School, which was a stone throw away from my grandparents house. When i was promoted to Grade 4, my father who was from Nelspruit, came to fetch me because he had just graduated from University and wanted to give me a better life.
All we know about migration is that birds fly south for the winter. We don't know what really happens in the South or what they go through.
My move to Mpumalanga was extremely hard, in retrospect it is where i learned that " be your own super hero, no one is coming to save you". I went from walking to school with my friends, to waking up at ungodly hours to catch a bus to school with a lot of strange children who I could not relate to. School was Nelspruit Primary School and it was a nightmare in the beginning. It was a school in town with white children, white teachers and an all white administration. Back in my hood we dreamed of going to such schools but the reality of adapting was somethingI had to face on my own.
MIND YOUR ENGLISH
Children with the same skin colour as me were only speaking English in the bus. They were rolling their tongues as if their lives depended on it. I kept to myself a lot the first couple of months and observed, I took in all the different accents and pronunciations.
Although I obtained first position consistently in my previous school, which is the reason my father saw it fit for me to go to a "better school", the teachers in the better school doubted my capabilites and probably misread my shyness.
I went through the introduction to their English books with ease and steadily progressed through to the last book.
I remember reading one of the advanced books to my father at home and I have been trying to capture the pride on his face ever since that day.
HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE
Growing up no one ever asked how I was doing, whether I was adapting, had friends or how my new environment was. I was no longer in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, so I had to be grateful and get over it.
My darling mother stayed behind and I had to adjust all by myself. That is a story for another day. Even though my father held it down at the home front as a single father, by nurturing and catering to all of my needs, I still missed what I knew as home.
A not so receptive welcome at school meant that I lashed out and started misbehaving. Academically I was doing well but my behavior sucked. I missed my mom and the place I had known as home since I was born. But who could I tell.
"A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth." - African Proverb
HIGH SCHOOL DAZE
Age 14 to 18 was a learning curve. I made friends for life, we found each other when we were all looking for something but just didn't know what.
My friends became my sisters and source of support during my transition into adulthood, we formed an unshakable bond and we have been in each other's lives during the highs and the lows.
I couldn't have achieved half of what I have if it wasn't for their support and encouragement. It is true that good friends are worth their worth in gold. Even penning this down I would be doing an injustice if I did not mention the candles they shone during some of the darkest times of my life.
ROAD TO GRADUATION
There is someone out there who feels worthless because they are struggling to complete their studies on record time. If it is any consolation, it took me 7 years to complete a 4 year degree.
Life i learned is a lot like traveling to any destination, theres a road that takes you there in 2 hours, another might take you there in 5 hours, another road might take you 10 hours to get there but if you are willing to take the trip you will reach it.
I felt despondent and thought I would never graduate once upon a time. I remember Kabelo and I would question our efforts to wear graduation gowns out loud. It often felt unattainable. Here I am, an eloquent speaker, could read and interpret texts but I just couldn't find my feet.
I lied to myself and blamed everything and everyone for my failures. I refused to face the fact that I was the one who was standing in between me and attaining my goals.
It wasn't until I applied to attend the University of Limpopo, that I came to grips with myself and the fact that I was a liar. My parents had given me my last chance and I made a promise to myself not to repeat any modules or write any supplementary exams. I did it! I was graduating. I had finally found my truth and was living it, my truth was what I was taught from an early age and that is, anything worth having is difficult to get and you have to work your ass off for it. My only regret was not doing it sooner for my grandmother to witness it.
Like most of the youth in South Africa I did my stint as an intern. I applied for an internship at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and got the job.
I like most hopefuls wished I could be absorbed as a permanent employee. I worked to the best of my ability and filled those dreadful Z83 forms relentlessly. I was never absorbed, story for another day, but I wasn't bitter I took it all in my stride. Truth was, I would keep hitting the ceiling anyway had I stayed, after all I only had a LLB degree, no articles nor was I admitted.
A dream deferred is not a dream denied. After the contract expired, I had made friends with one of my mentors, Ms Phumla Sibiya, who was an admitted attorney and working for the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.
She was so confident and excellent at her job, and would consistently tell me what a great attorney she thought I would be and that I was short changing myself by not pursuing articles of clerkship. I was convinced I was not interested, but looking back that was fear.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS A STATE OF MIND
After my contract expired I was doing everything I could to make some money. I started Ms_Curvy Creations and was baking biscuits and sewing clothes.
I at one point organized and hosted an event called Phenomenal Woman, story for another day. One day while baking, I got a call from my mentor telling me that I should rush to her old Principals office as there was a vacancy for a candidate attorney. I woke up at the Crack of dawn and was at Nomaswazi Shabangu Attorneys offices at 8:00 am. My soon to be Principal arrived much later but hired me on the spot.
The contract was for 2 years because I had no law school but I was so eager to explore the opportunity to become an attorney. It did not matter how little the pay cheque was.
I was already a mother to two beautiful children, a son and a daughter. I had so much riding on me finishing my articles and passing my board exams.
As a single parent it was harder, but my supportive family alleviated the work load. From work, I had to come home to two excited children, wait for them to go to sleep and then afterwards hit the books. To say it was hard is an understament. But I had made up my mind and had run out of excuses.
God had placed me under Nomaswazi's wing and winning was the only option.
The more I read, the clearer the picture got and the more confident I got. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. The money was uninspiring but that didn't phase me, I was going to get admitted even if it was the last thing I did.
My last oral examination was in Pretoria, I remember I decided to go uo with my children as I had a feeling that was the last time I was attending any board exam. I hit the books hard and after the 3rd question I was told to buy a bottle of champagne as I bagged my last exam!!!!!. I called my mom and she screamed so loud I almost went deaf. I called my dad and he did not understand what I was saying, until I repeated I am done Papa, I am getting admitted as an attorney of the High Court.
XOLILE NGWENYA ATTORNEYS
I got admitted as an attorney of the High Court, in the new Mpumalanga Division of the High Court, Mbombela main seat just like I had manifested. I even thought that maybe my journey got delayed by the construction of the actual building.
Considering the length of the journey and how long it took for me to get there, we didn't have a celebration, we just couldn't wait to get it over and done with. It was a bit underwhelming considering how far I had come to get to that point of standing up and raising my right hand. I was and still am grateful nonetheless.
My time at NSA like all good things had come to an end. I consciously left in order to make room for another aspiring young attorney. As much as we preach the need to occupy the space, it is also incumbent on us to create the space that needs to be occupied. This tendency of hoarding positions and posts stagnates us as a people.
It was extremely difficult to find a job. I found myself in the same place i had been when I was an intern at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. At that time every position I was interested in applying for, wanted an admitted attorney. Now I was an admitted attorney, every position wanted 3 to 5 years post admission experience.
I had an idea of starting my own law firm. I had no idea what to do or where to start so I called up the Legal Practice Council. They were so helpful with information and soon I was registered with CIPC. Afterwards I did what all smart business people must do, I called up Mr Mfundo Vincent Nyambi and asked him to please help me by designing a logo for the law firm. As to be expected, he did not dissapoint. I strongly recommend him FYI.
Our motto is simple "your success, our commitment". It brings a smile to our faces to assist clients and watch them leave our offices with a more confident posture than when they walked in. I guess its true, you don't feel like you are working if you are doing something that you love and I love what I do.
Our office offers assists clients with the following:
- Civil Litigation
- Bail Applications
- RAF Claims
- Divorce
- Administration of deceased estates
- Estate Planning
- Trust Registrations
- Property transfers and Registrations
- Company registration and Deregistration
- Debt Collection
- Drawing up & Vetting of Contracts
- Labour Disputes, Disciplinary Hearings and CCMA matters.
CONTACT US IF YOU NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE
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Xolile Ngwenya Attorneys is NOT a non-profit organization. In order to get legal assistance you will be required to pay for the services. Our team is responsible for providing you with the best service and sound quality legal advice at a fee. We have the honour of working with one of the best Advocates in the Legal Fraternity, my dearest father Adv. Ernest Moukangwe. He has been with the Pretoria Bar for years and recently moved to the Mpumalanga Bar of Advocates. He is excellent and gives our firm that added advantage and edge. We borrow from his vast experience and expertise in the fields of Civil Law, Contract Law, 3rd Party Liability, Labour Law and Local Government law amongst others. For those Attorneys who are interested in briefing him he is available on the following number: +27 67 092 8907.  Our offices are open from Monday to Friday at 08:00 am until 16:30 pm. We are available for consultations on Weekends only by appointment.  |
We are situated at 32 BELL STREET, SUITE NO.G-16 Mbombela 1200, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE. You can reach us on the following telephone numbers to set up an appointment :
013 762 3325 / +27795317661
Alternatively you can email us at:
xolilengwenyaattorneys@gmail.com
We do welcome walk in clients and look forward to assisting you with any legal issues you may be facing.
CLOSING STATEMENT
Nothing worth having comes easy, you need to work for everything you want. You don't have to sleep with rich married men to get what you want, get off your butt and get to work.
Don't give up on the beauty of your dreams. Don't let the dream killers kill your self esteem. Hopefully this inspired you and you reach greater heights, if you choose to hate then choke and watch those who inspire and are inspired rise, your choice.
It has been a privilege to finally introduce myself to my beautiful readers who have been following my blog since its inception. There you have it esteemed guests, Ms Xolile Ngwenya aka Ms_Curvy.
