Profiles
Mr Zithulele Maki
Mr. Zithulele Maki was a policeman, a Catholic priest and later a translator in court after he had a taken early pension at age 55. In 1950, he got married to Constance Maki (who was born on 1 January 1930) and they had 9 children. They remained married until his passing in 1992 and Constance passed away in 2002, at the age of 72. By the time he died, he had eleven grandchildren.
Before Zithulele had children, he had four families that lived in his household which were all from his wife’s family. He educated all of them. He also fought in World War II. He was a man who had a big heart and living in a village a few kilometres outside Umtata, many people in the village came to him when they needed assistance with the education of their children and he assisted as many as he could. There was also no post office at the village, so all the villagers collected their mail from his house as he rented a post office box in town for his mail but allowed everyone else to use his post box address.
Like all men in the village, he had livestock. He had cattle, sheep, pigs, chicken and of course, a number of dogs. He lived a culture of giving and his daughter, Stella Maki, learned it from him. Zithulele also educated his own children up to tertiary level.
Miss Stella Thenjiwe Maki
Stella was born on 07 November 1954. She has one son named Vukani Gugu Maki. Stella is a Subject Adviser for Mathematics and Science at the Eastern Cape Department of Education which is a position she has held for almost a decade.
She matriculated in 1973 and attended Fort Hare University where she completed a Bachelor of Science Degree. She later obtained an honours degree in Education. She started teaching in January 1980 at Zwelitsha Training School where she was lecturing the Primary Teachers Diploma. She later moved on to high schools and was promoted to Deputy Principal of Ndabazandile High School in 1987. Then in 1999, she became the School Principal of Emgwali High School in Stutterheim and from 2007, became a Subject Adviser at the Department of Education.
During her time as a teacher, she taught mathematics and physical science at grade 12 and was a marker of matriculation examinations on a yearly basis. She eventually became a senior marker. However, what was noticeable about Miss Maki was her passion for her learners. She has spent over 35 years helping students to achieve their full potential in life and as Subject Adviser, her role was to monitor the performance of high schools in mathematics and physical science. She also facilitates the Science Expo participation and judges the projects at regional level.
Beyond that, she is a true giver outside the work environment where she continued from her father’s charitable ways. She has dedicated her life to helping her siblings in establishing themselves in their careers and has raised many of her nephews and nieces. She provides support, guidance and a wealth of wisdom to guide all her family members and relatives through life. She has been a pillar of strength in her family and extended family for over 45 years and at work for over 37 years. Her generosity in giving has extended to even learners and families that are not related to her.
Mr Vukani Maki
Mr, Maki is the founder of the Maki Foundation. Vukani is a public speaker, graphic designer, marketing consultant, author of five books, businessman and an accountant by profession.
He was born on 25 December 1984, matriculated in 2001 with one distinction and 75% in Accounting. He received a full academic bursary from Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants (Johannesburg) to study BCom Accounting and honours. He holds a BCom Accounting degree from UCT; a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Accounting (NFQ 8) from UNISA with a distinction in Corporate Financial Reporting and is currently studying Masters in Business Administration where he has completed his first year with five distinctions in his final examinations.
He is also the director of Vukani eMalini Ma-Afrika (Pty) Ltd and Cards For Every Occasion (Pty) Ltd, a company that deals with the publishing, marketing and selling of books.
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