Book launch: Greatness Undeniable – The Story of the Fish-Girl Who Became DVC

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka has penned an intriguing memoir, not just as a personal narrative, but as a vehicle to raise funds for students whose dreams are hindered by financial barriers.

The book titled Greatness Undeniable: The Story of the Fish-girl who Became DVC: A Journey of Faith, Resilience, and Triumph will be officially launched at the Prestige Auditorium, Pretoria Campus, on 27 August 2026, with proceeds directed toward empowering the next generation of scholars.

Entangled in a web of disputes between her parents, Dr Vathiswa Papu‑Zamxaka grew up carrying the heavy weight of rejection. Yet, in the midst of abandonment, she discovered unexpected reservoirs of love and belonging. Her grandmother, uncle, and aunts became her anchors – offering the motherly tenderness and fatherly guidance that steadied her through turbulent beginnings.

When tragedy struck and her beloved uncle – both breadwinner and encourager – passed away, young Vathiswa was thrust into a new role. She shouldered household chores with resilience: fetching water from the river, tending goats, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. But she also stepped into the marketplace, selling fried fish in her village and neighbouring communities to supplement the family’s meagre income. It was here that the “fish‑girl” began to reveal the grit and ingenuity that would later define her career.

Her natural brilliance in mathematics and science earned her a scholarship to boarding school. Relieved of endless chores, she poured herself into her studies, excelling with a focus sharpened by hardship. Another scholarship beckoned — this time to complete high school in the UK. But a principal with myopic vision, unwilling to lose the prestige of her distinctions, refused to sign the approval letter.

Crushed but not defeated, Dr Papu-Zamxaka turned disappointment into determination. She studied harder, refusing to let setbacks define her. When her mathematics exam paper was lost and she was awarded a zero, she fought back. With persistence and the help of a kind Samaritan, she located the missing script, had her results corrected, and proved her excellence once again. Though the delay cost her a conditional admission to study medicine at the University of Cape Town, she pressed forward, enrolling at the University of Fort Hare for a Bachelor of Science.

Her journey from rural Eastern Cape to the lecture halls of Europe, and later into the corporate sector, is a testament to resilience. She became an award‑winning employee, a respected academic, and ultimately rose to serve as Deputy Vice‑Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement.

But her story does not end with personal triumph. Determined to lift others as she rises, Dr Papu‑Zamxaka founded Esther Naledzi, a non‑profit organisation dedicated to funding and supporting financially needy yet academically deserving students, especially those from underserved rural areas. Her memoir is also a testament to her unwavering commitment to helping the next generation of scholars.