Meet our top performing first-year student from the Faculty of Science & Agriculture: Sibulele Mapuza

With an overall pass of 85% in the first semester in her studies towards a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Animal Production Science, Sibulele Mapuza is the top performing first-year student in our Faculty of Science & Agriculture.

The 23-year-old from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape says she became fascinated by the science behind animal production and management at a very young age when she watched her uncle tending to the family’s livestock.

“When I was in primary school I would watch my uncle herding and dipping livestock which included cows and goats. I become intrigued by the management of animals and started to develop a desire to study the biology of animals,” said Sibulele.

As the desire grew, so did Sibulule’s quest to meet the desire.

“I started educating myself by researching, reading, and also watching animal channels such as Nat Geo Wild. I fed myself with so much information, by the time I was in high school, I already knew that my career ambition was in animal science.”

Sibulele was raised by a single unemployed mother with the help of her brother who is a petrol attendant and her uncle, this after her grandmother who was her main provider, passed away in 2006. After completing her matric in 2017, she enrolled for an Agricultural Management Diploma at Nelson Mandela University where she recently graduated from.

“After I obtained my diploma, I enrolled at UFH because I had no doubt that this is the University that will take me closer to my dream of becoming a Veterinary one day. The bonus was the rural setting of the campus which reminded me of home,” she said.

The Faculty of Science and Agriculture located on the Alice campus is a vibrant, innovative centre of excellence, relevant to the scientific, technological and agricultural needs of society. Its mission is to unlock the potential of staff, students and communities, in an environment conducive to learning, through teaching and research, and the pursuit of strategic partnerships.

The Faculty offers BSc Degrees in the following fields, Agricultural Economics; Soil Sciences, Animal Production; Horticulture Science; Crop Sciences and Pasture Sciences and a variety of qualifications from undergrad to doctoral level.

The students are also exposed to some fieldwork, thanks to the agripark, the dairy farm and the piggery located on campus.

Asked what her secret is for her stellar academic performance, Sibulele said she owes it to her preference to always prepare ahead for her lectures.

“I believe proper preparation prevents poor performance. For instance, when the Lecturer shares the topic for the next class, I don’t wait for the class to learn, I go and do my own research ahead of the class. I also enjoy spending time at the dairy farm to witness and practice what we are taught.”

When she is not attending classes, Sibulele tutors Agriculture to Grade 12 learners.

To learn more about our programmes offered at our six faculties and how to apply, please go here:  https://www.ufh.ac.za/apply/Study_at_Fort_Hare_2023.pdf