A matric pupil from Heideveld, who was left to raise himself, has defied the odds again by obtaining a Bachelor’s Pass despite living on his own for more than a year.
Loud cheers were heard at Rylands High School on Wednesday as neighbours and officers from Manenberg Police Station gathered around Luke Smith, 18, as he received his results.
Luke captured the hearts of mense on the Cape Flats last year after he shared his remarkable story about raising himself and living on just R2500 a month.
AIMING HIGH: Luke Smith, 18, vannie Heideveld. Picture: Monique Duval
Despite losing his mom, Berenice, at seven years of age and later being abandoned by his father, the Grade 12 pupil from Rylands High School persevered as he pursued his passion for business and baking.
For most of his life, he was raised by his ouma, Rachel Petersen, 70, but when she died tragically in an accident in November 2018, Luke decided to live alone in his ouma’s Heideveld house and look after himself using the money he gets from a trust fund.
“My ouma’s house was sold and now I will go live with my father,” he said Wednesday.
The shy teen, who was dubbed the “biscuit boy” for sharing his goodies with aunties in his street, says he got a s krik to see the Bachelor’s Pass.
PRIDE AND JOY: Constable Natasha Landers with Luke. Picture: Monique Duval
“I enrolled at I-College because I want to do something in business management or human resources as I want to dedicate my life to improving the economy and creating opportunities for people. I am waiting to hear back but I do not have money to study,” he says.
monique.duval@inl.co.za