Gift Philiso

Officially known as Gift Siphosakhe Philiso was born in Alberton, Johannesburg in the province of Gauteng. He was born to a single mother, the general story of every South African Born in the early 90's.

Early Life 1993-2005

Gift was born in 1993 to Matina Philiso, a single mother. As he is quoted here " I never knew my father and I'm glad I didn't, maybe I wouldn't have turned out this way, this strong. God had a purpose for me and I can see it clearly now, no more comparisons and questions as to how it feels to have a father". He grew up in the " Dusty " Streets of Thokoza, South of Alberton in the East of Johanneburg. Later on in 1999 I relocated to a small Village, Ngadla in the Small Town of Willowvale in the Eastern Cape. This is where I grew under the careful guidance of my grandmother, Nosebenzile Mdeyi, a person I hold so dearly close to my heart. For years I milked Goats and Cows, collected firewood and " Amahlahla ". During the year 1999, I was, for the first time, enrolled to school and my first school teacher was a teacher named Miss Mapitsha. My first day at school wasn't the best hey, I think I peed myself, owing to how scary my Teacher was. The following years were kind of the same. Nothing major happened, Life was a cyclical turn of the same events, where each and every December I would wait for my mother's arrival from the City with new clothes and a whole lot of sweets.

Every December was a special one. School for me was turning out to be " Alright ", nothing major and noticeable whatsoever.

There might be something here 2006- The returning to his land of Birth

In the year 2005, my cousins (Nolitha, Zanele, Akhona and Ntombifuthi) had taken a trip down home and I saw this as great opportunity to tag along and escape the rural life of Ngadla and returned to my land of Birth, Gauteng. I arrived to my mom's care and soon had to welcome my younger sister, Noxolo Philiso. Life in the City was proving out to be super fine and everything was simple and life was " Happy ". This is when the best of me would come to show. At school ( Encochoyini Primary School ) I started winning school accolades and awards, I was realizing my potential. I was at time in my life where everything was cruising full, nothing fancy but my life was going about just an order, I had food, a roof over my head and clothes, Oh, A Bike too, Mom bought me a Bike. A year later, 2007 I was involved in a brawl who bullied me until I retaliated and this landed me in cold water. My mother did not take this lightly and so did the school. I actually faced the full might of the law for altercation which ensued between me and the girl.

As I progressed at hrough school, I was gaining momentum and my sights were beginning to look clearer. It was this year (2007) when I first saw the former South African Statesman, Dr Thabo Mbeki. From this moment onwards, I studied the life of the statesman so closely that his ousting from Presidency shocked me and opened my political eye. I started following the South African Political landscape so closely. I really look up to him. Dr Thambo Mbeki will forever remain my President.

Sometimes the best answer is not ask why?

After having passed my Grade 7 in 2008, I had to change to a different school because I was promoted to the nest Grade which would be a "High school" Grade. I was very excited about this, after all, wouldn't be. I was going to high school and university would be about 5 years way.

During the December Holidays, Mom and I had a very long and deep conversation about my next move and she saw it fitting that I returned to Willowvale, the small town where she was born. Of course I wasn't happy about this move but I moved anyway. I enrolled to a my previous school, Ngadla Junior Secondary School. As I settles in at the school I realised there were a lot differences between how I was served my education back in Jozi and how it was served this side of the park. I wasn't impressed to be fair but because my Primary school had laid an extremely solid foundation, I could almost "teach" myself and the others as well. This may sound too cocky but its a fact and if anyone thinks otherwise, I'm open for enlightenment.

Later in the year 2009, I think in September, I received a very concerning call that my mother wasn't feeling well, I tried talking to her but that broke my spirit knowing that there was nothing I could do because I hundreds of smiles away.

In less 24 hours later, the call came with very bad news, news that broke my heart, my mother was no more. Everything seemed to stand still, all still and dark. I took and moved on, funeral done and all there was left for me to do was figure out how to really move forward. My mother, had, for a long time told me about the importance of education as much as she never went far with hers, she knew how I had to get mine and how important it was that I did. So I took an oath to ensure that, whatever happens, I carried on with my education. I'm on it.

Find me on twitter : twitter.com

Find me on Facebook : [1]https://twitter.com/GIFT_PHILISO