Meet UFH’s top performing first-year student in the Law Faculty – Asiso Sikumkani

Armed with four matric distinctions and six university acceptance letters, Asiso Sikumkani chose the University of Fort Hare to study for her Bachelor of Laws Degree. Now, the 18-year-old from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is the top performing first-year student in our Faculty of Law.

Asiso obtained an overall pass of 84% in the first semester, an achievement she says would not have been possible without the support from her “caring Lecturers” and peers.

“I knew I had made the best decision choosing UFH from the very first class I attended, Introduction to Law which is lectured by Ms Morganambal Padavattan. Although the class was virtual, I felt the level of care, warmth, and encouragement in her voice and I knew I was at the right University.”

Asiso fell in love with the idea of becoming a law practitioner when she was just a nine-years-old and in grade 4 when her teacher gave her a book titled: “Only the pot knows how hot the fire is”.

The book by Mtubani, V.C.D is about a young woman, Tebogo Pilane who is assaulted and raped by Tshimego Matshaba, son of a prominent businessman, Paul Matshaba who believes that money can buy anything and anyone, even the justice system. The author follows the court case.

“I read this book and we would do role plays on the characters and I was always the Judge. I passionately studied my lines and I enjoyed being called Your Honour. We performed the play in front of other learners, parents and visitors at our school,” she said.

When she matriculated in 2021 from St John’s College in Mthatha with four distinctions in English, isiXhosa, Life Sciences and Life Orientation, she had already been accepted to six South African universities.

“Deciding on which University to accept was a no-brainer, thanks to my grandmother - she loves Fort Hare. She told me to go to the university where many great leaders studied, such as the great Nelson Mandela.  Also my mother, in fact, my entire family supported UFH. After doing my own research, I discovered they we all right.”

“I also have a friend who is currently doing her final year in Social Work here at UFH. Whilst I was still in high school she would tell me about the caring culture among the students on campus. This made me even more eager to enroll here.”

Asiso has set her goal on becoming a Corporate Lawyer or a Human Rights Lawyer advocating for women’s rights.

If you want 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