A scholar from Nkavele village near Malamulele, Risimati Hobyane, has just been promoted to the position of senior lecturer at the North West University (NWU).

The 37-year-old Hobyane now plans to focus on his new appointment as professor in theology at the Theological School of Reformed Churches in South Africa and Faculty of Theology of NWU – Potchefstroom Campus.

“I would also like to focus on establishing myself as a researcher and to publish both nationally and internationally,” he told Limpopo Mirror on Tuesday.

Prof Hobyane is lecturer in New Testament, focusing on Greek.

He started schooling at Hangalakani Primary School in 1983 and went on to matriculate in 1994 at Nghezimani High School. “But I rewrote matric in 1995 in order to achieve university admission,” he added.

In 1996 he had a 'gap year' due to financial problems. He enrolled for his teacher's diploma in 1997 at Giyani College of Education, specialising in maths, chemistry and physical science.

He has an immense love for theology as well as the Greek language. His academic credentials speak volumes. In 2006, he completed his Masters Degree in practical theology. The following year saw him being appointed as a lecturer in Greek in the faculty of theology of the NWU (Potchefstroom Campus). “In the same year I was also ordained as a minister of the Word in the Reformed Church Promosa of the GKSA,” he explains.

It also was in 2007 that he enrolled for a BA Hons in Greek. “In 2009, after an extensive examination, I was awarded masters status in Greek,” he recalls. “I immediately enrolled for a PhD in Greek.”

In all these years, Dr Hobyane had been participating in national congresses of the LXXSA (Study of Septuagint in SA) where he was also delivering papers. He subsequently published few national articles.

In 2012, he achieved his D Litt in Greek. His thesis, A Greimassian Analysis of the book of Judith, was accepted unanimously by all appointed examiners, with only minor changes. At the age of 34 then, Dr Hobyane was (and still remains) the youngest and only the second black South African scholar to achieve a D Litt in Greek.

While serving as a pastor and lecturer at the NWU, Dr Hobyane served in the committee of deputies of ecumenical relations within the Reformed Churches in South Africa and abroad, travelling to countries like the USA, Canada and East Africa. He believes that any young person, by the grace of God Almighty, is capable of achieving beyond what he has done. Loko misava yi ku hoxetela hi maribye, tshika ku rila, kambe u teka maribye yalawo u aka swin’wana swa nkoka e vuton’wini byan wena hi wona (When life throws you with stones, stop crying about it; rather take them up and build something valuable out of them),” he advises.

He is married to Rendani Hobyane and has been blessed with two children, Vunene (7) and Muhluleri (5).