The 24-year-old Rendani Magoro has always dreamed of becoming a human resources (HR) practitioner. His dreams may take some time to materialize, as he is battling to convince the education authorities that his surname has changed. In the meantime, he is refused admission to higher education institutions.

According to Magoro, he was forced to change his surname from Makgwana to Magoro, which is his father’s real surname, so that he could sort out other family matters at the time of his father’s death. Magoro matriculated from Radzambu High school in 2006.

Now Magoro wants the surname on his matric certificate to be changed as well, so that he can pursue his career in HR. “I would really appreciate if anyone out there with a heart of gold could please come forward and help me change the surname on my matric results, so that it can match the one in my ID book. I want to pursue my career that I had always dreamed of,” he said.

Magoro, a resident at Ha-matsila village in the Masia area, said he applied for admission at various universities several times, but after they realised that the surname on his matric certificate differed from the one in his ID, they shut him out. He added: “I want to further my studies, so that I can help provide for my family.”

The spokesperson for the Department of Education in Limpopo, Mr Pat Kgomo, said that Magoro had to go to the Vhembe District Department of Education in Thohoyandou, where he would be assisted. "He must apply for another certificate at the district office. He needs to bring along his original matric certificate, so that it can be verified first," he said.