The Academy of Sound Engineering has given a one-year bursary to 25-year-old
Veli Moses Mackenzie, also known as the “Traffic Light Teacher’, after his story went
viral on social media.
Mackenzie was photographed by citizen Mbali Ndhlovu at the corner of Empire road
and Owl street in Johannesburg in January, with his sign board that read: “Traffic
Light Teacher: Zulu words R1 + Free Pronunciation, eg Learn – Funda.’ Ndhlovu
then uploaded it to Facebook and in just over a week it went viral.
Local radio station Jacaranda FM’s Complimentary Breakfast show caught wind of
Mackenzie’s story and decided to interview him. During the interview, they found
out that Mackenzie did not complete matric and his dream is to be a sound
engineer. The breakfast show teamed up with the Academy of Sound Engineering,
who offered Mackenzie a R60 000 one-year bursary for a Higher Certificate in Audio
Technology, and if he successfully completes it, there will be a possibility of the
bursary being extended for another three years for him to complete the diploma as
well.
George Hattingh Jnr, national sales and marketing manager and lecturer at the
Academy of Sound Engineering said he was excited to get on board and help change
Mackenzie’s life. “The Higher Certificate in Audio Technology is an NQF5, designed
to prepare the student with the necessary theoretical and practical skills,
experience and expertise required for working in the professional audio field at a
fundamental level. The certificate introduces the student to the four different
avenues of audio technology – live sound reinforcement, music production, post
production, and broadcasting production – and once completed, students can then
choose an avenue to specify their three-year Diploma on.’
