A 24-year-old Social Sciences graduate has gone viral after attending the MTN8 final soccer match in Durban on Saturday in his graduation regalia and displaying a poster seeking employment.
Ever the soccer fan, Sbonelo Masoka also supported his team, Orlando Pirates, by wearing their jersey under his gown. And although his team ended up losing, Masoka emerged a winner with several job opportunities being forwarded to him.
Several people took videos and pictures of him and shared the content across the different social media platforms including Tik Tok, where one video collected 41,500 likes, 260 comments and 300 reshares, and one on Facebook garnered 20 800 likes, 204 comments and 395 reshares.
Masoka carried a poster reading “Looking for employment” and went around the stadium showing it to football fans in the hope of scoring a work opportunity.
Speaking to IOL on Monday, Masoka said he was overwhelmed by the positive reaction and response from the public following his bold move.
Sbonelo, who lives in Yellowwood Park but is from Ladysmith, completed his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Social Sciences, majoring in Drama and Tourism, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, and also completed a BA Honours in Cultural and Heritage Tourism at UKZN.
Sbonelo Masoka, the 24-year-old UKZN graduate who went viral for seeking employment in his graduation regalia at the MTN8 final, during an interview.
“Unemployment can cause depression and anxiety, and that inspired me to swallow my pride and go out to the public with a sign seeking employment,” said Masoka, adding he was surprised by the positive feedback from the public regarding the bold move he took on Saturday.
“People have been sending me messages, more especially about customer service/call centre positions. In the evening I also received a call from the eThekwini Municipality Career Development department.”
Masoka has not signed a contract or received a formal offer yet, but is grateful for the positive feedback and support he has received so far.
thulaganyo.sethibe@iol.co.za
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