Botlhale Boikanyo Celebrates Her Wits Honours Graduation

Award-winning poet, speaker and presenter Botlhale Boikanyo is celebrating an exciting new milestone after graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand. The talented 25-year-old recently earned her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Film & Television, which took place on Thursday, 16 July 2026.

Botlhale proudly shared beautiful photos from her graduation day on social media, where she reflected on the journey that led her to this special achievement. Her heartfelt message quickly drew praise from fans, friends and fellow celebrities who celebrated her hard work and dedication.

She wrote on Instagram, “Here: a black girl from Maftown who dared to dream. We did it Bestiees!!!! Officially a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Film & Television from the University of the Witwatersrand graduate. Forever grateful for the privilege of learning, the gift of storytelling, and the grace that carried (& continues to carry) me through. To God be all the glory.”

The inspiring post received plenty of congratulatory messages as people celebrated her latest success.

Just a few days before her graduation, Botlhale surprised many of her followers by revealing that she had been studying in secret for the past year while continuing with her busy career. While many saw her travelling, creating content and working on different projects, she was also committed to completing her studies behind the scenes.

She shared, “Besties, I’ve been keeping a secret. For the past year, while you were watching me travel, create and share life online, your girl was also studying for her Honours in Film & Television.”

Botlhale also opened up about what motivated her to return to university after spending time away from her studies.

She explained, “I finally decided to go back to school and enrolled for my Honours in Film and Television at Wits University.”

She added, “Going back to school has been something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time but after the Mandela Washington Fellowship at Michigan State University, my love for learning was reignited.”

Although she was determined to achieve her goal, Botlhale admitted that the journey was far from easy. She had to balance lectures, research and deadlines while still managing her professional commitments.

Reflecting on the demanding year, she said, “This journey wasn’t one that was easy – it meant balancing lectures, research, deadlines while still working, travelling, creating and showing up for my community.”

Her graduation marks another proud chapter in an already impressive career. By successfully completing her Honours degree while continuing to inspire audiences through her work, Botlhale has shown that determination, discipline and a passion for learning can make even the biggest dreams possible. Her achievement is an inspiration to many young people who hope to pursue both education and their careers at the same time.