Star student shakes hands with duchess

THE best thing about being named one of the Top 10 African students on the Rare Rising Stars programme for Andile Mkhonto from Soweto-on-Sea was being personally congratulated by the Duchess of York.

Ambitious Mkhonto, 21, has only been part of the Hult International Business School in London for a year and is already making waves.

Mkhonto never knew his father and was brought up by his grandmother Nomisile, 88, after his mother died when he was 13. He shared a four-roomed house with eight relatives.

"I was just a small kid from the township and I did not get the best education but now I am constantly competing with people who had access to the best education. I feel very humbled and honoured to be in the top 10 of the best students at Hult International Business School.