A young African man named Tom Mchunu has defied the odds to achieve success as a remarkable Accountant in South Africa.

Tom’s journey to success is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of second chances. Growing up in Wentworth, South Africa, a community often associated with hardship and bad vice, his life was shaped by challenges from an early age.

At just nine months old, his biological mother abandoned him, but her sister, Joyce, took him in and raised him as her own. She and her husband—who later became Tom’s stepfather—provided him with a home, a sense of belonging, and the foundation for a brighter future.

However, at the age of nine, Tom’s stepfather passed away, leaving Joyce to care for him alone. She worked long hours as a cleaner, struggling to provide for them.

With the absence of a father figure, Tom began to drift, often finding himself in trouble. Attending school became an afterthought, and by Grade 11, he dropped out, believing he could navigate life without education.

Determined to assist his mother, he took a job as a cleaner at a surgical center where he was earning only a small stipend that could barely sort his needs.

Because of this situation, Tom realized he made the terrible mistake of believing her could live without education pushing him to reconsider his choices. With a renewed sense of purpose, Tom decided to return to school.

However, his past reputation made this difficult. When he approached his former high school principal, he was initially rejected—not because of his grades, but because of his troubled history.

Eventually, he was given a second chance and returned to Fairvale Secondary School, where he repeated Grade 11 and completed his secondary education in 2006.

During high school, he discovered his passion for Accounting, which led him to pursue further studies in the field. However, enrolling in the university seemed impossible as he faced financial difficulties.

Fortunately, he met an unexpected angel Evan, a fellow student from his community, who saw potential in him and offered to loan him the money for registration. That single act of kindness changed the course of his life.

In 2007, Tom enrolled at Durban University of Technology to study Accounting. Despite the hardships, he persevered and graduated in 2010. Three years later, in 2013, he transitioned from student to professional, building a successful career in financial planning.

Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I stand as proof that your past does not define your future. With resilience, faith, and the right people believing in you, it is possible to break cycles, rewrite narratives, and build a life of purpose.”

Today, Tom is an inspirational accountant, financial adviser, and the founder of Afrimed Wealth—a financial planning and insurance practice dedicated to helping medical professionals make informed and confident financial decisions.