Botshelo Mthomboti, a 23-year-old accountant from Soshanguve, has published four books that combine poetry with mathematics and accounting to make these subjects more engaging for pupils. Drawing from her personal challenges, she aims to transform how learners approach these often intimidating topics. Her innovative approach has earned her recognition in the accounting field.
Botshelo Mthomboti grew up in Soshanguve, a township in Pretoria marked by both opportunities and difficulties. Raised by a single mother who faced gender-based violence, Mthomboti turned to writing poetry as a way to express her emotions when she felt unable to speak out. This early habit laid the foundation for her later work.
A financial management graduate from the University of South Africa, Mthomboti balanced her studies with full-time employment. She has authored four books: A Black Child Transformed by Accounting, The Poetic Atmosphere of Income Tax, The Poetic Atmosphere of Mathematics, and The Journey of a Trainee Accountant. In these, she integrates poetic elements with numerical concepts to simplify complex ideas and share her personal story.
Her first book, A Black Child Transformed by Accounting, was self-published with support from donors, including a mentor who is a qualified chartered accountant and her distant uncle. Promoting it was challenging, leading her to focus on educational content. For The Poetic Atmosphere of Mathematics, she targeted learners who find traditional maths classes rigid.
"SA needs more mathematicians, if not statisticians, and a maths class has always been a serious class," Mthomboti said. "However, I wanted learners to be able to have fun while learning the subject. Poetry improves vocabulary and memory skills."
The book includes a motivational section followed by topics like fractions. Teachers have recommended it, and some learners reported improved grades after using it. Mthomboti suggests teachers have students read poems aloud in class to foster interaction.
She credits her mother's resilience for her own drive. In 2023, Mthomboti spoke and performed at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Trainee Trailblazer Awards. She hopes her books will be adopted in classrooms nationwide, collaborating with the Department of Basic Education to incorporate such creative tools into the curriculum.