2024 Cohort

Siphosethu Nguta is a graduate of the University of Cape Town, where she completed a master’s degree in social development after completing an Honours and bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. She is passionate about education, communication, entrepreneurship, and student development, particularly issues relating to student well-being in higher education. Since completing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Siphosethu has become more confident in pursuing roles involving communication, leadership, and community engagement. She currently works as an academic tutor at UCT, supporting students in social sciences, while also working as a Service Consultant for the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Through these roles, she has strengthened her leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while engaging with diverse communities. Siphosethu values the program for empowering her personal and professional growth and remains eager to further her studies by pursuing a PhD in the future while continuing to contribute to her community and students.

Monica Elise Hella Ilonga is a learning designer and technical advisor for Curriculum and research innovation at Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture through the Umholiwe Africa (UwA) Fellowship. In this role, she supports national curriculum reform, education research, and evidence-based policy development. With over a decade of experience in education, educational technology, youth development, and inclusive innovation, she works at the intersection of policy, learning design, and digital transformation across Africa.
At the University of Cape Town (UCT), Monica completed an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation and a Master of Education in Educational Technology, equipping her with strong expertise in research, learning design, curriculum design, and technology-enhanced education. Monica is passionate about advancing equitable education systems and empowering young people to participate meaningfully in Africa’s development. Her achievements include contributing to national policy processes, mentoring youth through continental initiatives, and supporting innovation in higher education learning. Since completing her programme, Monica has reflected on this experience as a commitment to Pan-African collaboration, public service, innovation, and building sustainable and inclusive development for Africa’s future.

Andisiwe Gojela currently serves as the Asivikelane Project Intern at the Development Action Group (DAG) in Knysna, where she supports community-led advocacy for dignified housing and basic services in informal settlements. Her work involves engaging with municipal housing policies, the PIE Act, and budget advocacy to advance spatial justice. She holds an MPhil in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of Cape Town, where she also completed her undergraduate and honours degrees in anthropology and sociology. Her dissertation examined how urban governance shapes inclusion, safety, and trust in Cape Town, drawing on over 50 semi-structured interviews and a partnership with an urban justice organisation. She is a MasterCard Foundation Scholar alumna and has published in SAIREP Focus on unequal spatial outcomes. Since completing her studies, she has learned that meaningful change requires not only rigorous research but also patient, collaborative engagement with communities and local institutions. This role at DAG is where theory meets practice on the ground.

Babajide Bankole is an MSc student in Marine Biology at the University of Cape Town and an alumnus of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program from Lagos, Nigeria. During his time at UCT, he served as chairperson of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars cohort (2023/2024), where he supported scholar engagement, coordinated community activities, and strengthened peer connections and well-being. Babajide also served as public relations officer for the Science Faculty Postgraduate Council, contributing to student representation and academic community engagement. His leadership roles enhanced his skills in coordination, communication, and advocacy while allowing him to contribute meaningfully to student life and interdisciplinary collaboration. Babajide's passion lies in environmental conservation and the protection of marine ecosystems, which continues to guide his academic and career direction in marine science and sustainability. Babajide's experience as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar was transformative. It provided leadership development, global exposure, and collaboration opportunities that shaped his personal growth, strengthened his confidence, and deepened his commitment to making a meaningful impact through science and community engagement.

Since completing his MSc at the University of Cape Town through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Tinashe has earned an MRes in Future Propulsion and Power from the University of Cambridge. He is currently a DPhil candidate in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. A passion for high-impact engineering and social enterprise defines Tinashe's journey. He currently serves as an Aerothermal Engineer at Qdot Technology in Oxford, focusing on enabling clean flight. As an entrepreneur, Tinashe is the CEO and co-founder of Maarifa, an EdTech company expanding access to educational materials across Botswana and the continent-a venture that won the Orange Social Venture Prize (Botswana and International Jury Special Prize). Additionally, Tinashe is a founding team member and Business Development Lead for MariTest, where they have developed a non-invasive malaria diagnostic device that won the Oxford Student Entrepreneurship Programme and many other prizes. He has also participated in the Mastercard Foundation FAST Entrepreneurship Program, which honed his business and leadership skills.

Amandla is a Mechatronics Engineer with an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, where his research focused on dynamic modeling and robust control of CERN's CO₂ cooling systems for the High Luminosity LHC upgrade. Amandla's work formed part of the ATLAS-UCT and broader SA-CERN collaboration, which enables African researchers and engineers to contribute to world-leading scientific infrastructure. This spanned R&D, digital twin development, and commissioning of complex thermal systems for the ATLAS and CMS experiments.
Amandla's long-term goal is to further develop expertise in advanced engineering systems, automation, and energy technologies, while eventually leveraging these skills to contribute to technological growth and engineering capacity development in Africa.
Outside of engineering, he mentors students at his former high school (St. Boniface) in Maputsoe, Lesotho, and remain involved in a youth-founded organisation supporting disadvantaged members of the community. This past Christmas, he participated in organizing a Christmas outreach initiative for vulnerable children (and families), which included a Christmas lunch and clothing donations.
 

Saratu Mshelia is a doctoral researcher at the African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, where her PhD examines insurgent democratic innovation through housing movements in Cape Town. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and an MPhil in Urban Studies (UCT). Her research interests include urban governance, grassroots democratic innovation, and inclusive and ethical digital development.
Saratu is the founder of PulsivaHub, an AI-powered civic companion platform for African citizens, and co-founder and project lead of Women's Digital Futures Africa (WDFA), a project that aims to promote AI literacy and digital citizenship, particularly in underserved communities. She also serves as a Research Assistant on the PAR-CITY project at UCT. Her work and research interests sit at the intersection of scholarship and civic empowerment, with a commitment to bottom-up democratic participation across African cities.

Thobekile completed her MSc in Astronomy as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and is currently pursuing a PhD in Astronomy at Stellenbosch University and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). Her research focuses on Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs). Her long-term aspiration is to become an instrumentation scientist contributing astronomy development in Africa.Beyond academia, Thobekile is passionate about science outreach, mentorship, and expanding access to STEM opportunities for young people. She is the President and a founding member of the Zimbabwean Astronomical Society, an organization that promotes astronomy education, citizen science work, and public engagement. Through asteroid search campaigns, outreach activities, and collaborations with schools and universities, she works to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology. She has also contributed to community initiatives in her community through mentorship, and educational outreach programs aimed at creating greater access to learning opportunities and inspiring the next generation of African scientists.

Kabeli is currently a PhD (Eng) Chemical Engineering candidate at the University of Cape Town, specialising in minerals processing with a focus on stirred milling, flotation, hydrocyclones, iron processing, and process mineralogy. Kabeli previously completed his MSc (Eng) in Chemical Engineering at UCT, where his research focused on PGM tailings reprocessing and flotation systems. Kabeli's academic and practical experience has strengthened his passion for metallurgical and process engineering, particularly in mineral beneficiation, laboratory test work, and sustainable resource utilisation. Professionally, he aspires to build a career within the minerals processing and metallurgical engineering industry where he can contribute to innovative and sustainable engineering solutions while continuously developing my technical and leadership capabilities. Kabeli is especially interested in laboratory-based process optimisation, mineral recovery technologies, and research-driven engineering applications. Beyond academics, Kabeli actively contribute to the postgraduate community through his role as a representative on the Centre for Minerals Research Postgraduate Students’ Representative Council at UCT. In this role, Kabeli support student engagement, mentorship, and professional development initiatives, helping foster a collaborative and supportive academic environment. Kabeli has also contributed academically as a Teaching Assistant and Assistant Lecturer, guiding and mentoring undergraduate students in Chemical Engineering courses.

Nonkululeko Matiwane is currently a Customer Experience and Content Manager at a non-profit organisation dedicated to giving blood cancer and blood disorder patients a second chance at life through the recruitment of stem cell donors and raising awareness about the importance of donor registration. Her role combines strategic communication, storytelling, and community engagement to educate the public and inspire life-saving action. She holds a Master of Philosophy degree, which she completed with distinction. Her thesis, Digital divide in a rural area of the Eastern Cape: Exploring possible implications for remote workers and remote work seekers, explores how unequal access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) impacts remote work opportunities in underserved communities. She is passionate about ICTs and their role in creating equitable access to information and employment opportunities. Beyond her professional role, she assists matriculants from underserved communities with university applications, particularly those facing barriers such as limited internet access and low digital literacy. Her long-term goal is to further her studies and explore how ICTs can be leveraged to improve access to employment opportunities for youth in underserved communities.

Grace Ndhlovu is a pharmacist and a public health practitioner who recently completed a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Cape Town. Her time at UCT deepened her interest in epidemiology, implementation science and the use of data to improve public health policy and practice. Grace is passionate about practical, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen health systems and improve care in low-resource settings. She hopes to continue building a career in public health through epidemiology, health systems research, and program implementation, contributing to stronger, more responsive, and more equitable health systems in Malawi and across the region.

Tapiwa is a Malawian medical doctor and public health professional working in immunisation systems strengthening, vaccine safety surveillance, and health systems implementation. She completed her Master of Public Health in Health Systems and Policy at the University of Cape Town. She currently works as a Research and Implementation Coordinator at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, where she collaborates closely with the Malawi Ministry of Health on strengthening vaccine safety surveillance systems at district level, immunisation service delivery, and other health systems strengthening initiatives. Her work has particularly focused on strengthening operational immunisation data systems, including population denominator estimation and the use of data for planning and decision making within immunisation programmes. Alongside her implementation work, she teaches postgraduate nursing students in health financing and health policy courses. She has also supported leadership and mentorship initiatives through coaching multidisciplinary teams within African leadership for health programmes, including mentoring a Zimbabwean team that went on to win a regional health co-creation challenge. She is passionate about how health policies and health systems function in practice, especially the relationship between national decision making, frontline health workers, and implementation at district level.

Funwako Bakhile Dlamini is a public health professional and emerging mental health practitioner from Eswatini currently based in the United Kingdom. He completed his Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Public Health degrees at the University of Cape Town as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. He currently works within Adult Community Mental Health Services in the National Health Service (NHS) in England, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs through safeguarding, advocacy, and multi-agency care. Alongside his clinical practice, Funwako is undertaking Practice Educator training at the School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, contributing to the development of future practitioners. He also remains actively engaged in global youth leadership through the For Youth, By Youth (FYBY) movement, where he has contributed to youth-led dialogue, intercultural exchange, mentorship, and collaborative learning spaces that connect young leaders across different regions and lived experiences.Since completing the Scholars Program, his journey has been shaped by a commitment to ethical leadership, mental health equity, and social justice. He is passionate about creating inclusive systems that amplify unheard voices and empower young people to lead meaningful change across communities.

Lois Ewuraesi Osei is a youth, peace, and development professional with years of experience in nonprofit programming, research support, and administration. She holds an MSc in International Relations from the University of Cape Town and contributed to initiatives focused on youth empowerment, peacebuilding, governance, and community engagement, in collaboration with organizations and partners such as United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Development Programme, and United States Agency for International Development.
She aspires to contribute to policies that advance sustainable development and social impact initiatives across Africa, particularly in governance, youth development, peace and security, and mental well-being. Beyond her professional work, Lois is actively involved in community-based and faith-centered initiatives that promote positive change, youth empowerment, and social awareness within her community.

Olushola is a researcher and aspiring software developer with a strong interest in how artificial intelligence (AI) can better understand and represent African languages.

He is currently pursuing a master's degree in applied mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. His research focuses on helping AI systems recognise and connect names, places, and key terms across languages that have historically been left out of mainstream technology, with particular attention to African languages.

For him, this is not merely an academic exercise; it is about ensuring that millions of African language speakers are not rendered invisible in the digital world.

Beyond his research, he is growing his skills in software development, with a keen interest in building practical tools that address real challenges in education and security across Nigeria.

He regularly supports fellow students through research discussions and problem-solving and believes that progress is always faster when knowledge is shared freely.

As a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, he is eager to connect with forward-thinking individuals and contribute to initiatives that place Africa at the centre of its own technological future.

Siphamandla is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Exeter, following the completion of his master's degree at the University of Cape Town. He is based in a world-leading centre for medical mycology, where his research focuses on understanding how mothers can passively protect their infants from disease and advancing knowledge that may contribute to improved global health outcomes.

A major motivation behind this move was his desire to build and strengthen international collaborations between fungal immunologists and medical mycology researchers in Africa and across the world. During his time at the mycology centre, he has actively participated in public engagement and community involvement initiatives, speaking to diverse audiences about his research, the challenges facing the field, and potential future solutions.

In the long term, he aspires to contribute to both scientific innovation and the development of stronger global research networks that support African scientific advancement in infectious disease research.