2023 Cohort

Lesiba Sakeng is a highly motivated and ambitious construction management student. With a strong passion for the built environment, Lesiba is committed to contributing to Africa's sustainable development through research, leadership, and community service. Lesiba's academic focus is on the use of innovative technologies in streamlining construction projects. Through his studies, Lesiba hopes to make a positive impact on the industry by introducing new technologies that will revolutionise the way construction projects are managed.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Lesiba is actively involved in leadership positions both in his academic department and community programmes. He is passionate about mentoring and inspiring the next generation of construction professionals and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at promoting STEM education. With his strong work ethic, leadership skills, and a passion for sustainable infrastructure development, Lesiba is driven to leverage his knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to his community and Africa as a whole.

Thabiso Khuzwayo is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an honours degree in linguistics. She believes that having a positive impact on other people's lives starts with humility. Her vision is to bolster linguistic rights in her country, South Africa. She is also committed to giving back to her community with the knowledge and skills she has.

In 2021, She was part of an NGO that helps academically struggling students, where she tutored physical science. In addition, she has volunteered at her community library and church.

Snethemba Lwandle Mhlongo is a postgraduate scholar at the University of Cape Town. She is pursuing an honours degree in organisational psychology. She also completed her undergraduate studies in psychology and organisational psychology at the University of Cape Town.

Lwandle is passionate about the growth and development of individuals. She has interests in mentorship and leadership. She serves as a Humanities Faculty Mentor and is tasked with providing first-year students with psychosocial support as they transition from high school to university. She is also an Agent of Change Educator (ACE) who is responsible for driving conversations that centre around social ills, such as gender-based violence, that plague our society with the aim of making the university and residence spaces a conducive, inclusive, and diverse environment. As an ACE, she is also a gender advisor who has been trained to provide survivors of gender-based violence with support. Lwandle is a Health, Wellness, and Safety representative at her term residence. She aims to utilise her academic, leadership and volunteering experiences to become an agent of change.

Mandilakhe Gqolana is currently a postgraduate scholar pursing an honours degree in applied mathematics. He has just finished a BSc degree majoring in astrophysics, physics and applied mathematics. He is an exceptionally hard worker who truly believes in the ideology of ‘reaping what one sows’ and that to attain skills and knowledge some sacrifice is required.

He aspires to change that view that STEM-related studies are hard by creating online programs that help explain these topics in a manner that can be understood by the general, non-scientific public (see Self Study Lab on YouTube), while also tutoring mathematics and applied mathematics courses on campus, and high school students through a church initiative. Mandilakhe is a very active student academically, socially and in sporting activities, primarily weightlifting.

During his high school career, he was the head boy of his school, attended professional leadership classes during 2018 and 2019 under an engineering programme called IGEMS. He participated in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists in 2017 and 2018 where he won a bronze medal and was nominated to represent South Africa overseas in 2017. In 2018, he won a gold medal and special award for Best Project in Science from the YALE institute of Science and Technology, with ‘Best in Category’ for mathematics and statistics and was nominated again to represent SA in overseas.

Siya Mswi is a postgraduate student pursuing an honours degree in linguistics. She believes in giving back to her community by volunteering at local primary schools to tutor learners in arts and languages, and facilitates educational activities in her home township. She envisions a nation of quality education for South African learners in the townships, and actively contributes to the development of quality learning.

In 2022, she served as the Deputy Head of Block Chairs at Forest Hill Residence. She also participates in initiatives and campaigns that express and celebrate African art and languages, especially in South African townships schools where talent and potential is found, yet needs to be nourished.

Mfundo Mabuza is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an honours degree in the biological sciences. He is passionate about giving back to his community by providing tutoring and academic guidance to other youth in his community, particularly as he has acquired a postgraduate certificate in education in chemistry and biological sciences.

Having mostly been raised by women, he recognises the role of empowered women and as such believes in the empowerment of young girls and women through entrepreneurship and encouraging and supporting young girls to further their education, especially in the STEM.

He was involved in the University of Eswatini Charity Organisation (UNICO) which fundraised to help the less fortunate within the student body and in the communities where the members came from with food hampers, clothes, and supplementary bursaries. He was also part of the junior achievement initiative in high school and is now in the Youthbuzz initiative, a youth organisation in his community.

Sheila Sebanyoni is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an honours degree in economics, with an emphasis on policy analysis and development economics. She volunteers with a humanitarian aid organisation, and another that provides tutoring in disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.

Coming from one of the poorest provinces in South Africa, Limpopo, she focuses on problems that are prevalent in her community, such as illiteracy and high teenage pregnancy rates. She is passionate about creating digital literacy and family planning programmes in her community as she believes these programmes will help alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of individuals. Her goal is to create policies that are effective for South Africa and that can be used in Africa as a whole.

Rosely Tariro Chitaunhike is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an honours degree in psychology. After completing her honours degree, she plans to do her master's degree so that she can become a professional psychologist. In 2019, after her matric year, she took a gap year, during which she started a homework study group initiative where she taught and mentored children, helping them with their homework and other school related activities.

Rosely is enthusiastic, caring, open-minded and passionate about helping other people. She believes that people should not wait and rely on the government to improve economic growth and social development. She also believes that education is the key to growth in African countries so every child including those from disadvantaged homes should have the opportunity to go to school. She plans on starting an initiative which helps underprivileged children with school-related costs, and which donates free sanitary pads to girls who cannot afford them so that they do not need to be absent from school during menstruation. Rosely hopes to start her own psychological practice where learners can access psychological services for free as she believes that mental health is very important at every stage of life.

Likhona Qazisa is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an MPhil in development studies. She holds an honours degree in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Politics and Governance, and Industrial Sociology. She is knowledgeable in quantitative and qualitative research. Her research interests include education, language preservation, and sustainable development.

She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. She is committed to service, and as such, she worked at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic as an administrator at a COVID testing centre. She assists in 100UP programmes and mentors high school learners. Likhona has served as a peer educator with the Office of Inclusivity and Change, as well as a humanities faculty mentor, and a residence tutor.

Mbali Sbahle Gumede is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in environmental law. She is passionate about the protection of the environment, running campaigns, lobbying and helping to raise awareness of society’s impact on the environment, with particular reference to the issues of climate change, pollution, and the preservation of marine life. Her vision includes working with national, provincial and local authorities in an advisory function, devising up-to-date systems to assist the South African government in meeting its obligations in terms of international laws, especially the 30% protected areas by the 2030 goal.

Mbali is an active member of the Green Campus Initiative, an organisation within UCT, which works to make the university an environmentally friendly institution. Mbali also served as a mentor for young girls/women in her township, providing academic and personal guidance as they commence higher education. During secondary school, she served as a captain for the King Shaka High School Athletics Club.

Siphamandla Ngwenya is pursuing his master’s degree in clinical sciences and immunology. He holds an undergraduate medical sciences degree in anatomy (cum laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He enjoys giving back to his community by tutoring high school pupils in mathematics and life sciences.

He strives to inspire and empower pupils with knowledge in medicine and medical sciences and inform them of opportunities available to them. He believes that igniting curiosity helps pupils build their understanding of the world and reach their full potential. His long-term goal is to inspire more people to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

LLM specialising in commercial law. She possesses numerous interests outside her studies, such as a love for community work, networking and student leadership. She holds an LLB from the University of Limpopo where she served as the deputy secretary general of the Student Representative Council.

She is passionate about empowering and uplifting members of rural communities through education. In the past years, she assisted matriculants with online university applications and has given motivational talks at high schools. At the University of Limpopo, she was an academic mentor under the Centre for Academic Excellence, helping first-year students transition from learner to student.

Luzuko Dazela is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in law, specifically in mineral and petroleum extraction and use. He boasts analytical skills, communication and people skills, professionalism, an ability to prioritise workload and multitask effectively. He holds a deep-burning passion for social and environmental justice. His wishes to contribute to the development of his home province, the Eastern Cape, and educate South Africans in socio-legal and socio-economic issues insofar as they relate to mining and the environment.

Luzuko is involved with the Siyakhathala Charity Organisation as they fight for social justice. He has steadily growing work experience, including working at the University of Fort Hare’s Teaching and Learning Centre for two years and also as a Legal and Governance Intern at the same institution in 2022.

Zandile Dywati is a postgraduate student, currently pursuing a master’s degree in African Feminist Studies, specialising in gender and transformation. Guided by her Christian faith, values, and principles, she pursues a life devoted in the active demonstration of love. She has served her community as a volunteer with the Green Team initiative, Equal Education, and Shawco.

She has also taken up the role of leadership and served as secretary general of the Extended Degree Student Council and a facilitator and agent of change for the Office of Inclusivity at UCT. As a student she has always taken pleasure in academic satisfaction, which has resulted in several notable achievements, such as the Dean’s Merit List and membership of the Golden Key Society with merit.

Same Malatji is a postgraduate scholar from Limpopo in South Africa, pursuing a master's degree in chemical engineering. He is skilled in teamwork and the use of development models to fix some of today's pressing problems like climate change and the fuel crisis. His aim is to see black excellence in academia.

Same is a strong believer in giving back. Leadership is something that he is also passionate about. Throughout his undergraduate studies at UCT, he has served as an EBE faculty mentor and orientation leader for first-year students, as well as a mentor and head student in his residence.

Xabiso Gift Mpiko is pursuing a master's degree in law, specialising in mineral and petroleum extraction and use. He holds an undergraduate degree in law (LLB) from the University of Fort Hare. Through his studies he seeks to find means and ways in which the law can be utilised for the betterment and amelioration of the poor from their various difficult living conditions. Having a personal experience of what it is like to live in difficult circumstances, he seeks to change the status quo for others and himself through the usage of the acquired knowledge during the course of his studies.

He has been a tutor for two years at the University of Fort Hare and currently he is a member of a non-profit organisation in Mbaxa village in the Eastern Cape which serves high schools through mentorships, career guidance and tutorship in various subjects.

Kabeli Mohapi is currently pursuing a master’s degree in chemical engineering. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Stellenbosch University in 2020 and is passionate about using green engineering technologies to promote sustainable development. During his internship with the Lesotho Department of Water Affairs, Kabeli gained hands-on experience and witnessed first-hand the negative impact that a lack of eco-friendly measures can have on water quality. He also worked with the Integrated Catchment Management through the Lesotho Department of Water Affairs, where he taught the rural community about sustainable water resources management to ensure adequate potable water availability.

He intends to use his degree to develop sustainable, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient alternatives in mineral processing technologies to address water and energy crises in Lesotho. As a member of the UCT Green Campus Initiative, he is involved in raising environmental awareness in the UCT community and surrounding areas.

Luxolo Tomsana is pursuing his master’s degree in international trade law at the university of Cape Town. He recently graduated from the university of Fort Hare with a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB). He believes in fighting for what you desire and justice. He is a full-time student, motivated by a love for learning and his ambition to become an agent of change. He has participated in several domestic and international prestigious moot court competitions, with excellency.

In June 2022, he was selected for his exceptional leadership qualities and community service by the Abe Bailey Trust for the travelling award bursary to represent the university of Fort Hare on an educational tour in the United Kingdom, at Goodenough college for a period of four months.         

Thabitha Malekana is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a qualification in criminal justice social work. She is a qualified and skilled social worker and has experience working in a non-profit organisation (NGO) such as SHAWCO Education and as a school counsellor. She is passionate about giving back, dedicated to doing volunteer work.

Her vision is to start an NGO to provide psycho-social support to young people and their families to remove the stigma around mental health. In addition, Thabitha is a mentor at SHAWCO's Violence Prevention Programme and an Agent of Change with the Office of Inclusivity and Change at UCT. As an Agent of Change, she educates and facilitates conversations on sexual assault, harassment, rape, and rape culture, as well as connecting students to available resources. She has served as a project coordinator at SHAWCO and a mentor at her residence.

Luyanda Hlongwa is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s in medicine, specialising in clinical sciences and immunology. He holds an honours degree in infectious disease and immunology and a Bachelor of Medical Science: Physiology (Summa Cum Laude).

He is innovative and a developing leader. He served as vice-chairperson of the Methodist student Society (MethSSoc) at the university of KwaZulu-Natal, and currently he is the deputy head of the human biology department of the African Research Society (ARS) at the University of Cape Town. ARS is a student-led organisation that aims to bridge the gap between students and the world of research. He is an aspiring medical scientist with a special interest in Africa-centric research and affordable diagnostics for Africa. He independently helps high school learners to apply to institutions of higher learning in his spare time as a means of giving back to his community.

Solomon Prince Thobane is pursuing a master’s in tax law at the University of Cape Town. He is interested in integrating the e-Market into South African tax law. He has excellent problem-solving skills and a talent for collaboration, which makes it easy for him to communicate and work efficiently with other people. Prince is passionate about equality and wants young people to be given equal opportunities to reach their dreams.

His vision is to establish a computer-related learning centre in Mmabatho, to teach and equip young people, from as early as their primary school years, with the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare them for their adult life in this digital era. His goal is to expand his learning centre across South Africa, to reach out to other young people from remote areas and offer them the same opportunity as young people from his hometown in Mmabatho.

Daphne Randall is pursuing her masters at the University of Cape Town. She is a dynamic leader who has demonstrated a passion for bringing positive change to communities through placemaking and community development. As the main coordinator for Placemaking Week Nairobi 2022, she trained thousands of young people on placemaking and climate action and oversaw several high-impact projects that brought about the successful transformation of public spaces throughout Nairobi city.

Daphne has also volunteered her time and skills to support causes that she is passionate about, such as sexual and reproductive health education in rural Kenyan communities. Her leadership philosophy is focused on creating a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. She believes that every voice should be heard, and she works hard to ensure that everyone on her team feels valued and respected.  Her dedication to empowering others and driving positive change has made a lasting impact on the organisations and communities she has served.

Ayabonga Yekani completed his Bachelor of Laws degree in 2022 from the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and he is currently pursuing a master’s in constitutional and administrative law at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 2021, he served as a tutor for criminal law at UFH. He believes in giving back to the community and in helping those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Currently, he is volunteering at the Refugee Rights Unit at UCT. Upon completion of his studies, he aspires to become a legal practitioner advocating for social justice and human rights.

Andisiwe Gojela is a postgraduate student pursuing a master’s degree in criminology, law and society. One of her biggest strengths is her ability to be empathetic and relate to people. She is passionate about using all these skills and education she has acquired to redress issues in her community and many marginalised communities across South Africa. In 2019, she served as a mentor to first-year students in her residence.

Bareng-Refiloe Patricia Thebe is studying towards a master’s degree in law with a specialisation in commercial law. She completed her undergraduate degree and graduated first class with sixteen distinctions in 2021 and went on to work on a local radio station as a radio broadcaster on a voluntary basis in 2022.

Bareng-Refiloe has always been an active individual and during her schooling she was a member of various peer organisations such as Soul Buddyz and Radically Different Species (RADS). With her masters, she hopes to share her knowledge through an afterschool programme that she aspires to establish that will cater for both learners and adults at no cost. She also aspires to being a financial donor to support new business ideas of upcoming entrepreneurs, especially women, the poor, uneducated and marginalised, so as to create a chain of employers and creators of job opportunities.

Isaac Kirika is a driven and accomplished civil engineer currently pursuing a master's in civil engineering with a specialisation in geotechnical engineering. He is a registered graduate engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering Honours degree from the Technical University of Kenya. Kirika is also a graduate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.

With three years of experience as an assistant project engineer, Kirika has worked on over 25 projects, showcasing his dedication and expertise in the field. His passion for infrastructural projects that positively impact the lives and livelihoods of the community is evident in his work. Kirika is excited about the possibilities that the fourth industrial revolution presents and is committed to providing modern-day solutions for sustainable development. As a mentoring enthusiast, he loves to see the youth unlock their full potential through creativity and career development.

Siyabulela Ntuntwana is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master's in urban design. Siya has already made an impact in integrating design with social justice advocacy and activism. His passion for design, combined with his drive to create a positive impact, led him to work on various projects focused on human-centred design for maternal care in Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Beyond his studies, Siya is a part-time cricket coach, using his love for sports to improve recreational spaces and sports facilities within townships and rural communities. With his dedication to design and activism, Siya is poised to make a significant impact in the world of design and beyond.

Siya has made several contributions to the university. In 2018, he was selected for the South African university reserve squad. In 2021, he was elected as the UCT Cricket Club chairperson, served on the student parliament, acted as sub-warden of the oldest residence on campus, and volunteered in fighting the fires that damaged the campus in 2021.

Rutendo Faith Gavaza is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s in commercial law. She graduated from the University of Fort Hare with a Bachelor of Laws Degree and worked as a Criminal Law tutor in 2021.

Rutendo is driven by her passion to integrate legal services with the pursuit of economic independence. She is passionate about giving back to others and community engagement. In 2021, Rutendo did voluntary work as a candidate attorney at Chinamasa Attorneys law firm. She assisted in offering legal advice to the community, drafting court documents and legal research. She hopes to become a legal practitioner and someday open a legal practice in her community.

Rutendo is active in outreach activities such as Kusimudzirana Girls association aimed at helping female children in their daily challenges, such as promoting good menstrual hygiene. She also mentors high school girls and tutors history and divinity in her village in Zimbabwe. Rutendo has held several leadership positions: she was a leader of pathfinders at her home church (Seventh day Adventist Church) and she was also a co-leader of Kusimudzirana Girls Association.

Gugu Maziba is a postgraduate scholar who is pursuing her master's degree in Linguistics from UCT. She has a passion for language learning and synthesis. She is a natural leader who is skilled in problem solving and communication skills.

She has worked with outreach programmes in early childhood development centres and in orphanages. Her vision is to return to her community and empower the youth to advance their educational prospects, actively engaging in development for the transition from high school to tertiary education.

Luthando Petros is a postgraduate scholar at the University of Cape Town, currently pursuing a master's degree in tax law. With a passion for free-market capitalism and liberalism, his research focuses on the impact of tax policy on small businesses and tax policy abuses by the government. Raised in a town with high unemployment, he has seen first-hand the devastating effects of poor economic policies on local entrepreneurs.

In 2019, Luthando co-founded Blackbone, a social project aimed at empowering young black boys. Through motivational talks that encourage self-confidence and reinforce their sense of importance within society, Blackbone identifies and nurtures the talents of bright young boys, providing them with a pathway towards success. The project has been successful in empowering black boys to pursue their goals.

In 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he founded Lawptimum. A platform that helps small law firms to develop a robust online presence, expanding their digital footprint and attracting new clients. His entrepreneurship has proven to be a valuable resource for small law firms facing unprecedented challenges.

Beyond his academic pursuits and entrepreneurial initiatives, he is an active member of several societies. He participates in the UCT Golden Futures project, the Free society institute, and the Entrepreneurship Society. Through his advocacy for free-market capitalism and liberalism, he is committed to making a positive impact on his community.

Nonkululeko Matiwane is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy. She is skilled in communication and is detail oriented. She is passionate about education, youth employment and giving back to her community by assisting students and young people to apply for university placement, bursaries and internships.

Her vision is to contribute to the development of her community in rural Eastern Cape and give a hand to ensure that everyone has access to better opportunities. In addition, Nonkululeko is an active member in her community. She participated in a campaign for fundraising toiletries, uniforms and school shoes for underprivileged households and annually visits her high school to assist high school students map their career paths.

Athini Mabandla is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master's degree in gender and transformation. She believes in empowering young people through mentorship because she benefited a lot from it herself. She takes pride in helping young people in her community with advice pertaining to education. She loves reading books and is keenly interested in reproductive health care of young girls in marginalised areas.

Amandla Mvimbi is a master's student studying electrical engineering. Control systems and instrumentation engineering are the focus of his research. Amandla is passionate about transformative leadership and has a strong commitment to the community. Some of the initiatives he has been involved in include, but are not limited to, establishing a mentorship programme for grade 11 and 12 students from two local schools in his hometown to assist them in making the transition to tertiary education.

Amandla is also a member of Maghope Charity, a youth-led organisation that raises funds and acquires basic necessities for orphaned and disadvantaged children. He volunteered at the St Bernadette Centre for the Blind, where he did laundry and entertained the residents. He worked as a mentor at UCT in the Kopano, LeSA, and EBE residences. He hopes to make a positive impact on the engineering industry in Lesotho and the rest of Africa.

Amanda Mathe is pursuing a master’s in biomedical engineering. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2022 with an honour’s degree in chemical engineering. Given her passion for medicine and medical devices, she has ventured into research involving the design of prosthetics and medical devices to aid the health sector. This has enabled her to create a start-up company that merges medicine and engineering. Her vision is to contribute to the development of her country Zimbabwe and Africa’s health sector at large.

Amanda believes in giving back to the community. She was involved with an organisation that helps children with disabilities learn how to ride horses. During her university career she has served in several leadership positions servicing the student population such as head mentor, deputy head student, tutor and sub-warden for different UCT residences.

Margret Balekire Chavula is pursuing a master’s in philosophy specialising in development studies. She has also been trained in community development using the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach and Human-Centred Design (HCD). In 2020, she served as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, facilitating community development in Tchaidoni/Miliyoni Villages in Balaka, Malawi. As a Volunteer and a community development facilitator, she taught community members sustainable development capitalising on locally available resources.

She is passionate about social development which shifts from merely concentrating on a country’s economic growth, to development that ensures an improved well-being for every individual in society. She is currently a Baobab Ambassador for UCT Mastercard Scholars, a platform aimed at connecting Mastercard Scholars from different universities.

Palesa Molopyane is pursuing a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Cape Town. Using her education as a leverage, she anticipates contributing to the economic growth and social development of South Africa and Africa by being a built-environment professional who is committed to using architectural skills and knowledge acquired to design healthcare infrastructure that assists patients in dignified ways, bearing the harsh realities of the patient in mind. She is passionate about participating in work that builds towards a sustainable, equitable and healthy future for Africa.

Law Mugadhuyi is a public health master's student at the University of Cape Town specialising in social and behavioural science. Law obtained a bachelor's degree in social work and three years of fieldwork experience as a student social worker. Law's thirst for knowledge and faith in education as a foundation for success drive him to continue his studies. Law became interested in understanding how diseases and health influence the daily lifestyles of individuals, families, and communities during his career as a student social worker. He learned to use theories, models, and evidence-based interventions to analyse, assess, and address social problems and mitigate their severe impact on human well-being.

In 2022, Law received an undergraduate academic excellence award from the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship programme at UCT. Law has been involved in programmes that aim to give back to communities and has held several leadership positions such as Project Coordinator and Safety, Health, and Environment Coordinator to mention but just a few. By participating in mentoring and tutoring programs, Law has gained academic and general knowledge. Law enjoys meeting and conversing with people from different backgrounds and hearing new perspectives.

Nelisa Prusent is pursuing a master’s degree in commercial law. She is passionate about giving back to the community and has already done much for social improvement as a volunteer, author of projects and an active member of non-governmental organisations such as Keeping A Girl Child in School. She has overseen the development of programmes to support young women as well as to raise awareness and take action to end social exclusions and injustices.

As a student, she gained vast experience by being an activist with several organisations which led her to understanding key security issues and other challenges. This fired up her passion to continuously work with humanitarian programmes for the betterment of vulnerable and marginalised individuals.

During her undergraduate studies, she served as a tutor, supplemental instruction leader, and as the South African Women Lawyer’s Association Student Chapter Convenor. The values she has learnt as a leader so far have improved her problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Thabile Manzi is a professional social worker and postgraduate student, doing a master’s in criminal justice social work.  Passionate, driven and dedicated to being an agent of change, Thabile is intent on helping community development and education. As an intern social worker working at a local police station, Thabile realised there is a gap in cases that need forensic interviews especially with children who are vulnerable and can't stand up for themselves.

Adeleye Yahya Ogunlade is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master's degree in biological sciences. He has strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. He is committed to giving back to his community by establishing learning and literacy programmes in his hometown. His vision is to contribute his fair share to the development of his community in Nigeria by assisting in ensuring that everyone in Africa has access to an education.

Adeleye is involved in community development activities in Nigeria. He was one of the elected leaders of the Environmental Community Development Service Group in 2020, and he was instrumental in the execution of many environmental sanitisation projects that ensured a clean and safe environment in his community. He also used to organise tutorials for high school students and is still a mentor to many students in his Nigerian community.

Sinelizwi Malindi is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s in engineering, specialising in geomatics. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2022 and graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc in geomatics. She prides herself in guiding those that come after her to achieve their goals. Her vision is to contribute to the development of the city of Cape Town by devising efficient and long-term solutions.

In 2019 and 2021 she served as a residence mentor where she assisted first-year students navigate their way around campus. In 2022, she served as an academic mentor for first-year students and was a student front desk assistant at the Forest Hill residence. She was and is an active member of UCT’s women's rugby, acting on the players’ committee.

Emmanuel Matei Ndithya is pursuing a master’s degree in water engineering, specialising in water quality engineering at the University of Cape Town. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Pretoria. Emmanuel has gained notable leadership and mentorship experience throughout his studies. He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers (SAICE) – Water Division, where he volunteered his time to conduct interdisciplinary research and raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable practices. Emmanuel has focused his research on the effects of pollution on the water ecosystem specifically looking at a comprehensive network of infrastructure and practices designed to control, distribute, and conserve water resources for purposes of drinking water supply and irrigation.

He is energetic, reliable, and passionate about sustainable development. His goal is to contribute to the efficient and sustainable use of water resources while protecting public health and the environment.

Opeyemi Samuel Oyesanya is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition. He founded a group, Heart of Nutrition Foundation (HNF), in 2018 with the sole mission of providing unparalleled nutrition services and education to every home in his community in Nigeria.

In addition, his passion for providing help to those in need in his community keeps him motivated and excited. He served as general secretary of the NGO People to People Movement in 2017. The mission is to reach out to people by providing palliative aid and sensitisation of community members about the importance of adequate nutrition in order to reduce the prevalence of diet-related disease conditions and malnutrition incidence, offering free nutrition consultation and nutritional health talks.

Benathi Phalezweni is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in social development. Her interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities make her an asset in any environment. She is intentional about giving back to her community by facilitating platforms where young people can engage with one another about ways in which a better South Africa can be built. Her vision is to contribute to the upliftment of young women in South Africa, by lending a hand towards ensuring that every young woman sees themselves progress beyond society defined gender normalities.

In addition, Benathi is active in other outreach activities at the University of Cape Town, including being a humanities student mentor in 2018, serving as the Transformation and Community Outreach officer, for the Humanities Student Council, from 2019-2020 whilst simultaneously fulfilling her duties as treasurer for the South African Student Congress. Benathi believes in being an active participant within any community she becomes a part of. Her ultimate goal is to bring about change by becoming an agent of change.

Siphosethu Nguta is a postgraduate student at UCT currently pursuing a master's degree in social development. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor's degree and an honours degree, placing her on the dean’s list. Siphosethu is currently a humanities student mentor and a tutor in the Anthropology department.

She has a passion for academics and ensuring the success of students' academic journeys. She thinks that everyone can have find success if they work together and support one another. She is committed to taking part in community service projects. In her free time, Siphosethu enjoys reading, writing, and going on hikes.

Katleho Motaung is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master's degree in criminology, law, and society. He is a passionate advocate of change in respect of social ills, particularly crime, substance abuse, gender-based violence and femicide, gangs, cybercrime, cyber victimisation, etc.

He aims to make his advocacy for change meaningful and effective through his future company:  Everything Crime Pty Ltd, a multidimensional crime intelligence company comprising of various service units that aims to promote law and order in his community and beyond. This will include young scholars actively engaged in research to keep up with current trends in crime, amendments in law as well as strategic measures that will help in the promotion of law and order.

Additionally, he aims to be the voice of the voiceless victims of crime who often feel side-lined and failed by the justice system by providing necessary support for such victims.

Babajide Bankole graduated with a degree in forestry and wildlife management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in Nigeria. His love for wildlife and conservation inspired him to pursue a career in this field, and he has made noteworthy contributions to conservation efforts in Nigeria through various research projects and sensitisation initiatives.

As a MasterCard scholar, he is currently pursuing a master's degree in marine microbial ecology at the University of Cape Town. Babajide's decision to study this stems from his desire to broaden his knowledge and expertise in conservation biology, with a particular focus on marine ecosystems. He aspires to establish a conservation organisation dedicated to marine conservation and research in Africa. With his knowledge and expertise, he plans to develop innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing marine ecosystems, such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

Sunday Oluwaseyi George is a highly motivated and dynamic postgraduate scholar, currently pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a specialisation in computational biomechanics. He is dedicated to creating models that can revolutionise patient healthcare, and his enthusiasm for education is evident in his efforts to assist young people in his community.

Aside from his studies, Sunday is deeply committed to improving educational opportunities for young people. He has taken a leadership role in various literacy programmes, serving as a mentor and tutor to high school students, and organising community-wide initiatives to enhance educational access and equity. His leadership, mentoring, and role modelling skills make him stand out as a unique individual with a passion for creating a better future. He aspires to become a teacher, industrial consultant, and researcher, leading his lab to engineer new medical technologies that can solve global health concerns, particularly in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Thobekile is a postgraduate scholar pursuing a master’s degree in astronomy. She is the founder of an applied physics and astronomy club in Zimbabwe that participates in citizen scientist Asteroid Search Campaigns. She hopes to use this club to help other students, especially the girl child, develop an interest in STEM, and use this club to mentor those interested in the field by introducing them to the relevant software used so that they can get a head start in their future careers.

Her vision is to play an active role in the development of her community in Zimbabwe and Africa in general, by ensuring that everyone has access to basic needs, and education. She is passionate about giving back to her community. She has led and participated in outreach activities in her community both in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Some of her significant community contributions include club donations to orphanages, and volunteer work at a children’s rehabilitation centre.

Tapiwa Ntwere is a medical doctor who is passionate about the promotion of community health in Malawi and sub-Saharan Africa through research into improved access and utilisation of health care services.

She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public health where she is sub-specialising in health systems and policy. Her diverse expertise includes managing and coordinating large-scale public health programmes, including under-five immunisation programmes. In addition, she has experience working with global health organizations such as UNICEF and GAVI in designing, implementing, and evaluating health programmes in Malawi. Tapiwa has also been involved in several interventions to improve breastfeeding support for mothers in Malawi. She has trained health workers to provide breastfeeding support, as well as advocating for better access to breastfeeding supplies and support in remote villages.      

Abayomi Yinka Omotayo graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife management. This has spurred his interest in how climate affects biological entities as well as how the effects of climate change can be mitigated. Over the years, he has carried out a series of tree planting and climate change awareness campaigns in climate-impacted communities. In 2020, he organised reforestation activities with a view to combating climate change in an impacted community in Northern Nigeria.

His future goals revolve around contributing to climate mitigation through research and community sensitisation, whereby community dwellers are aware of the processes leading to climate change and are able to serve as a tool for safeguarding their environment.

Grace Ndhlovu is pursuing her master’s degree in public health, specialising in epidemiology and biostatistics. She obtained her Bsc(Hons) in pharmacy at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi. She is skilled in learning new things, communication and logical thinking. She is passionate about public health promotion through research, disease surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, pharmacovigilance, and education. Her career goal is to be involved in conducting research that will provide evidence-based solutions and strategies to the recurrent epidemics and pandemics affecting her country and Africa.

She joined her country’s public health service in 2019 as a hospital pharmacist and focused mainly on championing for the rational use of antimicrobials. She is an enthusiastic member of the antimicrobial stewardship committee at her hospital and helped to organise the first ever big walk for antimicrobial resistance awareness during the world AMR week in her city in 2021, among other antimicrobial stewardship activities. She was a central data collector for the World Health Organization’s point prevalence survey on antibiotic use in Malawi. She served as the pharmacovigilance coordinator for her hospital and provided preceptorship to pharmacist interns.

Sidney Muchemwa is a talented youth researcher pursuing his master’s degree in occupational therapy within the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at UCT. He is driven by the need to help people of all ages develop the pre-requisite mental skills for success in everyday life where they live, learn, work and play: This speaks to his core as an occupational therapist.

He is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe with an undergraduate degree in occupational therapy. Upon completing his first degree, Sidney served as a youth co-researcher at the Friendship Bench before his appointment as a senior research assistant. He is passionate about implementing solutions for communities in Zimbabwe, particularly in evaluating HIV/AIDS and mental health services in low-resource settings. Sidney strongly believes that through rigorous research, evidence-based care can improve access to effective HIV and mental health services, particularly for the marginalised.

Outside health research, Sidney created an initiative, OTmosphere 2022, that raised awareness among occupational therapy students and practitioners in Zimbabwe on the negative impacts of climate change on human health and well-being. As a result, Sidney has been invited to share insights on his impactful work towards a healthier climate at various high-panel discussions including those at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Hertfordshire and the University of South California, among other forums. He enjoys reading African literature, watching football, and engaging in volunteerism

Queen Marvelous Marekerah is a postgraduate student pursuing a master’s in epidemiology and biostatistics. She has a passion for research aimed at community development. She is passionate to give back to her community by participating in research programmes conducted in the health field and other areas in order to improve the standard of living.

Queen has participated in several notable programmes in Zimbabwe. From 2018 to 2022, she was a project officer who supervised community-based research in the health field. She is the chairperson of a community women’s group that focuses on marginalised women and children and formed due to the increase in the death rate in these groups. The purpose of the group is to address issues of vulnerability of women and children to diseases, abuse and violence. Queen also participated in drug abuse awareness outreach programmes that were conducted through sporting activities in her community. The programme also aimed at rehabilitating kids involved in drug abuse.

Deno Oliver is a postgraduate scholar pursing a master's degree in historical studies. By pursing a degree in historical studies and with a particular interest in museums and heritage; his vision is to challenge set boundaries on heritage representation at museums, where the focus remains 'Eurocentric' and the adoption of African heritage are quite slim. Hence, his aim is to push for an appropriate representation of South African heritage that would resemble and reignite the ever-fading image of the 'Rainbow-Nation'.

He has also been active in community projects and served as a mentor to both primary and high school children from less fortunate circumstances.  

Grace Kianira is a postgraduate scholar pursuing an honours degree in media theory and practice. She is passionate about mentorship, proper leadership accountability and community mobilisation. She often uses her time while back home to reach out to young primary school girls with mentorship programmes as well as partnering with her peers to impart skills to children in the Kibera slum, Nairobi. Her vision is to acquire enough skills to be a respectable communication strategist, especially in the development world.

Grace is passionate about working with communities and hopes to have an opportunity to give a voice to those deemed voiceless by creating avenues to express themselves or through partnerships with organisations or people that can provide these channels.