Alumni in the News

13/04/2026

The latest Nelson Mandela University information to keep you informed and up to date. This features news stories about outstanding achievements, new developments, announcements and successes at our University.

Reinforcing Nelson Mandela University’s presence in East Africa

Mandela University’s International Office recently welcomed His Excellency Professor Alex Turyatemba Bashasha, the Honorary Consul of Comoros, based in Uganda and a distinguished Mandela University PhD alumnus.

From left, Paul Geswindt (Director of Alumni Relations and Fundraising), Livingstone Bashasha Mugume (PhD Candidate), Janine Bezuidenhout (Finance Manager), Eddy Barigye (Choice Placements), Professor Alex Turyatemba Bashasha (Honorary Consul of Comoros and Mandela University PhD alumnus), Prof Judy Peter (Senior Director International Office), Dr Jack Kinobe (Chargé d’Affaires at the Consulate of the Union of Comoros), Anine Swanepoel (Public Relations, Events and International Visitors Coordinator), Adanaan Smith (Student Support Manager) and Leolyn Jackson (International Partnerships and Research Networks Manager)

Prof Bashasha was joined by Eddy Barigye of Choice Placements and Dr Jack Kinobe, Chargé d’Affaires at the Consulate of the Union of Comoros. The delegation represented Uganda.

The strategic visit aimed to reinforce the University’s presence in East Africa and enhance international partnerships through alumni diplomacy and reliable recruitment channels.

NMU student reaches Nedbank competition finals

Nelson Mandela University (NMU) postgraduate student Aphiwe Dabula has received national recognition after being selected as a finalist in the 54th Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition.

A master’s candidate in economics, Dabula stands out as the only finalist from Gqeberha, bringing distinction to both himself and the university through his insightful analysis of South Africa’s inflation-targeting framework.

A person with a goatee and a beardAI-generated content may be incorrect. Dabula holds a Diploma in Economics and an Advanced Diploma in Economics from Nelson Mandela University

Read full article: https://www.theherald.co.za/.../2026-02-03-nmu-student.../

Full article written & published by: The Herald - 03/02/2026

National teacher accolades for two Mandela University academics in the built environment

Nelson Mandela University’s Dr Jean-Pierre Basson, Head of the Department of Architecture and Quantity Surveying’s Professor Gerrit Crafford both received national teacher accolades towards the end of 2025.

Dr Jean-Pierre Basson and Professor Gerrit Crafford

Dr Basson was selected as one of four winners in the Experienced Teacher category of the National University Teaching Awards (NUTA), whereas Prof Crafford was one of two recipients of Commendation in the same category.

A total of 50 portfolios were received from 20 universities and the main categories were Beginner Teacher, Experienced Teacher and Teaching Collaboration Teams.

The National University Teaching Awards (NUTA) serve as one of South Africa’s premier recognition programmes for teaching and learning.

Coordinated by South African University Teachers (SAUT) alongside national stakeholders, the initiative identifies a distinguished group of academics who drive innovation and leadership within public universities.

NMU alumnus among SA’s top 10 most employable students

Nelson Mandela University alumnus Anamandla Zweni has been named among South Africa’s Top 10 most employable students in the prestigious GradStar Awards, recognised for excellence in leadership, adaptability and problem-solving.

Zweni holds a Diploma in Information Technology (Software Dev) from Nelson Mandela University.

Read full article: https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-01-27-nmu-alumnus-among-sas-top-10-most-employable-students/

Full article written & published by: The Herald - 27/01/2026

Professor Lynn Futcher honoured with IITPSA Fellowship Award

A person in a black dressAI-generated content may be incorrect. Mandela University Professor in Information Management and Governance Lynn Futcher has recently been honoured with the IITPSA Fellowship Award recognising her outstanding contribution to the ICT profession in South Africa over decades.

Prof Futcher is a C1-rated National Research Foundation scholar and distinguished academic leader and heads the Department of Information Management and Governance in the School of Information Technology.

She is widely recognised for her work in cybersecurity education, secure software development and the human dimensions of cybersecurity.

Prof Futcher’s has also been a professional member of IITPSA (The Institute of IT Professionals South Africa) for more than a decade, and served as the Eastern Cape Chapter Chair, Non-Executive Director on the IITPSA Board, and an active participant in the Women in IT Chapter.

Mandela University PhD student awarded international fellowship for palaeoscience research

A person sitting on the groundAI-generated content may be incorrect. Nelson Mandela University PhD student in Botany and Palaeoecology Marishka Guscott (born Govender) has been awarded a highly competitive International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) Fellowship.

The INQUA Fellowship is awarded to outstanding early-career scientists whose research advances understanding of current environments and human–environment interactions.

Marishka received the fellowship for her research project on the environmental drivers of human innovation in arid southern Africa during the Late Pleistocene (the period of 80 000 to 92 000 years ago), contributing to environmental sustainability.

This period captures an important phase of human occupation and innovation at the archaeological site, Varsche Rivier 003 in southern Namaqualand, the site on which Marishka’s doctoral research is based.

During this time, early humans developed new technologies and behaviours in response to changing rainfall patterns and environmental conditions in arid southern Africa, Marishka says.

Mandela University alumnus among the Top 10 in the GradStar awards

A person and person holding a trophyAI-generated content may be incorrect.

Nelson Mandela University alumnus Anamandla Zweni was selected as one of the Top 10 recipients of the GradStar Awards in December 2025.

Mandela University LLB student Inathi Memka was also named among the Top 100 students.

The GradStar programme recognises South Africa’s most employable students based on leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

More than 7 000 students from 25 South African universities entered the awards and were narrowed from the Top 500 to the Top 100, and finally to the Top 10.

Anamandla completed a Diploma in IT (Software Development) at Mandela University in 2024.

He will also be graduating cum laude with a BTech/Advanced Diploma in ICT (Applications Development) from CPUT in April this year, and is currently studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in ICT (Artificial Intelligence & Data Science) at CPUT.

South African learn-to-code programme gets global recognition

A South African-developed coding programme called Tangible that teaches problem-solving through simple, fun games, and works with or without computers, has been accepted by the international UNICEF-led Learning Cabinet.

This places it alongside a small group of international education tools that have been independently assessed for safety and scalability for real learning impact.

Tangible was developed by the Department of Computing Sciences in the Faculty of Science at Nelson Mandela University and is being implemented globally by the not-for-profit Leva Foundation. https://tangible.levafoundation.org/

In the most popular Tangible game called Rangers, which is suitable for all learners from eight years upwards, the aim is to guide your ranger though an obstacle course to catch the rhino poachers. Each level presents a new challenge. At the same it teaches learners about the need for rhino conservation.

Another game called Juicy Gems, for Foundation Phase learners (five to nine years), has a farming theme. Two other games for eight years upwards are Speed Stars - a Formula 1 racing game - and Code Cup - a soccer game.

A collage of two people

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Tangible coding at Salt River High, Cape Town and Professor Jean Greyling engaging Asanga Busi - a visually-impaired learner in Gqeberha in a Tangeble coding game.

“Tangible’s selection by the Learning Cabinet followed a rigorous evaluation process that included academic impact studies,” says Professor Jean Greyling, Head of the Department of Computing Sciences at Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha who has coordinated the Tangible coding project since inception.