University News

18/12/2025

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.

Mandela University student entrepreneur’s year of winning

Third-year Human Movement Science student in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University, Sandakahle Sanchez Sivungu, has just returned from Kenya, where he represented South Africa at the Latitude59 global networking event.

Sandakahle Sanchez Sivungu at the Latitude59 global networking event

The event was attended by over 4 000 international entrepreneurs and 800 investors.

His agri-tech startup, Batho Pele BioLoop Africa Farm converts food waste into organic fertiliser through a circular bio-conversion farming system.

He was one of 25 participants selected to participate in the Latitude59 from the global Challenger Digital & Green Accelerator Programme.

This programme is aimed at accelerating innovative African startups and is supported by a number of European countries and the European Commission.

This is in partnership with startup accelerators: the Estonia-based CIVITTA and Startup Wise Guys, mLab South Africa,and GrowthAfrica Kenya.

Madibaz golfer birdies his way to USSA crown

Madibaz standout Zane Griesel sealed his maiden University Sports South Africa individual stroke play title in style when he rolled in a birdie on the 18th at Humewood Golf Club in Gqeberha yesterday.

Madibaz golfer Zane Griesel was crowned the individual stroke play champion in the University Sports South Africa tournament at the Humewood Golf Club in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

After a tightly-packed opening day in which five players carded four-under-par 68s, the 20-year-old pulled clear of the field with a composed second-round 70. His six-under-par total of 138 earned him a two-shot victory.

He was pushed throughout by Gilbert Chalwe of the BSI Golf Academy, whose even-par 72 left him on 140.

One stroke further back was Leonard Swart of the SA High School Golf Union, while Madibaz’s Tiaan Tibshraeny shared fourth on 142 alongside BSI’s Keegan du Plessis after rounds of 68 and 74.

Playing in only his second USSA tournament, the GQ-raised computer science student enjoyed unusually benign conditions on Monday at a venue renowned for its wind.

Mandela University Africa Hub wins inaugural EDHE Champion Award

Nelson Mandela University’s Africa Hub (MUAH) is the first-ever recipient of the EDHE Champion Award, introduced at the 7th annual Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Awards held on 26 November 2025 in Johannesburg.

MUAH team members with Mandela University's EDHE Awards - From left: Nelisiwe Sishange (SWEEP programme co-ordinator on the University’s George Campus), Zubenathi Daca, (SEED programme coordinator): Karen Snyman (specialist in student entrepreneurship) and Professor Thobekani Lose (Director: Mandela University Africa Hub – MUAH)

The EDHE was established in 2016 by the Department Higher Education and Training and has since been included in its University Capacity Development Programme to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of students, academics and leaders.

The new EDHE Champion award recognises exceptional institutional teams that have significantly contributed to the institutionalisation of entrepreneurship within South Africa’s 26 public universities, which all competed in the awards. The first runner-up was Stellenbosch University’s LaunchLab.

Director of the MUAH Professor Thobekani Lose said: “Entrepreneurship and incubation is the spark of higher education life that transforms our universities from institutions that produce graduates who are employment seekers to innovators who are job creators. We are committed to being an entrepreneurial university, championed by our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations, Luthando Jack.”

Formulation science students creating natural products and boosting entrepreneurship

From eczema cream and sunscreen to cancer-screening tablets and a herbal pesticide, the BSc Honours in Formulation Science class of 2025 has showcased impressive creativity.

Nelson Mandela University’s honours programme is known for its diverse curriculum, which includes chemistry, statistics, entrepreneurship and formulation science theory and practicals.

From left, Stefan Kruger, Siyasanga Ngcatshe, Dr Nicole Vorster, Floyd Seobela, Sifiso Maseko and Hlumelo Mji

Students first engage with the theoretical foundations before developing their own product-formulation proposals. They also complete additional modules which focus on consumer product regulations, and how to write a business plan, giving them a broad grounding in applied science, said Carlen Kruger, BSc Honours Formulation Science graduate and Formulation Chemist at InnoVenton in the Faculty of Science.

The course offered full-time and part-time, continues to grow, with more than 20 applicants accepted for next year, noted course coordinator Dr Nicole Vorster.

InnoVenton also runs regular one-day practical workshops on formulating creams and lotions, personal care products and fragrances to stimulate entrepreneurial interest.

Mandela University’s Quantity Surveying wins big at national conference

From top student to two paper awards, Nelson Mandela University’s Department of Quantity Surveying showed their excellence at the recent 15^th South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession’s International Research Conference.

BSc Hons (QS) graduate Dylan Minnaar received the ASAQS Gold Medal Award, awarded annually at a national level for outstanding academic achievement during the 2024 academic year to a BSc Honours (Quantity Surveying) graduate.

These students’ academic achievements should be of outstanding merit and their personal qualities contributing positively to the profession.

Dylan is currently working locally for an International Quantity Surveying firm, Rogerson Reddan & Associates.

The Department of Quantity Surveying also won two of the four paper awards and presented 11 papers at the conference.

Dr Johannes Sibeko to drive Digital Humanities growth as DHASA Vice-President

Dr Johannes Sibeko, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, has been elected to the executive committee of the Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa (DHASA) as Vice-President.

His election comes just weeks after Dr Sibeko was recognised as the Researcher of the Year in the Faculty of Humanities at Nelson Mandela University.

DHASA, the professional body representing Digital Humanities scholarship in the region, was established in 2016 following national discussions at DH workshops.

Its primary objectives include promoting the understanding and practice of digital humanities research, advocating for the recognition of DH outputs, and fostering cross-institutional collaboration.

The team is expected to lead preparations for the 2028 Alliance of Digital Humanities Organisations (ADHO) conference, attended by over a thousand attendees globally, jointly hosted with the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR).

Mandela University students turn art into innovation

“This recognition is not just for me – it’s for every young creative who believes that art and innovation can change the world,” says Xolile Simphiwe Ngwatyu, a Nelson Mandela University student whose cultural start-up has just won national recognition for innovation.

Xolile Simphiwe Ngwatyu represented Rhythm Syndicates at the SDSN Youth Innovation Challenge at the University of Pretoria in October

Ngwatyu and his team’s project, Rhythm Syndicate, took third place in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Innovation Challenge in October at the University of Pretoria.

The competition supports youth-led ideas advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rhythm Syndicate blends indigenous languages and digital media to promote cultural preservation, creativity and social transformation.

It is the flagship initiative of Xoul, the creative brand Ngwatyu founded to “blend art, culture and technology to empower youth, amplify African identity and promote socially impactful storytelling”.

Chemistry's Dr Adeniyi Ogunlaja selected for prestigious Fulbright Research Scholarship

Dr Adeniyi Ogunlaja, a highly accomplished researcher and senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Mandela University, is heading to the United States in January 2026 as a Fulbright Research Scholar at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

“It’s a dream of mine to be selected for such a prestigious opportunity,” says Dr Ogunlaja who received an email in August from Fulbright to let him know that he had been selected.

Thousands of researchers globally apply for this scholarship, and the success rate is around 20%. Nelson Mandela University is extremely proud of him.

“The major advantage of the scholarship is it fosters global knowledge exhange. I will be exposed to- and contribute high-level research in my field, and bring it back to Mandela University and South Africa,” says Dr Ogunlaja who will collaborate with researchers in his field of speciality in the Department of Chemistry at Wake Forest University.

Candidates are selected on the basis of ground-breaking research. In Dr Ogunlaja’s case his research is focused on technological innovation required for the critical transition to sustainable or green energy.

Madibaz Rez Book Clubs wins big at national language competition

Mandela University’s Madibaz Rez Book Clubs walked away with being the overall winner in the IsiZulu Awards category, as well as three first places and a third place, at the 15th Funda Mzantsi Championship.

The national competition, held annually in George, is hosted by the Department of Correctional Services and the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), and brings together book clubs from across the country in a celebration of literacy, language preservation, and restorative justice.

Competing in various categories, including Impromptu Book Reading, Book Review, Debate, and Spelling Bee, the Madibaz team demonstrated both excellence and diversity by participating in IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga. The team won first places in English Debate, IsiZulu Reading and IsiZulu Debate and a third place in IsiXhosa Spelling.

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Nelson Mandela University wins Sustainable Water Management & Lifetime Award

Nelson Mandela University was named the winner of the Sustainable Water Management Initiative Award at the recent HEFMA (Higher Education Facility Management Association) 2025 Annual Conference, attended by 300 delegates.

The award was celebrated by key leaders from the University’s Infrastructure and Campus Operations teams, including (from left): Dr Andre Hefer – Deputy Director: Sustainability Services, Gibson Brown – Deputy Director: Campus Operations (Missionvale, Bird Street, and Second Avenue), Graham Gouws – Deputy Director: Projects in Planning, Abulele Mbanga – Deputy Director: Infrastructure Delivery and Sharon Masiza – Senior Director: Campus Operations (Missionvale, Bird Street, and Second Avenue)

HEFMA is the flagship association for best practice in facilities and infrastructure management for higher education institutions in southern Africa.

This year’s conference was hosted by North-West University on 16 October with the theme: Innovating Campus Spaces. HEFMA membership includes the 26 public universities and 50 TVET colleges in South Africa, as well as universities in Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho.

At the same conference, Melvin Syce, Nelson Mandela University’s Senior Director: Infrastructure Services and Space Optimisation received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to best practice in facilities and infrastructure management, with 25 years of service to what is now Nelson Mandela University and HEFMA.

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Mandela University team’s children’s book explores culture and identity in the classroom

A new Afrikaans children’s book is drawing attention for its focus on identity, culture, and the power of storytelling in South African classrooms.

Selwyn Milborrow and Dr Dewald Koen

Author and Learning Development staff member Selwyn Milborrow has written Skitterdinge en Skoeloeloe, and Dr Dewald Koen, Afrikaans lecturer in the Faculty of Education, has designed the supplementary materials to making it suitable for classroom use and discussion.

Selwyn holds a Master’s degree in Afrikaans and Dutch and brings academic insight and cultural sensitivity to the narrative, whereas Dewald ensured the text becomes a rich resource for classroom activities, and personal growth.

Published by NB Publishers, the book is widely shared among educators, parents, and reading groups for its relevant and accessible approach to complex social themes.

Read more: Nelson Mandela University News