#GradstarSA2019 (Published 30 September 2019)
These incredible Future leaders of our country have been named the Top 100 University students in South Africa:
Adrianne Johnson [BTech Public Management Graduate]
Funeka Mbatha [Development Studies BA Graduate]
Lesego Nkosi [BA Student & Future Mandela Graduate]
Ntsako Mogatosi [BPsych Graduate]
Congratulations to Mandela alumnus Ntsako Mogatosi who was selected as the #TenOfTheFinest
GradStar is a programme that recognizes the Top 100 students across the country based on leadership qualities and readiness for the workplace. Over 3,500 entries and narrowed then down to the top 100, ‘then the 10 of the Finest’.
Continental research award for Mandela Uni research manager (Published 26 September 2019)
Alumnus, Imtiaz Khan (BSc ’08), Manager of Research Capacity Development at Mandela University, recently received the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) award for "Professional Excellence in Research Management" at the SARIMA annual conference held in Somerset West.
A total of 28 countries were represented at the conference of which 21 were from Africa.
The Awards were initiated in 2014 to celebrate excellence in Research and Innovation Management in Southern Africa. Whilst acknowledging the importance of R&I Management in national and regional systems of innovation, the awards encourage growth and achievement in the field of R&I Management as a key enabler of research and innovation towards the global public good.
Read full article here: MandelaNews
Three Mandela Alumni on Top 35 list (Published 26 September 2019)
Three Mandela University Alumni have been included in the prestigious South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) list of the Top 35 Under 35 Chartered Accountants in the country. These are extraordinary young businessmen and women, under the age of 35, being recognised and rewarded as trailblazers and leaders in their own right.
Every year the Top-35-Under-35 competition honours winners in various categories, The categories consider how the nominee’s CA(SA) skills are used to impact business and its development growth, how they influence society or impact other’s lives for the better, the impact they have on the business with their leadership skills and how they are changing the future of the CA(SA) with their innovative thinking. The three Mandela Alumni who qualified as CA’s at our University are as follows with a short bio from the Top35 website.
Read full article here: MandelaNews
PhD candidate to host web summit (Published 26 September 2019)
Siyabulela Mandela, Nelson Mandela University PhD candidate, will be hosting a web summit in Lisbon, Portugal between November 4 – 7. Titled – A Long Walk to Peace: Experiencing Peace Building in a Port-Conflict Society, will engage on a World Stage on matters of peace and reconciliation.
Most of civil conflicts backslide within 10 years of resolution shortening the path from conflict to peace is what the panel will be exploring.
Honours student nominated for traditional music award (Published 17 September 2019)
Honours student in Development Studies, Thembelani Sikilishe, has been selected as a finalist in the 2019 South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA). The final competition will be held at the end of this month In Mahikeng, North West.
Known as DJ Jikijwa on the airwaves, Thembelani is a Maskandi Radio presenter at Ngqushwa FM 99.50. Growing up in Willowvale in the Eastern Cape, Thembelani fell in love with Maskanda music and really enjoys presenting it on radio.
Read full article here: MandelaNews
Two East Cape innovators in line for award (Published 16 September 2019)
Two Eastern Cape entrepreneurs are shortlisted for the 2019 SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards, which will see the winner receive R1.3m on October 9. Luleko Mkuzo and Nelson Mandela University’s Prof Jean Greyling are among 17 finalists named by SAB in the run-up to the October awards event.
Prof Jean Greyling hold the following Mandela University qualifications: BSc ’86, BSc Hons ’87, MSc ’90 and PhD ’99 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Computing Sciences Department at Nelson Mandela University.
Read full article here: MandelaNews
International recognition for science student (Published 13 September 2019)
Lizalise Mngcele, BCom ’15 & BSc Hons ’16 alumnus and current masters student with AEON* at Mandela University's Faculty of Science, achieved 2nd place at the ISI & Esri Student Competition held at the International Statistical Institute World Congress in Malaysia in August.
The ISI & Esri Student Competition is an international student research competition sponsored by Esri and the International Statistical Institute (ISI). Esri is an international supplier of geographic information system software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications.
Read full article here: MandelaNews
Alumni Award recipient new head of Proteas cricket team (Published 17 August 2019)
(Published by News24.com)
Dhaka - The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Saturday named South Africa's Russell Domingo as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Englishman Steve Rhodes.
The 44-year-old has agreed to a two-year term with the BCB and is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday to take charge.
Follow the link to read full article and watch the video clip. https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/former-proteas-coach-takes-charge-of-bangladesh-20190817
Domingo holds a ND (Sports Admin and Marketing) ‘97 and received an Alumni Rising Star Award in 2014.
Postgrads in historic achievement for Mandela Uni at SAWiSA2019 (Published 18 August 2019)
#R2bP: Two Nelson Mandela University postgraduate students were among a host of women recognised as the best in the country in science, technology and innovation at the annual South African Women in Science Awards in Port Elizabeth recently.
Sociology and Psychology masters students Nobubele Phuza and Thembeka Sdinane, respectively, were awarded the DST-Albertina Sisulu Fellowship in the masters category – making history as the first Nelson Mandela University students to be recognised in the Humanities and Social Sciences categories of the distinguished awards.
Read full article here: https://news.mandela.ac.za/News/Postgrads-in-historic-achievement-for-Mandela-Uni
Congratulations to Alumnus, Khanya Mkoto, who has been selected as 1 of 28 ambassadors out of approximately 1000 from across the world for the 24th session of The Youth Assembly happening in Washington, DC & New York this August between Tuesday, 6 August to Wednesday, 14 August representing ABSA and South Africa. The Youth Assembly is an initiative by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation that aims to empower youth to become the leaders and change-makers who will strive together to create a sustainable world free of war, oppression, exclusion, and poverty.
More information on Friends Ambassabors Foundation: (https://faf.org/ambassadors-program/)
(Published 18 August 2019)
Article featured by Trace Mobile for Women’s month (published 06 August 2019)
Sam Gqomo is a BTech (Public Relations) ‘14 graduate from the Nelson Mandela University.
"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold"
To be young and talented with so much wisdom these are words Sam Gqomo lives by. As an experienced Public Relations and Communications professional, she's recently been named a Cape Town Hero by the Cape Town Local Government. Sam is the founding Director of, Womandla Foundation an NPO.
As a result of her experience and advocacy, she has been invited to the United Nations ESCAP and World Youth Forum in Egypt, under Womandla's core focus of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. #TRACEMobile #30DaysofWomen #Womandla
Lion King inclusion for Mandela alumnus (Published 06 August 2019)
Kwande Cakata, recently had the opportunity to live a musical dream when he sang bass as part of a choir on the brand new Lion King soundtrack.
Kwande, who grew up in Butterworth and lives in East London, graduated with a Diploma in Music in 2012. He has always had a passion and talent for music being part of a very musical family and singing in church.
Read full article here: https://news.mandela.ac.za/News/Lion-King-inclusion-for-Mandela-alumnus-R2bP
Alumnus listed in Mail and Guardian (Published 25 July 2019)
Chumisa Ndlazi was named Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2019 under the Science & Technology category.
Chumisa Ndlazi is the Marketing and Communications Practitioner at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and holds a BA (Media, Communication and Culture) ‘13 and was named on the list under the Science & Technology category.
“Science wasn’t always a subject that fascinated me because I didn’t understand the importance of it. However, when I joined the CSIR and started interacting with the researchers, reading and learning about the work they do and its impact, I developed a passion for science communications,” she says. “Now I’m convinced that science communicators have a huge role to play in bridging the gap between the world of science and technology and the public.”
Pioneer in the wool industry (Published 24 July 2019)
Ria Dreyer is the first woman wool appraiser in South Africa, with nine years of experience in the wool industry. Employed at BKB, South Africa’s largest wool brokering organisation, she hopes to make a unique contribution to the wool industry by completing her doctorate soon.
Born and raised in Beaufort-West, Ria recently received the Nelson Mandela University Council Award for the best Master’s in Technology by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology at the recent annual Academic Awards.
She obtained 78% for her Master’s degree in Agriculture, focusing on communal wool production.