Faith Dowelani has graduated with a doctorate specialising in Quantity Surveying from the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT), combining her expertise in quantity surveying with machine learning to address one of the construction industry’s persistent challenges: inaccurate cost estimates at the early stages of building projects.

Dowelani’s PhD, completed in UP’s Department of Construction Economics, placed her among the University’s latest cohort of doctoral graduates who received their qualifications during the spring graduations, held from 31 August to 4 September 2026 on Hatfield Campus. Her research investigated whether supervised machine learning could improve the accuracy of cost estimates when limited project information was available.

Her study, titled ‘Supervised machine learning prediction models for early-stage cost estimation of building projects’, used historical data from 68 retail and office projects completed in Gauteng between 2013 and 2024. She developed and tested three prediction models to determine which could most accurately forecast the total capital investment required for a building project.

“At the conceptual stage of a project, detailed building drawings and specifications do not exist yet,” Dowelani explained. “Quantity surveyors have to produce cost estimates based on limited information, which is incredibly difficult and often leads to inaccurate estimates.”

Her models examined five key variables: the cost of the land, estimated construction or improvement costs, general development costs, financing costs and the type of building being constructed. She compared these supervised machine learning techniques: multiple linear regression, decision trees and artificial neural networks.

Dowelani found that machine learning could produce highly accurate early-stage cost estimates, even using a relatively small historical dataset. Multiple linear regression performed best, achieving a mean absolute percentage error of 3.52%, followed by the artificial neural network at 4.74%. The decision tree recorded an error of 22.64%.

One finding that surprised Dowelani was that the simpler multiple linear regression model outperformed the more complex artificial neural network.

“There is often an assumption that more advanced or complicated artificial intelligence models would automatically provide the best results,” she said. “My research showed that for this type of limited, context-specific data, a simpler model can be more accurate, practical and easier for professionals to interpret and trust.”

Dowelani said the findings showed that quantity surveying firms could begin using historical project data more systematically to improve future estimates. The models could be used as decision-support tools during the conceptual stage of a project, allowing quantity surveyors to generate an initial prediction of total capital costs before applying their professional judgement to project-specific factors.

The research journey was not without challenges. Dowelani said collecting building cost data was particularly difficult because such information is commercially sensitive. She also had to develop machine-learning skills despite coming to the PhD with a background in quantity surveying rather than computer science.

“Learning [computer programming software] Python, understanding the algorithms and modelling, and figuring out how to apply them to construction cost data required a steep learning curve,” she said.

Managing her PhD alongside other responsibilities was another challenge. Dowelani said the support of her family helped her persevere, particularly after the death of her father in 2023.

“My mother and sisters believed in me even when I doubted myself,” she said. “Their love and encouragement gave me the strength to keep pushing forward, even during the difficult moments.”

She describes the achievement as the realisation of a dream she had held since childhood, adding that her parents instilled in her the belief that education was the key to a better future.

“This achievement is not just mine as the first black South African to earn a PhD in quantity surveying at UP,” Dowelani said. “It also belongs to my mother, Alufheli, who sacrificed so much to support my education. She was the first woman to obtain a diploma in Architecture from the former Technikon Northern Transvaal, now Tshwane University of Technology; her pioneering spirit has been my greatest inspiration.”

Professionally, the PhD has positioned Dowelani to contribute to the future of quantity surveying through research, teaching, mentorship and the practical application of digital technologies in construction. Her ambition is to become the first female professor in quantity surveying at UP. She plans to continue her research, develop new models and approaches, train the next generation of quantity surveyors, work with industry partners to implement the models in practice, and contribute to discussions about technology in construction cost management.

“I hope that my journey inspires other young black women to know that they belong in academic spaces, research, leadership and professions where they may not always see themselves represented,” she said.

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Huawei South Africa completed the sixth edition of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme, giving a cohort of 50 women three days of practical exposure in AI, cloud computing, 5G-Advanced, and emerging technologies.

Held under the theme “HERabytes: Small Business. Big Intelligence,” this year’s group included women business owners and government leaders from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD). The programme focused on helping participants understand Artificial Intelligence and how it can be deployed to solve business challenges, improve productivity, and open up new opportunities.

The opening day began with an official welcome, followed by a session with Toby Shapshak from Stuff on the evolution of AI, how it is changing the way we work, and why change is unavoidable.

“We have to remember that we are the human intelligence and that AI is a parrot,” he said. “It may be impressive, game-changing technology, but we’re the reason it exists, and we’re still in the driving seat.”

Brand builder Heidi Brauer of heidibeeee&co delivered a talk on “The Gift of Gut in the Age of Data”, exploring the role of intuition alongside data in business and leadership decisions.

“What is it about a group of women in a room? There’s an energy, a sense of possibility, a feeling of being connected and powerful, quite unlike any other group,” she said. “I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the importance of balancing facts with feels, and intuition with numbers, and tackling the challenges we face bringing this balance into a data-obsessed world.”

Technology for the real world

On the second day, participants learned about 5G-Advanced, cloud, and AI, and their practical applications for SMEs. Nimrod Smit, Huawei’s Principal Marketing Manager, used examples such as journalists broadcasting from a busy stadium and businesses delivering services in real time to demonstrate 5G applications.

“When we move on to 5.5G, there’s actually new capabilities that will be unlocked withing the core and radio networks of your mobile service provider. Speeds will increase tenfold from a normal 5G network. 5.5G + AI for business will be about compressing decision-making from days to milliseconds, turning data into instant automated action, and giving your business a nervous system a nervous system that is capable of thinking and adapting in real time.”

Siphiwe Matore, Senior Technical Business Development Manager at Huawei, showed attendees how small businesses can use cloud computing to increase capacity as demand grows and scale back when it falls. She also highlighted the importance of knowing where data is stored and urged businesses to ask questions about the technology they adopt.

As she put it, “Don’t think about, ‘Let me adopt cloud.’ Think, ‘What am I trying to achieve?’”

Participants also saw how AI can take on repetitive tasks and free up valuable time, with George Okello, Principal Training Engineer at Huawei, using recruitment as just one example to show how AI could shortlist CVs against a defined set of requirements.

He said, “AI doesn’t do all the work, but it helps you do your real work faster.”

Learning to lead in an AI economy

The final day moved to Henley Business School Africa, where participants looked at what leaders can do with the technology available to them.

Framed as “Women in Technology: Cloud and AI,” the session, led by Louise Claassen, Executive Fellow at Henley Business School Africa, combined hands-on exercises with interactive discussions about leadership.

Participants were introduced to blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, geospatial mapping, satellite imagery, digital twins, extended reality (XR), and cloud.

“Businesses need to move quickly with AI while also putting the right guardrails in place to use it safely,” said Claassen. “There are two sides to this: understanding what AI can make possible, and being clear about the risks and responsibilities that come with it, because to excuse yourself from the conversation is not going to help at all.”

Government’s call

On the last day of the programme, Dineo Mmako, responsible for monitoring and evaluation at the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, delivered the closing keynote on behalf of Acting Director-General Dr Pravina Shukla-Elay, reflecting on South Africa’s “year of milestones,” with 70 years since the 1956 women’s march, 50 years since the 1976 youth uprising and 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution in 1996.

She urged participants to consider how they would use what they had learned and called on the women in attendance to think about inclusion in more practical terms.

“Digital inclusion cannot mean that everybody has a smartphone while ownership of the digital economy remains concentrated elsewhere. Participation must eventually mean ownership. It must mean intellectual property, enterprises, procurement, investment, and it must mean that women occupy the positions where decisions about technology and capital are made.”

Taking it back to the business

The programme wrapped up with a certification ceremony, where attendees received their certificates and gathered for a final networking moment. Over the three days, the sessions gave attendees a chance to put what they learned into practice and consider how they could use the technology in their own businesses.

Simmi Pillay, a participant from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, said the sessions gave her a better understanding of how AI improves data use. “It’s quite amazing, the range, scope and depth of AI and how it articulates with our daily activities. I certainly have opened up my mind to the possibilities which are extremely important in terms of improving data and how it’s used for service delivery.”

Tarien Brown of Rich Rewards, a participant in the programme, saw AI in much the same way. “AI could fundamentally change my business by helping me make more informed decisions, challenge assumptions and identify opportunities I might otherwise miss. But I don’t see it replacing human judgement. I see it strengthening it. My experience through the Huawei Women in Tech programme reinforced that the real opportunity lies in combining technology with creativity, leadership and human insight. That combination, to me, is the competitive advantage of the future.”

Zama-Africa Mkhize from House of Coco, a boutique media agency, said the training is vital for her small business. “We are integrating AI into our systems, from proposal writing right up to implementation and streamlining our production lines. I also met a lot of like-minded women here, so I’m definitely taking that from today.”

“Our goal and vision are to reduce the digital gender divide and also encourage a digital-first mindset for entrepreneurs. As we close off this year’s Women’s Month, we are excited about what the future holds,” said Vanashree Govender, Senior PR Manager for Media and Communications at Huawei.

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Coding and Robotics clubs, hands-on technology and future-focused skills are set to reach more Limpopo learners following the handover of Coding and Robotics kits to schools across all five districts of the province.

Supported by a partnership among educational institutions, government, and industry stakeholders, the initiative aims to equip Grade 8 and 9 learners with practical digital skills while preparing them for opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Schools from Capricorn, Waterberg, Vhembe, Mopani and Sekhukhune participated in the SpringBots Coding and Robotics kit handover event at Nirvana Primary School on 24 August 2026.

The initiative, aimed at expanding access to Coding and Robotics education in Limpopo, included the Limpopo Department of Education, SpringBots South Africa, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), University of Venda, the Phalaborwa Foundation and SARESA Talent Development Academy in a shared effort to strengthen STEM education and develop future-ready skills among young people.

Participating schools received Coding and Robotics kits and practical training on using the equipment. Teachers also received guidance on the rules, structure and format of the upcoming Coding and Robotics competition.

Dr Khuliso Sigama, Academic Manager at the Department of Computer Science, TUT Polokwane Campus, highlighted the importance of exposing learners to technology through practical learning opportunities. He said the initiative will equip learners with modern tools that support hands-on exploration while developing digital literacy, critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills.

“These kits represent more than just hardware; they are an investment in the next generation of engineers, coders and innovators,” he said.

The Limpopo Department of Education encourages schools to participate in Coding and Robotics activities to introduce learners to emerging technological skills and prepare them for the demands of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) and the broader STEM environment.

Schools are also encouraged to establish Coding and Robotics clubs where learners can explore technology in an informal and engaging environment while building innovation, creativity, collaboration, computational thinking and practical problem-solving skills.

TUT’s involvement reflects its commitment to strengthening relationships with schools and supporting the development of future-ready skills. The collaboration also demonstrates how partnerships between higher education institutions, government, industry and community organisations can create meaningful learning opportunities for young people.

By expanding access to practical tools, mentorship, and technology-focused learning experiences, the initiative is helping to develop a new generation of innovators equipped to engage confidently with technology and entrepreneurship to solve future challenges.

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Empiras Global unveiled AfriHack 2026, the third national innovation hackathon, run in partnership with 4OnPritchard, the Digital Skills for Jobs and Income II (DS4JI II) project, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and with UVU Africa.

AfriHack 2026 will be held in two cities: Johannesburg (4–6 September) at the CAPACITI Hub in Braamfontein, and Cape Town (18–20 September) at UVU Africa, Brickfield Canvas, in Woodstock.

The events will bring together young digital talent nominated by public and private universities, TVET colleges and digital skills programmes across South Africa, and young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), including those recruited through the DS4JI II project network.

The three-day event begins with a Corporate Day of keynote speeches, panels and an industry exhibition, paired with mock interviews where employers give direct feedback to students, providing a much-needed bridge between potential employers and youth in search of opportunities.

This is followed by a 24-hour hackathon in which teams work on a real business challenge co-designed with industry partners and supported by technical mentors. The event wraps up with presentations to an industry judging panel, an awards ceremony and a pathways session on enrolment, certification, scholarships and study-abroad opportunities.

THREE YEARS OF BUILDING A PIPELINE, NOT A COMPETITION

Since its inception, AfriHack has expanded from a one-city meetup into a two-city national programme that creates a clear pathway into the labour market. It has also expanded beyond traditional universities, to include TVET colleges and Digital Accelerator programmes.

Participants receive a certificate recognised by DS4JI II’s partner employers, priority referral to the DS4JI II Ikamva Digital programme, and direct contact with employers on Corporate Day. Catering for all three days is provided free to participants and their institutions.

“AfriHack, now in its third year, has grown not just in attendance but in the lasting impact on participants”, said Gugu Ntuli, CEO of Empiras Global. “The programme combines digital training with work-readiness; participants pitch to panels, undergo real employer interviews and tackle live business briefs, leading many to secure jobs that strengthen the country’s digital workforce.

Equally important, some attendees have launched their own businesses after mentorship from founders at AfriHack, producing young Africans who are both employable and able to create employment for others”, she concluded.

“South Africa’s financial services industry continues to lag in modernising the mundane, day-to-day operational tasks that quietly drain productivity across the sector — and too often, the solutions we adopt are imported rather than built for our own market realities. AfriHack Series 2026 gives us a rare opportunity to look inward instead of outward: to challenge young, digitally skilled South Africans to solve these everyday operational bottlenecks themselves, rather than defaulting to solutions developed elsewhere. We’re proud to support a platform that positions local youth talent not as consumers of financial technology, but as its future architects.”
Qiniso Ntuli, Managing Director, Royal Square Investments.

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Dr Sheetal Soni, senior lecturer and Head of Research and Higher Degrees in UKZN’s School of Law, is the 2026 recipient of the International Association of Bioethics Award for Bioethics Service in the Face of Challenges.

The prestigious international award was presented at the World Congress of Bioethics in Johannesburg, and recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to bioethics under difficult or unfavourable circumstances.

It honours those whose work extends beyond academic scholarship to advance bioethics in practice, mobilise knowledge into meaningful impact, and contribute to change at local, national or international levels.

The award places Soni among an international community of bioethicists recognised for translating ethical scholarship into meaningful action in challenging contexts.

The International Association of Bioethics (IAB) is the largest global scholarly and professional association bringing together bioethicists, researchers, clinicians, lawyers, philosophers, policymakers and practitioners from across disciplines and regions. Its World Congress of Bioethics provides a leading international platform for critical engagement with ethical questions shaping health, science, technology and society.

Recipients of the award are selected through a rigorous process. Candidates are nominated by members of the IAB and supported by three referees. Nominations are assessed by an awards committee, before recommended candidates are considered by the full IAB Board, which votes to determine the recipient.

Presenting the award, Professor Dorcas Kamuya described Soni as “an outstanding bioethicist whose work exemplifies the very spirit of this award reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing bioethics not only through scholarship, but through principled engagement in difficult, contested and often politically sensitive contexts”.

Kamuya highlighted Soni’s willingness to engage with ethically and legally urgent issues affecting vulnerable populations at a time when such engagement was neither widely embraced nor institutionally comfortable.

She particularly acknowledged Soni’s early engagement with the plight of civilians in Gaza and the ethical implications of armed conflict, describing this work as demonstrating “a form of moral leadership that is both rare and commendable”. Kamuya also noted that Soni’s work had helped to open an important space within bioethics for engagement with conflict-related harms, particularly those affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Also recognised were her broader research contributions across reproductive ethics, emerging biotechnology, international law, and the ethical dimensions of health in crisis settings.

Reflecting on the award, Soni said: “I receive this recognition with deep gratitude and humility. Much of my work has emerged from a conviction that the realities around us cannot always be left outside our scholarship, and that bioethics must be willing to engage with difficult and ethically urgent questions, even when doing so is uncomfortable.”

She added that one of the most meaningful aspects of the week was the opportunity to engage with scholars and practitioners from across the global bioethics community. “I was continually inspired by the depth, courage and importance of the work being undertaken across different disciplines, regions and contexts.

Every contribution matters, and each brings something necessary to the larger work of advancing more ethical, just and humane societies. I am so grateful for the conversations and connections formed, and excited about the collaborations ahead and the important work that we will do together.”

Soni also thanked colleagues who nominated her; the IAB Awards Committee and Board; Dean and Head of UKZN’s School of Law, Professor Freddy Mnyongani for his continued support of her work, and to her colleagues and mentors whose scholarship, dedication and commitment to meaningful work have continually inspired and shaped her own. S

he also acknowledged her family, who have not only supported her work but have shared in the challenges that accompany sustained engagement with difficult and often distressing issues, as well as the many individuals and communities whose courage, experiences and work continue to inspire her.

“If my work can make even a small contribution to advancing more ethical, just and humane responses to the challenges confronting us, then it will have served its purpose,” said Soni.

The award marked the culmination of an exceptional week of international scholarly engagement for Soni.

She was invited to open the Feminist Approaches to Bioethics Congress and delivered a keynote address titled: ‘Confronting Power: Feminist Bioethics in an Age of Authoritarian Drift’, which considered the ethical implications of growing authoritarianism and reflected on the responsibility of feminist bioethics not only to analyse injustice, but also to name and confront it, while remaining attentive to the voices and experiences that structures of power too often render invisible.

At the World Congress of Bioethics, Soni presented her research paper: ‘Saving the First 28 Days: An Integrated Bioethics-International Law Toolkit for Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in Armed Conflict’.

The paper brings bioethics and international law into conversation to examine how emergency obstetric and neonatal care can be better protected amid the profound disruption caused by armed conflict.

It focuses particular attention on the protection of women and newborns during the critical first 28 days of life and proposes an integrated framework through which ethical and legal principles may be translated into practical protections in crisis settings.

Soni has also been elected to the Board of Directors of the IAB, where she will serve a four-year term commencing in August 2026. As a member of the Board, she will contribute to the strategic direction and governance of the world’s largest professional association dedicated to bioethics and its global activities in advancing scholarship, collaboration and ethical engagement.

The recognition reflects the growing international reach and impact of scholarship emerging from UKZN’s School of Law and highlights the important contribution that interdisciplinary legal and bioethical research can make in responding to some of the most urgent ethical challenges facing contemporary society.

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Mellaney Roberts, lecturer in the Department of Fine and Studio Arts in the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Arts and Design, has received national recognition after winning the Outstanding Visual Artist Award at the 2026 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA).

The award was presented at a gala event hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture at Sun City on 21 August and celebrates excellence across South Africa’s arts, culture and heritage sectors.

Presented under the theme Celebrating Our Nation’s Creative Excellence the awards recognise outstanding artistic achievement, innovation and contribution to the country’s creative economy and cultural landscape.

Roberts received the award for Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie, a body of work comprising four interconnected installations: The Ancestor connected to the Nestlings: The Inheritance, Echoes in the Reeds and What the Land Remembers. The work explores themes of memory, belonging, ancestry and identity, drawing on Roberts’ personal experiences and her connection to the Baviaanskloof Coloured community in the Karoo.

This body of work arises from an open-ended question, said Roberts.

“The making begins with contemplating my lineage, my ancestral knowledge and ultimately my becoming. Through the work, I explore themes of home, identity, land, heritage and the collective memory of the Baviaanskloof Coloured community.

“These sculptures and installations build on an earlier body of work, wherein I explore the intersection of the tangible and the intangible memories that bind me to the Baviaanskloof. I explore the absence and silence of the lost and forgotten voices in shaping presence and meaning. I draw from their fragmented histories, memories and untold stories.

“In this body of work, I am the artist yet also archaeologist. I am a community member in search of an answer. Clay, as my predominant medium, is sacred and personal; it plays an important role in capturing memory. It is a transformative material through which I construct complex narratives, embodying both permanence and fragility, much like memory.

“Through clay, I engage with the layers of history embedded in the land and its people. I explore a sense of belonging and the spaces held by ancestral bloodlines, excavating cultural ties long forgotten. This work invites viewers to navigate these metaphorical spaces. Like the blood of the Baviaanskloof, clay shapes my sense of being”

Nestlings: The inheritance, beer-fired earthenware, sand, gold leaf and fibre, 3.7m x 90cm wall installation, 2025.Asked wat this national recognition means to her, Roberts said: “Being the winner of the Outstanding Visual Arts Award for Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie is an incredibly meaningful moment for me.

“This body of work is deeply rooted in memory, identity, belonging and the histories carried by the land and by generations of people from the Baviaanskloof Coloured community. Through ceramics, I have been exploring how memory can be held, remade and given form.

To have this work recognised through a nomination is an honour not only for me as an artist, but also for the stories, histories and voices that inform the work.

Waar bloed nie loop nie is ultimately about what remains when histories are fragmented, when memories are carried forward and when we ask: What does the land remember and what do we choose to remember?

I am deeply grateful for this recognition and proud to be the winner.”

In congratulating Roberts, Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, said: “This is a remarkable achievement and a fitting recognition of Roberts’ exceptional artistic contribution, creativity and commitment to the visual arts.

“We are immensely proud of this well-deserved national recognition and celebrate this significant milestone with her. We hope that this achievement will lead to many more accomplishments in her artistic journey and we do hope that our students will be inspired by her commitment to her discipline. This is a singular honour for the Faculty and we delight in offering her our warmest congratulations on receiving the award.”

What the Land Remembers, earthenware, copper, mirror and red sand, 1.8m x 1m, 2025.Roberts’ latest accolade adds to an impressive list of achievements. Earlier this year, Echoes in the Reeds earned her the prestigious RDC Art Collection Award at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. Her work has also been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Ceramics Brussels Art Fair in Belgium, the Turbine Art Fair and RMB Latitudes.

The national recognition is particularly significant given the stature of the National Arts and Culture Awards. Established to celebrate individuals, organisations and collectives making meaningful contributions to South Africa’s creative and cultural sectors, the awards recognise excellence across disciplines ranging from visual arts and heritage to design, performance, film, literature and digital content.

Roberts was amongst a distinguished group of nominees in the Outstanding Visual Artist category, which also included TUT Fine Arts alumnus Michael Selekane.

TUT was further represented at the awards through Honorary Doctor David Tlale, who received the award for Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer.

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When research leaves a university laboratory and becomes an affordable prosthetic knee, a pharmaceutical product or a new company creating jobs, the transition can appear deceptively simple. Behind it lies the painstaking work of protecting intellectual property, testing commercial potential, finding partners and persuading researchers to venture beyond familiar territory.

Nolene Singh helps make that journey possible at SU. As Deputy Director of the Innovus Technology Transfer Office (TTO), she works with researchers and students to turn knowledge into products, services and businesses with social impact.

In 2025, SU recognised Singh’s leadership and contribution with the Chief Director’s Award for Exceptional Contribution to SU Technology Transfer at the annual Innovus Inventors Awards ceremony. The honour came as she approached her tenth year at the University and acknowledged nearly a decade spent strengthening innovation and commercialisation work.

From scientist to technology-transfer leader

“I’m a scientist at heart. I’ve always been a scientist,” Singh says. She trained in biotechnology in KwaZulu-Natal and completed a master’s degree in the field. She spent 12 years in the plant genetics industry, working in research and establishing and commercialising laboratories.

She loved the science, yet she became increasingly interested in what happened after discovery. “I realised that research is only what you do with it. How can you take your research and create impact? That’s what drove me to technology transfer.”

A youth development programme that helped science graduates acquire entrepreneurial skills showed her how scientific knowledge and business thinking could combine to meet South Africa’s needs. After consulting for start-ups and helping build laboratories from the ground up, she joined SU in 2016. She was promoted to Deputy Director in 2023.

Today, Singh is a registered technology transfer professional and a director or alternate director of several SU spin-out companies. Her work spans patenting, licensing, commercialisation strategy and entrepreneurship support, though its purpose is straightforward: helping research travel further.

Where research meets the real world

“What we do is take research from the University and translate it into something that can be commercialised. In simple terms, we help university staff and students create impact from their research,” Singh explains.

She says one of SU’s strengths is its support for what she calls “entrepreneurial research”. Through skills development, coaching, leadership programmes, networking and access to opportunities, academics receive the guidance they need to grow. Singh believes SU’s approach stands out nationally. “If you look at other universities in South Africa and you compare it to what we do, we really are the leaders.”

Among the projects closest to her heart is NAVU Mobility, founded in 2024 by SU master’s student Amohetsoe Shale to develop affordable prosthetic knee technology for people with limb loss. Singh also highlights a research-developed bacterial strain that is currently used in a pharmaceutical product.

Then there are the spin-out companies that begin as research projects and grow into ventures employing people and creating new skills. Accompanying founders through that uncertain journey is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. “There are so many of these stories,” she says. “Every one of them is inspiring. We have wonderful spin-outs and working with them throughout the journey is a joy.”

Singh has learnt to recognise the drive behind a promising idea. Failure is common in commercialisation, yet she sees it as “a stepping stone to success” because it builds knowledge and new skills. Researchers sometimes struggle when they first move beyond academia, she notes, and sometimes the unlikely candidates find their footing and flourish.

The confidence to step forward

That instinct for possibility shapes Singh’s message to women during Women’s Month. “In our ecosystem, we’re seeing women growing, becoming bolder and taking chances. The female researchers at SU are very inspiring.”

Innovation doesn’t have to be a world-first invention, she argues. It can be anything capable of creating meaningful impact. Her advice is to ask questions, keep learning and speak about an idea, even when the answer may be no.

It’s a lesson she has shared with her 19-year-old daughter, a BSc student at SU. Singh’s husband and daughter often provide affectionate running commentary on her other great passion: plants. They joke that one more addition could turn their home into a nursery.

Her garden, filled with ornamental plants, trees, herbs, vegetables and bonsais, offers stillness after fast-paced days. She reads and watches videos to learn how to revive struggling plants, while friends have come to expect a plant as a birthday or Christmas gift. “Gardening is my calm space,” she says. “When I’m doing that, I’m not thinking 10 steps ahead about what I need to do tomorrow.”

Whether nurturing a plant, a researcher or an early-stage company, Singh is drawn to latent potential. Her philosophy is rooted in steady action: Small contributions accumulate and confidence grows through practice. Her motto is that ideas make a real difference in the world when someone is willing to carry them beyond the laboratory.

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From cannabis-based medicines to sustainable farming solutions, a relaunched research platform is creating new opportunities across one of South Africa’s fastest-growing industries.

The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Cannabis and Hemp Research and Innovation Platform combines scientific expertise, advanced technology and industry collaboration to support innovation, product development, skills growth and entrepreneurship across the cannabis and hemp value chain.

Prof David Katerere, Professor of Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmaceutical and Biotech Advancement in Africa (PBAA) Research Group Leader and Co-Director of the TUT/CSIR Cannabis and Hemp Research Hub, is leading efforts to strengthen research, innovation and specialised services in the cannabis and hemp sector.

The recently relaunched Cannabis and Hemp Research and Innovation Platform supports farmers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals with research and development, training and contract extraction services. Its offerings include cultivation support, pest management, sustainable farming practices, extraction and product formulation.

Prof Katerere’s work spans pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, formulation and agro-processing. Together with a team of South African and international students and researchers, he is helping unlock the scientific and economic potential of cannabis and hemp.

TUT and the CSIR have secured hemp permits for both research and commercialisation, creating new opportunities for collaboration, product development and further research.

The platform is part of the wider TUT/CSIR Cannabis and Hemp Research Hub, which combines expertise from pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, crop sciences, engineering and agro-processing. Researchers are exploring applications ranging from cannabis-based medicines and nutraceuticals to sustainable agricultural practices, biochar, and other value-added products.

This work is supported by advanced infrastructure, including a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction system that TUT describes as unique in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Using a “farm2pharmacy” approach, the Hub focuses on developing products that can assist in managing conditions such as arthritis, eczema, alopecia and hyperpigmentation using cannabis-based formulations.

Recognising that research alone is not enough to build a sustainable industry, Maria Lloyd from SA Management 24, contributes expertise in marketing and positioning, helping innovators convert research and natural-product concepts into market opportunities. Her role strengthens links between scientific innovation, entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of research.

In 2026, Lloyd joined Prof Katerere during an African Research Network session that explored how natural product innovation can successfully move from research to market. The engagement highlighted the importance of effective communication, business positioning and commercial strategy in transforming research into viable opportunities.

The platform aims to ensure that research creates tangible benefits beyond the laboratory. By connecting research with practical application, skills development and enterprise, it supports farmers, entrepreneurs, businesses and industry while contributing to a sustainable cannabis and hemp sector in South Africa and across the continent.

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As a little girl growing up with six siblings on a farm in the Eastern Cape, Amohetsoe Shale learnt that curiosity was something to be treasured. Weekday television was off limits. Books filled the shelves. A sense of wonder about the world was celebrated and questions encouraged.

Today the girl who excelled at school has grown into a CEO of her own company, a skilled prosthetist and a biomedical engineer in the making. She still believes the greatest gift a young woman can nurture is the confidence to imagine a different world.

A philanthropist at heart, Shale (23) is now in her second year of a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at SU where she’s dedicating every available second to NAVU Mobility, a company she founded in 2024 to develop affordable prosthetic knee technology for people with limb loss.

Over the past year she made news as NAVU won the prestigious Hult Prize South Africa National Finals (the global finals are scheduled for September 2026 in London) and Shale walked away with the Top Student Womenpreneur Award at the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education Awards.

Raised by remarkable women

Three generations of women in Shale’s family challenged convention long before she would come to understand what feminism meant. Her great-grandmother raised her family with fierce independence. Her grandmother divorced at a time when doing so required enormous courage.

Her mother, Dr Naledi Mbude-Mehana, has dedicated much of her career to expanding mother tongue-based bilingual education as Deputy Director-General for Transformation Programmes at the national Department of Basic Education.

“For me Women’s Month means women’s empowerment. I was fortunate to be raised in a culture of empowerment,” Shale says with a smile. “I’ve been so lucky to have a mother who has a lot of experience in breaking down barriers.

“Just looking at the strides that she’s taken and the struggles she overcame have really helped me model how to stand tall and how to do it in a progressive way while still retaining empathy and kindness in a world that sometimes tries to beat that out of you.”

Shale recalls how her mom would always ask her and her siblings questions and helped them deconstruct how they think about things. That mindset eventually evolved into a refusal to accept that social problems are inevitable simply because they have existed for a long time.

Engineering with empathy

Shale first encountered the realities of disability while studying medical orthotics and prosthetics at Walter Sisulu University. Clinical placements exposed her to people whose lives were limited by inadequate prosthetic devices and long waiting lists within South Africa’s public healthcare system. “I remember thinking: Why has everyone just accepted this?”

As a registered clinical prosthetist, she saw talented, ambitious people prevented from returning to work, caring for their families or participating fully in everyday life because appropriate prosthetic technology remained inaccessible.

Rather than accepting those limitations, she began asking whether engineering could provide a better answer. Her innovation, a passive polycentric prosthetic knee, stands out for its cost-effectiveness and superior functionality.

The quest to perfect the design eventually led her to SU, where she is now completing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering under the supervision of Prof Kristiaan Schreve.

Her research focuses on developing an affordable prosthetic knee designed specifically for the realities of South African healthcare. Through NAVU Mobility she hopes to translate that research into technology that improves lives across the continent.

“We’re the only startup developing prosthetic knees in sub-Saharan Africa,” she notes.

Although NAVU attracted national attention after winning the South African leg of the Hult Prize competition, Shale is level-headed about all the recognition. “Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in hype. We’ve really been trying to keep our heads down and keep building.

“Our dream is for NAVU to become a multinational company that helps millions of people. We’d like to be able to say amputees have been able to go back to work, have been able to play with their children, have been able to go back to school without worrying about how they walk.”

It takes a village

Shale is quick to acknowledge the role of the people who have helped her along the way to achieve success and a growing reputation as an entrepreneur.

Arriving at SU after completing her undergraduate studies elsewhere meant starting again in unfamiliar surroundings. She credits SU’s Innovus Technology Transfer Office and Nadine Price (LaunchLab operations and community officer) with helping her navigate entrepreneurship, while her supervisor and fellow postgraduate students created an environment where she quickly found her feet. Becoming part of the Listen, Live and Learn leadership programme and the SU Postgraduate Network strengthened that sense of belonging. “All of this helps people create community,” she says. “You need to be in spaces where you’re surrounded by people with similar mindsets and wanting to do good in the world.”

Community has always been woven into her life. Growing up with three younger brothers on the autism spectrum, she watched neighbours, friends and extended family rally around her parents whenever help was needed. “My mom had an open-door policy. If someone needed food, they’d help out on the farm for the day, and then they’d get some food.” That generosity was returned many times over. “It genuinely took a village for our family to thrive.”

Shale learned to respond to challenges by reaching out. “Whenever I get pushback, I go to other women to find strength and community.”

Freedom to lead

As Women’s Month invites reflection on the progress women have made, Shale hopes the conversation continues to evolve. She believes women deserve the freedom to lead authentically, to learn continuously and to make mistakes.

“We should remind ourselves how important it is for women to be given the space to make mistakes and to learn,” she insists. “We should stop judging women so harshly. I just want us to be kinder to women, to look at women as humans with flaws and to see the humanity in every woman we encounter.”

When she imagines a young girl sitting in a classroom in a rural town, wondering what her future might hold, Shale returns to the lesson that has guided her own journey. “It’s about nurturing that little girl who has not yet been told that she’s a girl and therefore she can’t. That little girl needs to carry you for the rest of your life, and if you protect her, you have really protected your future.”

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In 2018, Dr Yaseera Ismail walked into a lecture venue at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) feeling a little nervous. It was her first class as a newly appointed physics lecturer, and around 400 students were waiting for the class to begin.

A young woman struck up a friendly conversation, assuming Ismail was a fellow student. “When I took to the podium, she was a little taken aback,” Ismail recalls with a laugh. “I think I looked younger than I was.”

Almost a decade later, she is still occasionally mistaken for a student. Only now, the youthful academic standing at the front of the lecture hall has become one of South Africa’s leading quantum physicists.

Over the past two years, this Stellenbosch University (SU) senior lecturer helped establish the first quantum satellite communication link in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s longest intercontinental ultra-secure quantum link between South Africa and China.

The achievement, published in the prestigious journal Nature, has placed South Africa firmly on the global quantum map and marked a significant step towards developing the quantum internet of the future.

In 2025 she was selected as one of the Quantum 100, a UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology initiative that recognises people who are advancing research, innovation and community building to mark 100 years of quantum mechanics.

First-generation academic

Growing up in Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal, Ismail never imagined she would one day represent South Africa at UNESCO in Paris, chair international scientific conferences or lead pioneering quantum research. She was simply determined to make the most of opportunities, “I was the first person in my immediate family who got a degree,” she says. “On my first day on campus, I didn’t know where to go.”

Her original ambition was to become an optometrist. As a young girl, she had an eye infection which led to numerous operations. The experience left her fascinated by vision, lenses and light. After being advised to consider another field, she enrolled for physics. “It helped that I was already interested in optics and photonics, which deals with light, lasers and lenses,” Ismail explains. “I realised physics was my calling.”

That initial passion eventually led her into the world of optics, photonics and quantum communication – a field that uses the unique properties of quantum mechanics to make information transfer extraordinarily secure. Today she heads SU’s QuPhotonics Lab, where she leads research into quantum communication technologies and the development of future quantum networks.

Aiming for the sky

In late 2024, almost every strand of Ismail’s career converged at once in a daunting week. By day, she chaired the 26th Congress of the International Commission for Optics at SU – the first time it had been held in Africa. At the event, she hosted esteemed scientists such as a Nobel Prize winner Prof Donna Strickland. By night, she ran experiments for the pioneering quantum satellite link, often from 22:00 until 02:00. In the middle of it all, she flew to Pretoria to be inaugurated into the South African Young Academy of Science.

“I literally don’t know how I did it. It was probably just adrenaline!” she says. “I wanted all those activities to work, no matter what it took.”

They did. The conference succeeded, the experiment went live on 13 October 2024, and the research produced a record-breaking quantum-secure link over 12 900 km. In the same year, she was appointed by the leading international society for optics and photonics, Optica, as the vice president of the International Commission for Optics.

Ismail credits her paternal grandmother as her first role model. “She had little formal education, but she taught herself through books and by spending time in libraries. She inspired me to pursue my education as far as I could and motivated me to continue beyond an undergraduate degree all the way to a PhD.”

Later, another role model Prof Francesco Petruccione, Director of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences at SU, became an inspiration as he showed her how to become a rigorous researcher, build a research group and support others.

A mentor in her own right

Ismail, who is a keen participant in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Future Professors Programme, devotes much time to mentoring young scientists, supporting women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and helping develop quantum capacity across Africa.

She co-founded Optica’s international mentorship programme, serves on global scientific committees and believes no country on the continent should be left behind as quantum technologies reshape the world. She also helps to raise scholarship funding and serves on the selection committee for Women in Optics. Over the past ten years, Ismail has secured over R16 million in grant funding. “For me it’s all about passing on opportunities and knowledge to the next generation,” she says.

Her influence on younger scientists became clear during an unexpected encounter with a postgraduate physics student at the UKZN. The student told her: “You’re the reason I study physics.” Years earlier, Ismail had judged her project at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and had written encouraging words on her scorecard. The student had kept it.

“I was genuinely shocked because I had no idea such a small interaction could have such a profound impact on someone’s life,” Ismail says. “It reminded me that we often underestimate the power of a few words of encouragement.”

A legacy of empowerment

Ismail has often found herself the only woman in the room at quantum conferences in South Africa and says women are still not always taken seriously in the discipline. She is currently the only female principal investigator within the South African Quantum Technology Initiative. “I really want to see a community. I want to see growth. I want to see a pipeline, and not only for women, but for everyone,” she says.

When she was first interviewed at SU and asked what she’d hope her legacy would be one day, Ismail said she wanted to establish quantum satellite links at the institution. That ambition was realised sooner than expected. Now the dream has expanded.

“I would like to contribute to building a quantum ecosystem in South Africa and leave it in the hands of people who can really drive it forward after me,” she says. “Leaving opportunities for the next generations would be the best legacy.”

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The Tshwane University of Technology’s Centre for Tissue Engineering (CTE) has reaffirmed its position as a leader in tissue banking and transplantation, following the renewal of its ISO 9001 certification.

The internationally recognised quality management certification confirms that the Centre meets the rigorous standards for sourcing, processing and supplying human tissue for implant, transplant and therapeutic purposes, supporting quality healthcare and improved patient outcomes.

The announcement couldn’t come at a more opportune time, with August being National Organ and Tissue Donor Month as well, aiming to address the critical shortage of donors, clear up myths and encourage more people to sign up as organ and tissue donors.

Dr Vathi Papu-Zamxaka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, said the achievement proves TUT’s commitment to excellence in research, innovation and healthcare.

“Maintaining ISO 9001 certification affirms the Centre’s ability to meet internationally recognised quality standards while advancing research and innovation that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. It reflects the high level of expertise, accountability and continuous improvement that characterise this important strategic asset of the University,” she said.

The certification covers CTE’s work in sourcing, processing and supplying musculoskeletal tissue, skin tissue, ocular tissue, cardiovascular tissue and amniotic membranes of human origin for implant, transplant and therapeutic purposes.

According to Dr Papu-Zamxaka, ISO 9001 certification offers significant benefits beyond regulatory compliance.

“The certification recognises that the Centre has implemented robust quality management systems that promote consistency, traceability, risk management and continuous improvement. It strengthens confidence among healthcare professionals, partners and patients while ensuring that every process meets stringent safety and quality requirements.”

This achievement adds to the Centre’s long record of innovation and service. Established in 2002 following an agreement between TUT and Bone SA, CTE became South Africa’s second human bone bank and was created to address the growing demand for donated bone tissue while advancing research into new treatment options.

Over the past two decades, the Centre has expanded its capabilities and influence in the healthcare sector. The CTE recently relocated from the specialised facilities it occupied at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to Ditsela Place in Hatfield, providing access to state-of-the-art laboratories and advanced tissue-processing infrastructure.

The Centre’s list of successes includes the introduction of a cornea banking programme in 2011 and the expansion of its services to include a broader range of cadaveric tissues. The Centre also played a key role in drafting South Africa’s tissue bank regulations and became a founding member of the South African Tissue Bank Association (SATiBA).

One of the Centre’s most significant accomplishments was in 2016 when it launched Africa’s first skin banking programme. The initiative created a secure and sustainable source of donated skin for burn patients and positioned TUT at the forefront of medical innovation on the continent. The programme expanded treatment options for patients requiring specialised tissue transplantation and strengthened South Africa’s tissue banking capabilities.

Prof Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, added that the Centre’s impact extends beyond its operational achievements.

“CTE is an excellent example of how research, innovation and specialised scientific expertise can address real societal needs. The Centre’s work supports healthcare professionals, advances scientific knowledge and provides life-changing solutions for patients who depend on tissue transplantation.”

Today, CTE operates as a multidisciplinary human tissue bank managed by TUT and authorised by the Department of Health. The Centre uses internationally aligned quality systems and ISO-compliant processing procedures to ensure the safety, quality and traceability of donated tissue products.

As the first cadaveric tissue bank in South Africa to obtain ISO 9001 certification, the Centre sets benchmarks for quality management in the tissue banking sector. The certification supports improved quality and consistency, stronger risk management, enhanced operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and greater stakeholder confidence.

“Maintaining this certification strengthens TUT’s reputation as a University that delivers research and innovation with tangible benefits for society. It highlights the Centre’s unwavering commitment to quality, patient safety and continuous improvement while contributing to better healthcare outcomes in South Africa and beyond,” Dr Papu-Zamxaka said.

As CTE advances its mission of healing through tissue transplantation, its continued ISO 9001 certification provides further recognition of a Centre that is a national leader in tissue banking, research and healthcare innovation.

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Years of research into sustainable alternatives to conventional cement by Professor John Babafemi, Professor of Sustainable Concrete Materials at Stellenbosch University (SU), are now transforming the way young entrepreneurs across South Africa build, grow businesses, and reduce costs.

Launched at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Stellenbosch, the Circular Cement Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (CCYEP) will support 100 young entrepreneurs from underserved communities in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and North West.

The initiative teaches participants to use locally available industrial and agricultural waste materials as substitutes for conventional cement, lowering construction costs while promoting climate-friendly building practices.

Developed by Fix Forward and Impact Hub Cape Winelands in collaboration with SU, and funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) and the Department of Employment and Labour, the programme exemplifies how academia, government and civil society can work together to translate research into real-world opportunities.

“I’ve always had this dream of touching the local community,” said Babafemi. “I want to see people building with these materials. I want to see informal settlements being transformed.”

Research with Impact

Babafemi’s research focuses on replacing portions of conventional cement with locally available by-products such as fly ash, slag, agricultural waste and waste glass. Cement production accounts for around 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, making this innovation critical to reducing the construction sector’s environmental footprint.

But the programme is not only about emissions. By taking proven research beyond the laboratory, it aims to help small builders and brickmakers cut input costs, improve profit margins, create jobs, and make building materials more affordable in their communities.

Collaboration Across Sectors

The idea took shape after Marli Goussard, CEO of Impact Hub Cape Winelands, met Babafemi at an SU Social Impact Committee meeting. Recognising the potential for local application, she initiated a partnership that now blends academic research, enterprise development, public funding and grassroots entrepreneurship.

“Local people are best positioned to solve local challenges,” Goussard said. “This programme shows the power of collaboration to ensure research translates into opportunities that improve lives.”

Professor Wikus van Niekerk, Dean of SU’s Faculty of Engineering, added:

“We are not satisfied with knowledge that remains on the shelf. Our responsibility is to ensure research becomes useful in society.”

Building Dreams, Creating Jobs

For entrepreneurs like Vuyisile Handa, a brickmaker and participant, the benefits are immediate:

“This programme has ignited so many dreams. Now we can save on cement, make climate-friendly bricks, and sell more affordable products to our communities.”

By reducing production costs, Handa hopes to expand his business, employ more people, and help families access quality building materials at lower prices.

The first cohort of 100 entrepreneurs will serve as a pilot to refine the model for broader rollout. The programme will also map waste material availability across provinces, ensuring entrepreneurs can source locally and avoid costly transport.

Noluthando Miambo, representing the PYEI, said:

“If we support these 100 entrepreneurs and prove the concept, we can replicate it and create a value chain. It was important for us that young people should benefit.”

From Lab to Community

For Babafemi, the launch represents more than academic achievement. It is the moment when years of research began finding its way into the hands of people who can use it to change their communities.

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When MSc Biostatistics student Tshiamo Medupe was selected for a highly competitive research technology and health programme in Switzerland, he was both shocked and elated.

The 23-year-old, from the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), is one of just 22 candidates from around the world chosen to participate in the prestigious 2026 Summer Research Programme at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

“I love being at the forefront of technology,” says Medupe. “Being chosen for this opportunity reflects the global impact, research excellence and international competitiveness of SU’s postgraduate community.”

EPFL is one of Europe’s leading research institutions and is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities. The programme aims to harness technology to develop innovative health solutions.

Medupe is currently in Lausanne for the two-month long programme, where he is conducting research within the Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering and the Neuro-X Institute. His work contributes to projects at the intersection of neuroscience, medicine, engineering, and data science. Researchers from a number of internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Oxford, and leading centres in neuroscience and neurotechnology research, are also part of the collaboration.

“More specifically, we will be working with technology that stimulates the brain in people with Parkinson’s disease as part of a large project involving neurologists, computational scientists, engineers, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.”

Applying technology to improve health

Medupe is passionate about translating technology into meaningful impact, particularly in the South African context, and says he looks forward to learning from leading researchers from some of the world’s top institutions.

“As a biostatistician, I will contribute statistical modelling, data analysis, neuroimaging analytics, computational methods, and quantitative research expertise to projects focused on motor learning, neurostimulation and clinical neuroscience. The experience will allow me to apply the skills developed at SU in a collaborative international setting while proudly representing the university abroad,” he says.

Medupe was born and raised in Mahikeng in North West Province and completed his BSc at the Durban University of Technology before coming to SU for an honours in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. He graduated cum laude and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biostatistics.

His research focuses on identifying predictors of gender-based violence among women in South Africa using advanced statistical and machine learning methods, with the aim of informing public health interventions.

Overcoming challenges and creating opportunities

Medupe describes himself as a “curious, whimsical person who loves making an impact and representing myself and my communities”.

Beyond his studies, he works as a writing consultant and runs a small business that teaches students coding skills. He is treasurer of Tygerberg Campus’s Queer Society and serves as an ambassador for a programme that donates sanitary pads to schools in disadvantaged communities. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, hiking, karaoke and yoga.

“Coming from a disadvantaged background, this opportunity carries a particularly personal significance,” says Medupe. “As a queer South African student, I’m deeply aware of how transformative access to education, mentorship and opportunity can be. Being able to represent SU on an international stage is something I do not take for granted. I hope my journey encourages other students from underrepresented communities to believe that such opportunities are within reach.”

He says his journey has not been without challenges, including financial difficulties before receiving a bursary, adapting from a village-like upbringing to metropolitan life, balancing multiple responsibilities while studying, facing numerous application rejections, and navigating the highly competitive technology space as a queer person.

Among the highlights of his academic journey have been accepted into the master’s programme and his selection as a fellow for the African Centre for Biostatistical Excellence. Medupe thanked his MSc supervisors, Professors Innocent Maposa and Tonya Esterhuizen from SU and Dr Nwabisa Shai from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and his mentor, Daniel Mashishi, saying their guidance has helped him pursue opportunities such as this placement.

Shaping the future of healthcare

Medupe says his long-term goal is to help shape the future of healthcare through data, technology and research.

“We’re living in a time where artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational science are transforming almost every industry. I believe healthcare should be one of the greatest beneficiaries of that transformation.

“I want to work at the intersection of technology and health, developing tools and solutions that make healthcare more accessible, more personalised and more effective. Whether that’s through research, industry, entrepreneurship or policy, I want my work to have a tangible impact on people’s lives.

“As a young South African scientist, I hope to contribute to ensuring that the future of technology is diverse and inclusive. Innovation is strongest when different voices, perspectives and lived experiences are represented. I want to be part of building technologies that serve everyone, not just a select few.

“Ultimately, I don’t just want to analyse data. I want to help create the future that the data points us toward.”

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South Africa’s iconic Rooibos plant is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a new education‑driven research initiative linking agriculture, space science and classroom learning. The project, led by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) in partnership with MaxIQ Space and supported by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), will see Rooibos seeds launched to the ISS in October, where they will form part of a global wave of plant‑growth experiments in microgravity.

With long‑duration missions such as NASA’s Artemis programme accelerating interest in space‑based food systems, Rooibos joins crops like lettuce, peas and soybeans already tested in orbit to understand how plants respond to altered gravity and environmental stress. These studies are shaping future life‑support systems for deep‑space travel while offering insights that strengthen agricultural resilience on Earth.

SARC Director Dawie de Villiers said the mission reflects the industry’s commitment to innovation and scientific literacy. “Rooibos has long been part of South Africa’s agricultural heritage. This project places it within a broader scientific context, where plant biology, space research and education intersect.”

The initiative includes an extended STEM programme for participating schools, introducing learners to space science, plant biology and sustainable agriculture through hands‑on experimentation. MaxIQ Space co‑founder Judi Sandrock said the project gives learners access to “authentic scientific learning experiences” that build data analysis skills and an understanding of real research processes.

To broaden national participation, learners across South Africa will be invited to design the official Rooibos in Space mission patch during July and August.

At the launch, Western Cape Education Department Deputy Director‑General Bertram Loriston emphasised the importance of cross‑sector partnerships in expanding STEM opportunities, while SANSA’s Thandile Vuntu highlighted how space science increasingly shapes daily life and future career pathways.

UCT astrophysicist and SARAO postdoctoral fellow Dr Kelebogile Gasealahwe shared her personal journey from Kimberley to cutting‑edge research, encouraging learners to stay curious and open to diverse STEM careers. She also underscored the role of facilities like MeerKAT in strengthening South Africa’s global scientific contribution.

Public engagement will continue as the project moves toward its ISS flight, with updates, learner activities and mission milestones shared via www.sarooibos.co.za, @RooibosCouncil on Facebook and @SARooibosCouncil on Instagram.

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Agriculture is becoming increasingly technology-driven, climate-conscious and commercially focused, and Mr Price Foundation is equipping young South Africans with the practical skills needed to participate in the country’s evolving food economy.

Through its HandPicked Agriskills Development Programme, participants are trained in areas including hydroponics, crop management, plant nutrition, pest and disease management, record keeping and controlled environment agriculture, skills that are increasingly important in a sector being reshaped by climate change, innovation and the need for greater food security.

Mr Price Foundation celebrated the latest graduates of the programme at ceremonies held in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, on 25 June and Cape Town on 2 July.

HandPicked is Mr Price Foundation’s agriculture-focused youth development programme, designed to equip young South Africans with practical farming, business and workplace-ready skills. Through its Farming Essentials and Professional Farming Programmes, HandPicked prepares young people to access opportunities in modern horticulture, commercial farming and agricultural enterprise.

The graduations mark an important milestone for participants who have successfully completed the programme and are now equipped to apply their skills in real-world agricultural environments.

“South Africa’s agricultural future will depend on young people who understand both the science and the business of farming,” says Yurissa Sawers, Programme Manager of the Mr Price Foundation Skills Development Programme. “Through HandPicked, we are equipping participants with practical, workplace-ready skills that help them see agriculture as a pathway to employment, enterprise and long-term economic participation.”

South Africa continues to face high youth unemployment while also needing to strengthen local food systems, making practical agricultural training increasingly important. Agriculture offers young people opportunities beyond traditional farming, including production, agri-processing, technology, sustainability, logistics and entrepreneurship.

The two-month Farming Essentials Programme provides foundational training for young people interested in careers in modern horticulture. Participants gain hands-on experience in hydroponics, planting, fertilising, AgriBoost application, pest and disease management, harvesting and record keeping.

The six-month Professional Farming Programme builds on this foundation by preparing participants for careers in modern agriculture, combining advanced technical training with business and commercial insight.

Both programmes combine online learning with practical experience, helping participants apply their knowledge in real farming environments. This approach is designed to bridge the gap between education and the workplace, while building confidence, technical competence and entrepreneurial thinking.

The programme forms part of Mr Price Foundation’s broader commitment to impact the lives of 500 000 young people by 2035. Investing in agriculture skills development enables the Foundation to help young people access opportunities in one of South Africa’s most important sectors while contributing to stronger local economies, improved food security and more resilient communities.

“These graduates represent the next generation of agricultural talent,” adds Sawers. “They are stepping into a sector that needs innovation, resilience and new thinking, and they are equipped to contribute in meaningful ways.”

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The third Interledger Foundation and University of Cape Town (UCT) Financial Innovation Hub Hackathon took place at the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika at UCT on Saturday, 27 June, showcasing the ingenuity and technical capability of young South African fintech innovators as they developed homegrown solutions to real-world payment challenges.

80 Participants from six tertiary institutions – UCT, Eduvos, Sol Plaatje University, University of the Western Cape, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and the University of the Free State, focused on expanding access to digital financial services through the Interledger’s Open Payments technology.

Judged by Alex Lakatos, Chief Technical Officer at the Interledger Foundation; Matthew de Haast, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Fynbos Money; and Dr Allan Davids, Senior Lecturer, Director of the UCT Financial Innovation Hub, and convenor of UCT’s MPhil in Financial Technology, the Hackathon also marked a significant milestone. For the first time in its history, women featured in the top three teams.

The winning Fireline trio took home R35 000 for producing a community-led micro-insurance model that provides fast cash within hours of a home fire where conventional insurance is absent.

Placing second and winning R20 000 was Bokomosa, whose application turns routine payments into automated savings contributions to help address South Africa’s retirement savings challenge, where only 6% of citizens retire financially independent.

Third place, and R10 000, went to Common Cents, whose accessible platform converts informal cash payments into verified financial records, enabling informal, seasonal and rural workers to demonstrate a credible income and access services such as insurance, credit and formal employment benefits.

The Hackathon followed a week-long bootcamp during which Interledger software engineers and Dr Davids presented to and mentored the participating students. The teams were then judged on criteria including creative problem framing, passion, understanding of the problem and proposed solution, and innovation.

Says Davids, “When the average person thinks about fintech, their mind immediately goes to finance and technology. However, this space includes so many other disciplines, such as computer science, economics, and information systems. Hackathons like this bring all these different disciplines together into one space, giving (participants) the education, structure and support to reimagine the way finance looks and build a financial system that serves them and their community.”

Speaking on behalf of her victorious three-woman team, Mridula Kumar from team Fireline says the Hackathon offered the ideal platform to apply what they were learning as part of their MPhil in Financial Technology studies at the Financial Innovation Hub.

“Fintech is a rapidly advancing technology in our world today, and a lot of people are left behind when these advancements happen,” says Whyte. “In South Africa, a particular problem that we face are fires in informal settlements so that was one that we focused on in order to develop Fireline.

“There are only four- to five days a year when the fire department isn’t responding to a fire … these fires are affecting people who don’t have insurance. They’re not accounted for, they’re not covered, so this is our way to make fintech more inclusive and to bridge finance and technology in a way to help people for the greater good and make a difference for the future.”

This year’s edition of the Hackathon also stood out for incorporating Hub and Hackathon alumni as mentors and instructors, enabling students to benefit from their technical expertise.

One of these mentors was Marc Levin, a current Interledger bursary recipient studying for an MPhil in Financial Technology at the Financial Innovation Hub and a participant in the 2024 Hackathon, where his team placed second with a remittance-budgeting solution.

During that competition, Levin experienced first-hand the challenges of getting code to run and overcoming basic technical setup issues. To help this year’s participants, he developed a visual teaching aid that shifted the focus on the Hackathon day from troubleshooting technical bugs to understanding and applying open payment technology.

Davids says that changes such as the introduction of alumni mentors not only gave participants greater confidence in their projects but also helped maintain high energy levels despite the pressure of developing an application in less than a day.

Building on the success of this year’s event, the partners intend to expand the programme next year by engaging more academic institutions from across South Africa. According to Lakatos, the long-standing partnership between the Interledger Foundation and UCT’s Financial Innovation Hub continues to deliver value because both organisations share a commitment to openness, inclusiveness and innovation.

“We invest in the Hub and events like this because they are a practical testbed to develop people, validate the Interledger technology, and improve documentation in real time,” says Lakatos. “Our shared values continue to produce tangible outcomes, from student-built features and onboarding wins to cross-border test transactions.”

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• a multi-track fellowship building advanced expertise in genomics, diagnostics, vaccine design and biotechnology entrepreneurship

• fellows represent 20 African countries

• building a growing network of scientists, innovators and institutions working together to strengthen Africa’s research, manufacturing and epidemic preparedness capabilities

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the Center for Africa’s Resilience to Epidemics (CARE) at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) jointly announce the selection of 50 fellows from 20 African countries for the 2026 cohort of the African STARS Fellowship Programme, made possible in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

African STARS is a multi-track fellowship building advanced expertise in genomics, diagnostics, vaccine design and biotechnology entrepreneurship, with a continental pipeline of scientists trained to lead Africa’s response to its own health challenges.

From 20 countries, placed across two regions of the continent

The 2026 intake comprises 29 fellows on the Advanced and Translational Training (ATT) track and 21 on the Young Professional Programme (YPP) track, hosted at CERI in Stellenbosch (25 fellows) and CARE-IPD in Dakar (25 fellows).

Fellows represent 20 African countries – Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – reflecting the programme’s commitment to continental reach.

The ATT track offers four months of intensive training in advanced genomics, diagnostic design and vaccine manufacturing; the YPP delivers twelve months in biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship, including placements at commercial companies and innovation hubs.

Together, they reflect the programme’s dual mandate of scientific excellence and translational impact, while strengthening the scientific institutions, research ecosystems and innovation networks needed for Africa to respond to future health challenges.

The cohort’s expertise spans molecular diagnostics, genomic epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, bioinformatics, pharmacogenomics, One Health research, wastewater-based surveillance and health technology entrepreneurship.

Several fellows arrive with active research programmes, biotech founding roles or government health system positions – evidence that the fellowship attracts established scientists alongside early-career researchers.

The ambition fellows bring to the programme is clear. Christianah Oki, an incoming ATT fellow from Nigeria joining CARE-IPD in August, captures it well: “The solutions to public health problems in Africa must be designed by African scientists.”

Through African STARS, I will turn genomic insights into accessible diagnostic tools and mentor emerging researchers to build a self-sustaining scientific community that keeps our brightest minds on the continent.

Beyond individual achievements, the programme is building a growing network of scientists, innovators and institutions working together to strengthen Africa’s research, manufacturing and epidemic preparedness capabilities.

A Pipeline Producing Results: Programme Impact to Date

Since its first intake in 2025, African STARS has trained 54 fellows – 27 female and 27 male – aged 25 to 35 years. CERI’s wider training ecosystem has now reached more than 900 scientists, while CARE-IPD brings over a century of institutional expertise and more than 3,000 participants trained from 50+ countries.

Fellows are already generating measurable impact. At CERI, Dr Monique Barnard-Matthee secured a three-year NRF grant to advance mRNA vaccine manufacturing automation using the only Tecan Fluent® system of its kind on the continent; and Kennedy Mulungu was selected from more than 900 international applicants as one of only 10 young innovators to present at the UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum in New York, engaging WIPO and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers on commercialisation pathways for African biotech.

Through CARE-IPD, Marième Samb Traoré developed a panfilovirus rapid diagnostics test, integrating fundraising, financial sustainability and stakeholder engagement to position it for population-scale implementation; and Dr Emmanuel Saidu, leading the high-consequence pathogen diagnostics lab for the US CDC and University of Texas Medical Branch at Njala University, contributed to Sierra Leone’s national biosample transportation guidelines and, with Africa CDC, developed data systems for High-Consequence Agents and Toxins to strengthen national biosafety preparedness.

For Kennedy, the experience was transformative: “African STARS has been the foundation of my transformation from scientist to entrepreneur. It equipped me with critical skills in innovation, commercialisation, venture building, leadership, and product-market strategy.”

It is this kind of trajectory that the programme was designed to produce. As Prof Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI at Stellenbosch University, puts it: “Africa cannot depend on others to build its scientific infrastructure. Our role is to ensure that talent has the training, the networks, and the platforms to lead.

:The results from our first cohort confirm that this model works. With the continued partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we are hosting a new cohort of 50 STARS fellows.”

Continuity and Growth: Positioning the 2026 Cohort

African STARS spans four tracks. Alongside ATT and YPP, the MBA in Healthcare Leadership – developed with Stellenbosch Business School – is a 24-month degree equipping health professionals with governance, finance and management skills for systemic change.

The MSc in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Genomics is a two-year research degree through Stellenbosch University, mentored by world-class scientists and designed to produce Africa’s next generation of bioinformatics leaders. Together, the four tracks meet African scientists at every career stage.

The 2026 ATT and YPP cohort brings the programme’s cumulative fellow count across all tracks to 105, drawn from sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the diaspora. With $9 million in initial funding and thousands of expected applicants across its lifetime, African STARS stands not only as a training programme but as a signal of what sustained investment in African science can achieve.

As Isha Fatma Njai, Head of CARE-IPD, puts it: “Through the African STARS Fellowship, we are giving talented young people across Africa the chance to advance their skills, expand their networks and step into careers that might otherwise have stayed out of reach.

This is the result of passionate teams and institutions that care deeply about advancing the next generation and strengthening our collective sovereignty in health and science. We encourage all partners with this shared vision to join us in investing in a future built by Africa’s own talent.”

About the Partnership

African STARS is delivered through a joint partnership between CERI at Stellenbosch University and CARE at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar – two of the continent’s leading centres for infectious disease research, genomics and vaccine science.

Made possible in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, in alignment with its Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, the programme combines CERI’s strengths in genomic surveillance and translational science with IPD’s expertise in vaccine development and epidemic preparedness, providing fellows with a genuinely Pan-African training environment.

The 2026 cohort commences training in August 2026. Full fellow profiles are available at https://www.starsfellows.africa/star-fellows/

©Higher Education Media Services.

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Onndinadaho Rasilwela, a member of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme’s (SWEEP) bioplastic innovation has won first prize at the 2026 Green Youth Indaba, taking home R150 000 in cash for a project that transforms sugarcane bagasse and maize stalk into biodegradable mulching plastic. This innovation could change the face of sustainable agriculture in South Africa.

The win was announced during the Green Youth Indaba, one of South Africa’s premier annual environmental summits, hosted at Sun City, North-West, from 17 to 19 June 2026.

Young innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the country attending the summit are afforded opportunities to connect with climate-action networks, green career pathways and prospects in sustainable development.

The platform proved to be the perfect stage for Rasilwela to showcase years of academic dedication translated into real-world environmental impact.

Rasilwela, who holds an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering and currently is a Research Assistant in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at TUT, impressed judges with a project titled “Comparative Synthesis and Analysis of Bioplastic from Hemp and Maize Stalk.”

At the heart of her research lies a simple but powerful idea: agricultural waste that would otherwise be discarded — particularly sugarcane bagasse and maize stalk — can be repurposed into a fully biodegradable plastic alternative. Rasilwela has branded her innovation “Biomulchies,” a bioplastic engineered for use as an agricultural mulch.

Traditional plastic mulch, widely used by farmers to suppress weeds, retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature, is a major contributor to long-term soil and environmental degradation due to its non-biodegradable nature.

Biomulchies offers farmers a sustainable alternative that performs the same agronomic function while breaking down naturally in the soil, reducing plastic pollution and supporting circular economy principles within the agricultural sector.

By comparing the synthesis and performance of bioplastics derived from hemp and maize stalks, Rasilwela’s research provides valuable insight into which agricultural by-products yield the most effective and scalable bioplastic solutions — a critical step toward commercialising the innovation for widespread use.

Recognising green innovation

The Green Youth Indaba Innovators Pitch is designed to identify and reward young South Africans who are developing practical solutions to environmental and climate challenges. The national platform that is dedicated to empowering youth participation in the green economy, connects emerging innovators with mentorship, funding and networks that can help take early-stage ideas to market.

Rasilwela’s first-place finish places her among a growing cohort of young South African innovators using science to address pressing environmental concerns, from plastic pollution to sustainable farming practices, while also opening doors to further investment and development opportunities for her project.

Her achievement is also a proud moment for SWEEP, a TUT initiative aimed at equipping young women with the skills, mentorship and entrepreneurial grounding needed to thrive in high-growth sectors such as STEM, innovation and the green economy. Her success highlights the impact of structured support programmes in helping female students translate academic research into innovations with tangible commercial and environmental value.

It is also a strong endorsement of TUT’s broader research and innovation ecosystem, which produces graduates and researchers capable of addressing national and global priorities, including climate change, sustainable resource use and the transition to a greener economy. Rasilwela’s journey from Honours graduate to award-winning innovator reflects the University’s commitment to entrepreneurial, solutions-driven research that empowers people and the planet alike.

As Biomulchies moves toward further development and potential commercialisation, Rasilwela’s win is a personal triumph and an inspiring example for fellow students of what is possible when scientific curiosity is paired with a passion for sustainability.

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Two Stellenbosch University (SU) students, Haingo Andry and Simon Malan, have been named among the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Global Google PhD Fellowships.

These fellowships recognise outstanding graduate students who are conducting exceptional and innovative research in computer science and related fields, specifically focusing on candidates who seek to influence the future of technology.

Through the programme, fellows receive direct financial support for their PhD studies and are paired with a dedicated Google Research Mentor.

“We are excited to welcome this global cohort and look forward to partnering with them as they continue to become leaders in their respective areas,” said the Google PhD Fellowship Team.

Prof Sibusiso Moyo, SU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, said: “We are really proud of our two PhD students, Haingo Andry and Simon Malan, for the award, and of their supervisors who are supporting them to pursue their studies with excellence in research and commitment to knowledge transfer.”

Andry, who is based at SU’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) within the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, says he was honoured to receive the fellowship which will enable him to deepen his research. “It offers research support and mentorship that will help me pursue more ambitious and innovative ideas,” he says.

His supervisor, Dr Houriiyah Tegally, Head of Data Science at CERI, says: “We are thrilled to see Andry’s work recognised in the form of this prestigious award. He brings advanced AI expertise to our data science team at CERI investigating the impacts of climate change and climate disasters on infectious diseases in Africa.

Andry’s doctoral work focuses on climate-driven human migration, using data-driven methods to model displacement during extreme weather events. “The aim is to create tools that can help strengthen public health and epidemic preparedness,” says Andry. Tegally adds: “This research is the first of its kind, leveraging satellite imagery to study climate induced migrations in vulnerable regions of Africa, and investigating how this will impact exposure to certain infectious diseases.”

Another SU student recognised for his pioneering work is Malan, currently in his second year of a Master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He is researching how computational models can learn words from a language purely by listening to speech in that language.

Being accepted into the Google PhD Fellowship Program is a great privilege, he says. “Of course, the name ‘Google’ speaks for itself, and although slightly daunting, it is mostly very exciting. This fellowship allows me to continue exploring my field of research, for which I have developed a deep passion.”

He attributes much of this to his supervisor, Prof Herman Kamper, “whose own passion, enthusiasm, and expertise have inspired me to truly care about the research at hand”. Furthermore, Malan adds: “I would like to thank Google for supporting my research. It is a great privilege to be in this position, and I am determined to make the most of it.”

Kamper, who was the recipient of the Google Faculty Award in 2018 and 2019, says Malan’s exceptional performance during his Master’s studies, including the presentation of a paper at a premier global conference during his first year, made him a strong candidate for the fellowship.

“Even strong PhD students struggle to get an international publication from work in their first year, so this shows that Simon is an exceptional student with the capacity for independent research,” Kamper notes.

Kamper adds that the fellowship would allow Malan to remain at Stellenbosch University to pursue his PhD. “Any international group would have been happy to have him, so we are fortunate to have him here to continue making both local and international contributions.”

The applications are evaluated on the strength of the research proposal, research impact, student academic achievements, and leadership potential. According to Google, research proposals are evaluated for innovative concepts that are relevant to Google’s research areas, as well as aspects of robustness and potential impact to the field.

©Higher Education Media Services.

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South Africa’s youth aren’t waiting for life to happen. They’re creating it.

They’re discovering new places, showing up for their favourite artists, supporting local culture, filling stadiums and festival grounds, exploring the city’s hidden gems, and turning ordinary weekends into unforgettable memories.

For a generation that values experiences above all else, every moment is an opportunity to connect, express themselves and make memories that last.

This Youth Month, Samsung is celebrating that spirit of adventure while recognising something equally important: the freedom to live boldly comes with the confidence of knowing help is close by when you need it.

That’s where Samsung SOS+*, provided by Aura, comes in.

Built to support users wherever life takes them, Samsung SOS+ offers access to emergency safety and medical assistance nationwide. Whether you’re heading to a concert, catching an e-hailing ride after a night out, exploring a new neighbourhood with friends or travelling across town for an event, Samsung SOS+ helps put support within reach.

Because the best memories are made when you can focus on the experience—not the what-ifs.

Made for a Generation That Never Sits Still

Youth culture is powered by movement.

One day it’s a campus event, the next it’s a pop-up market, a music festival, a streetwear drop, a sports match or a spontaneous road trip with friends. South Africa’s young people are constantly in motion, embracing opportunities and making the most of every moment.

But while adventure is exciting, not every moment goes exactly as planned.

It might be waiting for transport after dark. Navigating an unfamiliar area. Walking to your car after an event. Or simply finding yourself in a situation that feels uncomfortable.

These are the moments where peace of mind matters most.

Samsung SOS+ was designed to be there in the background—ready when needed, but never getting in the way of living life to the fullest.

Your Backup Plan for the Unplanned

The reality is that confidence doesn’t come from avoiding life’s experiences. It comes from knowing you’re prepared for them.

Samsung SOS+ acts as a trusted safety companion, helping users feel more secure as they move through their day. Whether you’re heading out with friends, travelling alone or exploring somewhere new, having access to support through your Samsung device can make all the difference.

Think of it as your backup plan for the unexpected—a reassuring presence that lets you get on with the things that matter.

Live More. Worry Less.

Youth Month is ultimately a celebration of possibility.

It’s about the young South Africans building communities, driving culture, creating trends and shaping the future. It’s about embracing opportunities, stepping outside comfort zones and experiencing everything life has to offer.

Samsung believes technology should empower people to do exactly that.

As South Africa’s youth continue to discover, connect and celebrate, Samsung SOS+ is there to help make those experiences safer—so they can spend less time worrying and more time making memories.

This Youth Month, go to the concert. Take the trip. Explore the city. Try something new.

Live boldly. Experience more. And let Samsung SOS+ help keep you covered along the way.

©Higher Education Media Service.