Undergraduate Scholars
Crispus Macharia
Crispus Macharia pursued a Bachelor of Science in Property Studies. Through mentorship from the Equity Leaders Programme, Crispus learned more about admission to top world universities, and when he joined the Equity African Leaders Programme community, his dream became a reality. Crispus was an active member of the Association of Built Environment Students (ABES), UCT’s Green Campus Initiative (GCI), and His People Society. Crispus also attended the Baobab Summit in Ghana, representing UCT in the Scholars Council.
Anniqa Ebrahim
Anniqa Ebrahim pursued a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Politics, Governance and Law. Anniqa works with several orphanages and charity organisations within her community to eradicate poverty, uplift the minds and conditions of children and provide a platform for reliable resources including education and tutoring. Anniqa aspires to establish a non-governmental organisation that aids people in her community by providing them with skills that would render them employable, which would become a platform for future generations.
Nyasha Mashanda
Nyasha Mashanda pursued an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, a choice inspired by his desire for greater electrical coverage in his country. Nyasha is convinced that every child should have free access to scientific knowledge so, after completing his A-levels and taking a gap year, he tutored economically disadvantaged children in science subjects. Nyasha is also a chess player who has won a number of international chess awards.
Tinotenda Mutsemi
Tinotenda Mutsemi is an undergraduate scholar pursuing Actuarial Science. He became interested in risk assessment from a young age, growing up in the city of Harare, where he witnessed people struggling helplessly and businesses collapsing under circumstances that could have been avoided. Like many young people in Zimbabwe that can’t afford the cost of higher education, Tinotenda used the gap year before varsity to volunteer as a teacher. Tinotenda is convinced that his degree will equip him with skills that would aid him in thinking outside of the box as an attribute of reliable leadership.
Sinoxolo Cotyi
Sinoxolo Cotyi was an undergraduate scholar who majored in Human Physiology with Biochemistry. He hopes to pursue a career in forensic pathology. Tutoring his peers in matric was one of the many volunteer projects that Sinoxolo was involved in. He also taught computer literacy and maths at Boost Africa, a non-governmental organisation that works to enrich Africa through education. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Sinoxolo supports raising awareness of issues facing LGBTQ and other marginalised communities.
Khanyisile Adrianna Dhlomo
Khanyisile Adrianna Dhlomo was an undergraduate from Zimbabwe who studied Social Work. Khanyisile has carried out volunteer work in homes. She credits the Mastercard Foundation with affording her the opportunity of a lifetime, and after completing her studies, she hopes to offer her professional services to others. She is aware that social challenges can never be eradicated but is convinced that her efforts will contribute to making the world a better place.
Clayton Sibanda
Clayton Sibanda was an undergraduate Engineering Scholar. He participated in Teach Out, a branch of Ubunye that was involved in tutoring students in disadvantaged secondary schools in Cape Town. Clayton demonstrated great interest in improving other people’s lives using education by volunteering as a tutor in his former school. He is also an informative public speaker.
Rufaro Madamombe
Rufaro Madamombe was an undergraduate Scholar who enrolled for a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Law, Political Studies and Governance. She is passionate about educating young people and was a dedicated member of the Students' Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO). Rufaro plans to use her political and legal knowledge to adequately address the education problem in her country, Zimbabwe, and to empower and motivate youth to take action. She was a member of Emergination Africa, an organisation that provides young people with access to higher education. Rufaro believes that a well-rounded education from UCT will assist in her dream of being an agent for change in her community.
Nicola Jeranyama
Nicola Jeranyama was an undergraduate pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. She was the leader of the first aid club at her high school. She was also a member of the Makomborero Zimbabwe Organisation, where she was involved in a variety of community service. She hopes to return to Zimbabwe after completion of her studies and utilise her acquired skills and knowledge in aiding her country.
Dancan Angwenyi
Dancan Angwenyi was an undergraduate who pursued a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. As a Computer Science student, he wanted to address security and help curb terrorism in his country, Kenya. Dancan was actively involved in his community, mentoring high school students and young children in his community on the importance of education. He aspires to change unethical leadership and had started nurturing his leadership skills by joining the House Sub-committee of College House and was also elected member of UCT’s Students’ Representative Council.
Postgraduate Scholars
Kefiloe Mpai
Kefiloe Mpai pursued an honours degree in Film and TV Studies. She has a diploma in Video Production from Boston Media House, and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Screen Production. Kefiloe served as a mentor in the Humanities Faculty at UCT for two years. In 2014 she served as a Graca Machel Residence House committee member, as well as a volunteer for the Students' Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO).
Carol Masingi
Carol Masingi pursued her Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Environmental and Geographical Science in line with her interest in urban development and urban governance. Carol was part of a dynamic team of Aids and Change Educators in the HIV/AIDS Inclusivity and Change Unit (HAICU), as well as a postgraduate representative for the Mastercard Scholars Council. She takes pride in helping others perform better in an academic environment and loves participating in peer education and mentorship. She tutored students in the Environmental and Geographical Science Department.
Ayanda Mahlaba
Ayanda Mahlaba pursued a Bachelor of Social Science Honours Degree in Public Policy & Administration, prior to which he obtained a Bachelor of Social Science in International Relations, Industrial Sociology and Public Policy & Administration from UCT. Ayanda's honours research project explored the performance of local government in KwaZulu-Natal. One of his goals was to bridge the gap between the state, society and academia. Ayanda led numerous student-run development organisations, which worked to impact education and youth development of previously disadvantaged communities outside Cape Town. He was a volunteer tutor for TeachOut, before becoming their subject coordinator for functional English, and was the deputy chairperson for the umbrella development organisation, Ubunye.
Ellis Tsetse
Ellis Tsetse pursued an honours degree in Medical Biochemistry, and holds a double bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology. Ellis aims to return to Zimbabwe at the end of her studies, where she aspires to play a pivotal role in the health sector. She also hopes to inspire young girls in Zimbabwe who dream of a career in the sciences. Before joining the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Ellis co-founded student clubs and became an activist for children and women affected by HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe. She also volunteered as a mathematics tutor and helped create sustainable community projects for youth in her community. At UCT, she was a member of the HIV/AIDS coordination unit, HAICU. She was also involved in SHAWCO and other societies that focus on helping people of different backgrounds.
Makhosi Mkhize
Makhosi Mkhize was a postgraduate who majored in Archaeology and obtained her Bachelor of Social Science in Archaeology and Gender Studies from UCT. Makhosi served as a leader at her local church and at the UCT Student Christian Fellowship, and as a motivational speaker and tutor at her former high school. She believes that everyone, especially African women, deserve the same privilege of education and that education is the best tool that African people can use to fight the numerous challenges currently faced.
Mbatha Molapo
Mbatha Molapo is from Lesotho and pursued a Bachelor of Science Honours in Nuclear Power. Prior to joining the programme he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Computer Science and Physics from the National University of Lesotho. In 2015, he served in the Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) political party as regional youth committee representative in Maputsoe, Lesotho.
Minga Mbweck Kongo
Minga Mbweck Kongo was an honours scholar in Anthropology at UCT, after having graduated from the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000 with a degree in Biomedical Science. His interest in African development led him to Anthropology. Minga previously worked in the field of emergency medical services, architecture and with a few non-governmental organisations. He was involved in research with Fixing the City and he managed Caregivers Cape Town, a community-based project that provides care for elderly people in the Western Cape. Minga is also passionate about youth activities.
Zolani Goniwe
Zolani Goniwe was an honours scholar who pursued a bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning. Prior to this he completed a Bachelor of Social Science degree majoring in History, Sociology, Environmental and Geographical Sciences. Throughout his undergraduate studies he was involved in various leadership activities on campus, focused especially on student affairs and development. He also mentored and tutored first-year students in the Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department.
Sabelo Mpisi
Sabelo Mpisi pursued an honours degree in Social Anthropology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender Studies, Drama and Social Anthropology. After Sabelo matriculated, he spent his gap year tutoring mathematics, physical sciences and Afrikaans at his former high school, and gave motivational talks to Grade 12 learners. While working for Standard Bank, he helped people in disadvantaged communities in KwaZulu-Natal to open bank accounts free of charge. Sabelo plans to establish a company or non-governmental organisation to help elevate the lives of the people from his hometown.