SU shines in M&G ’s 200 Young South Africans list

FLAVIA DAVIDS

Stellenbosch University (SU) became the subject of national spotlight upon the newspaper publication Mail and Guardian’s installation of its choices for the Top 200 Young South Africans. A total of 13 Maties were recognised by the annual initiative, which has been a regular feature of the publication since 2005. The appointment of the 200 Top Young South Africans is aimed at recognising indelible contributions to business and innovation, health, and education, among other categories, made by the youth of South Africa. The newspaper publication received 3000 public nominations, and potential finalists were shortlisted and interviewed. Die Matie was able to get into conversation with two of its awardees, namely SU alum Maambele Khosa and SU lecturer of law Rukshana Parker.

Khosa was honoured by the Mail and Guardian as founder and director of SheCab, a transportation hailing service provided by women for women. SheCab was Khosa’s innovative solution to the challenges that women face in their commute.

Since its establishment in 2021, the SheCab employs 13 members, each of whom are dedicated to ensuring the safety and empowerment of women in the transportation industry.

Khosa’s installation by the Mail and Guardian in its list of 200 achievers has left her with a lot of excitement. “I am incredibly honoured and thrilled to be recognized as one of the 200 Young South Africans by the Mail and Guardian,” said Khosa. “It’s truly a humbling experience to be among so many talented and passionate individuals who are making a positive impact in our country,” she explained. Khosa hopes that her achievement will draw attention to the critical insecurity faced by women in South Africa on a daily basis, particularly concerning their safety during transportation.

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“By showcasing the efforts and success of SheCab, I aim to inspire others to address this problem and advocate for safer and more inclusive transportation options, ultimately promoting greater empowerment and security for women across the country,” she explained.

The achievements of SU lecturer Rukshana Parker were also honoured by the Mail and Guardian Parker has lectured civil procedure, law of succession and law of trusts at SU since 2022. Her ability to create a positive, engaging and collaborative working environment was celebrated by the Mail and Guardian Parker conveyed her gratitude at her achievement. “It is an incredible feeling to know that my efforts have been recognized as something worthy of recognition,” explained Parker.

Parker has conducted extensive research on organised crime in South Africa, with focal points including assassinations, drugs and gangs. Parker is hopeful that her research will encourage others to empower individuals and communities, and direct attention to the urgent need for investment in social programs, mentorship, and support networks in gangridden areas. “I hope that it will raise awareness about the importance of rehabilitation and education within the criminal justice system and that it also draws attention to the power of community-based initiatives and interventions,” explained Parker. “By shedding light on these issues, I believe we can foster a more compassionate and understanding society that embraces the transformative power of education and community-driven solutions to address societal challenges.”

Khosa and Parker continue in their roles at SU as marketing and communications coordinator of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking and as lecturer in the Private Law department. Khosa is pursuing a master’s degree at SU that investigates the evolution of social entrepreneurship studies in South Africa. Parker is pursuing a doctorate in law at the University of Cape Town (UCT) that explores the reformation of intestate succession in South Africa for a better distribution of wealth.