Brave thinking can show up in many different ways. Sometimes, it is the determination that carries an athlete through the final metres of a race; other times, it is the courage to shine light on what others would prefer to keep hidden, or the gentle act of helping children feel that they belong. This edition celebrates the people who remind us that bravery often begins in the mind, long before it becomes action.

One of them is Amohetsoe Shale, the 22-year-old innovator who creates life-changing solutions for amputees in rural South Africa. Her work is rooted in compassion and hope. Her journey reminds us that brave ideas can open doors for entire communities.

Former Maties track star Gardeo Isaacs shows us bravery of a different kind. Winning bronze as part of South Africa’s 4 x 400 m relay team at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was a moment preceded by years of discipline and sacrifice. Now he is more inspired than ever to realise his dream of an individual gold on the global stage. 

For investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh, brave thinking means asking difficult questions and refusing to look away. His work has exposed corruption, halted wasteful spending, and reminded South Africans why accountability matters. His belief that journalism can help build a fairer society is a powerful example of courage used for the common good.

At the Altena Primary School, Mieke Hall brings her own kind of bravery that is based on creativity, care and belonging. By turning learners’ own drawings into bright, welcoming murals, she has helped transform the school into a place where children can see themselves represented, and feel that they matter. Her work proves that imagination, too, can be an act of courage.

And then there is Luther Chipembere, whose commitment to addressing hunger comes from personal experience. As the first Stellenbosch University researcher to win the FameLab South Africa competition, he is helping the world think differently about how we anticipate and respond to food insecurity. As illustrated by his work, brave thinking is not only about innovation, but also about empathy and responsibility.

Together, these stories show that brave thinking does not belong to one field or one kind of person. It lives in athletes, researchers, artists, journalists and young entrepreneurs. It lives in every one of us who chooses to imagine better and act on it. May this edition inspire you to think boldly, with heart and with hope.

Blanché de Vries-Bartes

SU Visual Arts lecturer Mieke Hall worked with learners at Altena Primary School to turn their drawings into vibrant murals that reflect their lives, helping her prove her PhD hypothesis that inclusive visual material in classrooms shapes children’s sense of belonging.

Mieke Hall, a lecturer in Visual Communication Design and Digital Production at Stellenbosch University (SU), has spent years thinking about how children see themselves represented in books, classrooms and other spaces where they learn to make sense of the world. Her recent project at Altena Primary School in Strand, part of her PhD studies, brought those ideas to life: Working with learners, she transformed the school’s walls with murals rooted in the youth’s own drawings, cultures and everyday experiences. 

The result is a vivid portrait of inclusion and belonging, shaped by her academic research, her art practice, and her belief that representation in early childhood development spaces matters profoundly. The walls at Altena Primary School now depict lively scenes of children playing soccer, cycling and reading against a backdrop of South African proteas and strelitzias. Each character looks like someone they know, or someone they could be.

Birth of a brave idea 

Her project at Altena is rooted in a long academic journey. As an undergraduate, she studied how children’s books were used during apartheid to entrench racial stereotypes. Even post-1994, she found subtle but persistent patterns that showed that while the stories had changed, many of the visual cues remained the same.

For her master’s degree, she explored how transcultural books could place characters in shared, everyday South African settings – shopping centres, bus stops, city streets – rather than in racially coded environments. In classrooms where she read these stories, children responded immediately. They recognised themselves and one another.

Her PhD took this discovery a step further. She examined three primary schools, including Altena, looking closely at their books, displays and educational posters. What she found was a mismatch between the children’s lives and the images surrounding them. Walls were covered with commercial posters and laminated charts downloaded from Pinterest. Bookshelves were filled with imported stories from Europe, showing kings and queens and snowy landscapes. “The environment did not reflect the diversity of the learners at all,” she says. “The teachers told me they just did not have the resources or time to find more representative materials.”

Co-creating an inclusive space

And so Mieke decided to use art and design to create teaching spaces that were inclusive, affirming, and rooted in local contexts. In Altena’s case, the school asked her to use their twelve core values as the foundation for the mural designs. In sessions with the children, she discussed each value and showed them culturally relevant images. They drew scenes that captured how they interpreted the values: ‘Generosity’, for instance, became two learners sharing a sandwich.

Mieke digitised all the drawings, pulling characters and ideas directly from the children’s work. She then projected her adapted illustrations onto the walls, marking out colour areas so that the learners could paint by number on the mural day. Some decided to use their own colour schemes. She smiles at the thought. “The point was participation. The fact that they enjoyed it was the most important part.” Although the initiative formed part of her PhD studies, she knew she could not show up as ‘the researcher’. “It was important not to tell them what things should look like. We worked together. It was meant to be co-created.”

When Stephan du Toit of Prominent Paint in Strand heard about Mieke’s initiative, he donated the paint, making the transformation extra special, she says gratefully.

A wall that shows us all

Representation mattered at every step. For purposes of diversity, it was suggested that one of the teachers be shown wearing a hijab. Mieke also used a wide range of South African skin-tone crayons during the classroom drawing sessions. Up until that point, many children had been drawing themselves with a single peach-coloured pencil labelled as “skin colour”. The discovery of a full palette was revelatory. “Finally, they could draw themselves as they really were,” she says. “That was powerful.”

They intentionally selected local plants and flowers for the murals, including proteas, cosmos and strelitzias. “It reflects their environment and isn’t something generic,” she says.

Her teaching philosophy, too, is shaped by a desire to be real. In an era of artificial intelligence, she wants her students to understand the value of process, observation and their own creative voice. “Anyone can use AI, but you can usually see that it’s AI,” she says. “Your own voice is what distinguishes you. That’s why we emphasise drawing, sketchbooks, making notes, observing the world. It brings depth.”

Mieke hopes that the project will grow into a wider initiative and perhaps be included as one of SU’s social impact initiatives. She imagines teams of Design and Education students visiting schools, hosting drawing workshops and co-creating murals with learners. She is also developing a practical guide for teachers with tips on how to curate an inclusive classroom, how to choose visual materials, and what to consider when designing murals. “A kind of starter pack,” she explains.

Believer in the power of pictures

Outside academia, Mieke also works as a freelance illustrator and designer. She has created work for Huisgenoot, Durbanville Hills and United Airlines’ in-flight magazine, and has illustrated six children’s books. Her life is a colourful collage of creativity: Along with her PhD studies and teaching, she is also raising two young children. “Coffee carries me through,” she jokes.

Her home is filled with the books that she once collected for her research and now serve as her two children’s nightly reading. “It’s important for them to see themselves as well as other cultures in the material they read,” she says. She limits screen time, preferring stories about tortoises and dassies on Table Mountain to global franchises. Mieke remembers her own childhood vividly: her father buying her a book each day he came home from work, weekly library visits – the early sparks that made her fall in love with illustration. “If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says.

Her belief in the quiet power of books, images and stories sits at the heart of her work. By helping children see themselves represented on their own school walls, she hopes to nurture something lasting – a sense of pride, belonging and possibility.

“It has such a big impact on children,” she says. “If we can use design for good, especially in South Africa, where there is such a need for change, we really should. Representation truly matters.”

Over the past decade, the nation has come to know watchdog journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh not only as a highly skilled fact-finder, but also a brave South African who is not scared to scratch beneath the surface to expose societal ills.  

With his unique insights into South Africa’s ongoing state capture and corruption crisis, investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s work has been impactful to say the least. It has led to the cancellation of multibillion-rand government contracts, brought about the political demise of several top political figures, and focused the public’s attention on important governance and corruption issues.

His work is fuelled by his love for South Africa, his willingness to think bravely, and his belief that investigative journalism has the potential to expose societal ills and bring about change. “It is our responsibility to hold power to account,” Myburgh says. “The various levels of government are entrusted with large sums of money, and in a developmental country such as South Africa, that money should be used to address the ills of the past and support economic projects to improve the nation for everyone. When the money is wasted, it is to the detriment of our society.”

The seed for his career as an investigative journalist was most likely planted when he first read All the President’s Menby journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The book details the duo’s investigation into the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. Inspired by the fact that thorough journalism could lead to the fall of the corrupt incumbent of arguably the most powerful position in the world, Myburgh joined the editorial team of Beeld soon after obtaining his honours degree in Journalism from Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2009.

Since then, he has worked for Rapport, News24 and, most recently, Daily Maverick. Having come full circle, he now also teaches investigative journalism at SU.

String of scoops

His breakthrough was an exposé about the South African National Defence Force’s participation in the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic in March 2013, revealing how poorly South African soldiers were prepared and equipped for the confrontation. Thanks to a Naspers prize in recognition of his work, he had the opportunity to travel to New York to attend Columbia University’s summer programme in investigative journalism.

This was the start of a range of bold projects, and an equally lengthy list of awards, including South Africa’s prestigious Taco Kuiper award for investigative journalism, which he has won thrice. His series of exposés on a multibillion-rand contract for new locomotives at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) earned him the Kuiper award in 2015. Four years later, Myburgh again scooped the accolade, this time for the R255 million Free State asbestos audit exposé, which culminated in the arrest and prosecution of former ANC strongman Ace Magashule. And in 2021, he won the award for the acclaimed Digital Vibes series, which led to the axing of then health minister Zweli Mkhize. He was also part of the #GuptaLeaks project that won the Kuiper award in 2017. 

Myburgh has published two books, Gangster State (2019) and The Republic of Gupta (2017).

Seen a lot, but still shocked

Despite all that he has seen, heard and exposed, he was still shocked when his recent investigation into the Independent Development Trust (IDT) and its CEO, Tebogo Malaka, led to him being offered a bribe. This was captured on camera, and the footage was released by Daily Maverick. “The procurement corruption during the Covid-19 pandemic also shocked me. It was a moment of national crisis, and still people stole millions of rands,” he says.

Constantly dealing with troubling political machinations and people who effectively steal money from the poor for their own gain takes its toll, Myburgh admits. And unfortunately, there is not enough support for investigative journalism. Although it seems as if their work is appreciated by the public, not everyone is willing to put their money where their mouth is, he says. “It is a very perplexing and frustrating situation,” Myburgh explains. “There are only a few journalists in the country who have the skills as well as the opportunity and financial support to do investigative work.”

Getting the fundamentals right

To effect change in South Africa, more funds are needed to adequately equip law enforcement, investigative and prosecution authorities. “These entities were hollowed out during the state capture years, and we need a concerted decision by government to support the fight against corruption by adequately funding agencies such as the National Prosecuting Agency, specifically the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) and the Hawks,” he says. “Successful investigations and prosecutions could serve as a deterrent.”

He also argues that the governmental tender system should be redesigned to be more transparent, as shortcomings in procurement models so frequently lead to high-level graft, wasteful expenditure and poor service delivery. 

Proven to work

“Investigative journalism is not only crucial to democracy, but can have a great impact by exposing societal ills and bringing about change. There is a proof of concept. The work we do can have a very positive effect if we do it right,” Myburgh concludes. “I love South Africa, and I hope my work leads to the betterment of the country.”

When 22-year-old Amohetsoe Shale says, “The world is not ready for the impact NAVU will have on it,” she says it with a huge smile and a glimmer in her eyes. It speaks of the confidence she gained from lived experience, compassion, lots of kindness and a childhood steeped in the shared humanity of Ubuntu. 

Amohetsoe is the youngest ever CEO of a Stellenbosch University spinout, leading her company NAVU with a clarity of purpose far beyond her years. With the support of SU LaunchLab (especially Nadine Price) and Innovus, she founded NAVU in 2024 at just 21. 

Her description of NAVU reads like this: Navu is a prosthetics innovation startup developing affordable, life-changing technologies for communities that need them most. We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to move, live and thrive, and so we’re redefining what accessibility means in prosthetics. By combining engineering, human-centred design and empathy, we aim to create inclusive prosthetic solutions that restore independence, mobility and dignity.

Even the company’s name holds meaning — a gentle contraction of her parents’ names, NAledi and VUkile. “I wanted something unique,” she says, “but I also wanted to honour the people who raised me.”

Amohetsoe’s NAVU won the regional Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Western Cape competition, becoming a finalist in the national competition where she walked away as the Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year (2025), second place in the EDHE Intervarsity competition, in the category research, and fourth overall in the ABSA Innovation category.

It all started in Kei Road

Born in Milnerton, Cape Town, Amohetsoe’s story really begins when her family moved to Kei Road, a tiny farming community close to King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape. “My mom had and open-door home, and everyone was welcome. We farm with animals and crops, living off the land and sharing with our neighbours. There are no strangers who walk into our house,” she says. “Everyone is an aunt or uncle.”

She is the third-born of seven children, growing up with her younger siblings. Being the big sister to her triplet autistic brothers, one of whom lives with a disability, was the beginning of a small seed to find solutions that started growing in her.

After she matriculated at Kingsridge High School for Girls in King Williams Town,17-year-old Amohetsoe’s enrolled for her BHSc Medical Orthotics and Proshetics degree at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. She graduated four years later top of her class cum laude, with a clear vision and plan to make a real difference in the lives of patients living with disabilities.

Working with real patients at George Mukhari and Frere Hospital as part of her clinical training for her final year, opened her eyes to the harsh reality many people face in state facilities in South Africa, where limited access to modern prosthetic technology leaves them without proper mobility and having to depend on crutches.

There was especially one patient who changed everything for her: an elderly amputee from Matatiele who had to travel five hours each time to reach the clinic, including having to sleep over in a hospital on his way. “He would always come back to the clinic complaining about the same thing: the discomfort of walking around ezilalini (in the rural areas), and his prosthetic getting caught in the grass. And his back was hurting from the hip-hiking as he was compensating for the lack of support and stability in his prosthetic leg. I remember the look of disappointment on his face as they turned back, without an improvement in his walking for the third time.”

That was the moment Amohetsoe decided she is going to change the trajectory of people like this. “I decided that mobility should never depend on how much money you have. And I felt ashamed knowing that there was technology available in South Africa to assist them, but they would never access it because they didn’t have money.

“The knee is one of the most complex joints in the body,” she continues. “It is responsible for shock absorption, stability and the quality of mobility an amputee has. Yet, many amputees only have access to the bare minimum, severely compromising their quality of life. That is the sad reality in South Africa. One study showed that up to 60 per cent of amputees in the country do not have access to prosthetics, and the biggest barrier is cost and functionality.”

NAVU began because, as Amohetsoe said: “I refused to accept that an amputee’s mobility, and therefore livelihood and independence, should depend on their bank balance. We set out to turn my research on affordable, high-functioning prosthetic knees into something that people could actually access. NAVU is our promise: to design durable, locally manufacturable prosthetic knees that restore mobility without bankrupting families.”

From science to engineering

After receiving the green light from Prof Kristiaan Schreve, the head of SU’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, that he would be her supervisor, she chose Stellenbosch University and enrolled for her MEngSc in Biomedical Engineering (NQF 9). At the same time, she grabbed an unexpected opportunity: a spot in an Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Practice in a Regional Context programme (Utforsk Project) at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

From March to May 2025, she immersed herself in a practice-based learning experience, working inside a health-tech incubator in Norway, supporting dozens of early-stage medical startups. This environment sharpened her entrepreneurial instincts and her understanding of innovation in global contexts, providing her with international networking opportunities. Most of all, it expanded her vision for NAVU to build proper solutions for amputees in the country she loves tremendously.

Living the future

Since her internship, Amohetsoe and her team have already built multiple prototypes, iterating on durability, stability, rural terrain performance and local manufacturability. “We focused on performance in rural, real-world conditions, and not just the lab. We consulted with clinicians, receiving feedback from amputees, and dotting down every fact — reshaping how we prioritise features like durability, ease of maintenance and adjustability.” Today, her project has become a fully-fledged spinout company designing prototypes and testing high-functioning prosthetic knees for R7 500, a tiny fraction of the R60 000 price tags common in the industry today. What is more, is that these knees can be manufactured locally and scaled.

Seeing the glimmer in her eyes as she speaks about what lies ahead (apart from her well-deserved holiday in Kei Road, which she can’t wait for!), the future for NAVU looks bright. With industry collaboration, potential investors and a growing support network, this little company is on track to become an international sensation.

In her own words, her advice for young entrepreneurs is:

“Talk to people, a lot. Entrepreneurship isn’t a solo sprint; it’s a conversation with users, mentors, suppliers, funders and partners. Early and frequent user feedback will save you months of rework. Find mentors who will hold you accountable to milestones and who challenge your assumptions. Be financially creative: bootstrap where you can but know when to raise funding. Finally, build with humility and purpose, remember that for many of your users, your product will materially affect their daily lives. That responsibility should guide every decision you make!”

The world may not be ready for the impact NAVU will have, as Amohetsoe so rightfully says, but rural South Africa has been ready for a long time already. And Amohetsoe Shale and her team at NAVU are leading the way.

An AI-powered innovation by a Stellenbosch PhD researcher anticipates food shortages so that decision-makers can step in and avert a crisis. For its relevance to our continent and our times, it took top spot at FameLab South Africa. 

In September, Luther Chipembere became the first Stellenbosch University (SU) researcher to win the FameLab South Africa competition, earning national acclaim for developing an AI-powered ‘digital super brain’ capable of predicting hunger before it strikes.

FameLab is a leading global platform for emerging science communicators, challenging early-career researchers to deliver a compelling three-minute talk on a scientific topic, which is judged on content, clarity and charisma. 

A doctoral student in Agricultural Economics and Artificial Intelligence, Chipembere uses machine learning to train the digital super brain with historical data on droughts, rainfall patterns, food prices, conflict and war. With each dataset, the model becomes more adept at identifying early warning signs of food insecurity, giving policymakers a crucial window to intervene before crises escalate.

Shedding light and saving lives

Choosing food security as his research area did not happen by chance – it was personal. “I come from Zimbabwe, a country once known as the breadbasket of Africa. But this has changed along the way. I wanted to understand where we went wrong and what could be done. That is why I chose to focus my research on food security.”

Chipembere emphasises that the tool is designed not only for decision-makers, but also to demystify hunger for the public. “People often struggle to truly grasp what it takes to solve this kind of problem. This model helps simplify the concept and deepen understanding.”

What sets his innovation apart is its proactive nature. Instead of waiting for hunger to dominate headlines, it anticipates it. “It’s about predicting hunger before it starts – empowering policymakers to act in time to save lives,” he says. “The truth is that hunger is not always prioritised. But every second we delay making decisions means a human life is at stake. I want this research to accelerate our response to hunger so that it can save lives.”

African voices matter

Alongside his PhD research, Chipembere works as an administrator at the African Doctoral Academy in SU International’s Centre for Capacity Development in Africa, where he contributes to strengthening doctoral education across the continent. “My work exposes me to people from Engineering, Biochemistry, Agriculture and many other disciplines,” he says. “Those diverse perspectives have made me a better researcher.”

Chipembere went on to represent South Africa at the international FameLab finals at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland at the end of November. Although he did not take the top prize, he describes the experience as an honour and an opportunity to amplify African science on a global stage. “African voices are not always highlighted, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good or clear enough,” he says. “I hope that by being there, I helped reinforce the message that African researchers and African voices matter in global science.”

He also hopes his journey will inspire others. “I want young researchers to speak up and take ownership of their scientific voices. We need more of that.”

FameLab made research less lonely

One of the most valuable aspects of FameLab was the sense of networking and community it fostered. “Research can be lonely. You often experience both challenges and breakthroughs alone,” he reflects. “But when you meet others at the same stage of their careers, you realise they go through similar experiences. And you learn so much from how they see and do things as well.

“Connecting with people, learning from them, and exploring opportunities for collaboration – that was the essence of the competition.”

South Africans’ ongoing battle with crime inspired first-year electrical and electronic engineering student, Tumelo Mokoena, to design SafeGuard Technologies – an innovation that uses autonomous drones to strengthen community safety. His work recently earned him a spot among South Africa’s top 10 innovators at the 2025 YouthX Nedbank Awards.

SafeGuard Technologies was born out of a spike in petty crime that was affecting Stellenbosch University (SU) students last year, including a close friend of Mokoena, who was violently robbed. The incident motivated him to enter the Stellenbosch Network’s Ideas for Change Social Innovation Challenge, determined to create a solution that could make a real difference.

“I wanted to build something practical that could help students feel safer and give security teams better tools,” says Mokoena, now the CEO (chief executive officer) of SafeGuard Technologies.

Together with fellow SU students Hangandiiwe Mamphaga (BCom [Agricultural Economics]), Alex Warrington (BEng [Mechanical]), Nokthula Zinzi Mdhluli (BSc [Computer Science]) and Eesa Sulaiman (BEng [Electrical and Electronic]), Mokoena developed a proactive, AI-(artificial intelligence) powered response system that deploys autonomous drones the moment an incident is detected.

“I’ve always enjoyed making things and imagining possibilities,” he says. “Growing up, I watched movies such as Interstellar and anime shows such as Naruto and Black Clover. They show people doing the impossible – pushing past their limits. That kind of storytelling inspired me to create and try new things. Studying engineering at Stellenbosch felt right because it gives me the tools to bring my ideas to life.”

Mokoena believes universities, municipalities, estates and community safety organisations stand to benefit most from the technology.

“These institutions already have security teams, but they lack fast-response tools and real-time visibility. Our drones will give them quicker reaction times and better information so they can protect people more effectively.”

The team is currently building their first functional prototype together with collaborators, who are supporting hardware testing and flight operations. “We completed our first drone demo on 25 November and are conducting more tests to refine the system. We hope to have a full version ready by the end of the year.”

Mokoena’s long-term vision is to grow SafeGuard into a fully viable company and the number one point of contact for aerial security in South Africa and eventually across Africa by the time he completes his studies.

Looking ahead, Mokoena’s ambition is to become the leading provider of aerial security solutions in South Africa and, eventually, across the continent.

“The next four years are going to be challenging, but we are learning a lot and building step by step. The goal is to graduate with both a product and a company that can stand on its own. We want our technology to help reduce crime in the communities we serve and to build a reliable, scalable security network people can depend on.”

For young innovators who feel they may be sitting on the next big idea, Mokoena’s advice is simple: take the leap.

“Innovation is competitive and tough, but it’s worth it. Even if you fail, it’s better to try than to live with the what if. You learn by doing, not by waiting.”

Having helped the national men’s 400 m relay team achieve a podium finish in Tokyo, former SU student athlete Gardeo Isaacs is determined to keep on pushing to realise his dream of a global individual win.  

Winning bronze as a member of the 4 x 400 m relay team at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September was a career highlight for former Maties track star Gardeo Isaacs. His team secured third place with a time of 2:57.83, narrowly missing silver. With this podium finish, they broke an eight-year medal drought for South Africa at this competition. 

Isaacs, who ran the opening leg in the heats, describes the moment as surreal. “But once I had the medal in my hand, it felt like all the hard work and sacrifices had paid off.” 

It has been an outstanding year for the relay squad, who also claimed gold at the World Relay Championships in China in May, improving on the silver medal they won at the same event in the Bahamas last year. 

Running with South Africa’s Olympic gold medallist and 400 m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk has been another highlight for 26-year-old Isaacs, who himself has been in top form in 2025, having also clocked his personal best of 45:02 in the individual 400 m event. These recent achievements have given his career as an international athlete a boost. As a full-time athlete, he competes in Europe during the European summer season – a self-funded endeavour that depends on invitations to athletics competitions, and podium finishes. 

Trained to be brave

Isaacs graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BCom in Management Sciences in 2022. As a student athlete, he was part of Maties Sport’s High-Performance Programme, which gave him a good foundation, exposed him to a professional environment, and helped him cope at a senior and elite level. He was the South African 400 m champion in 2019, and he also won bronze in the 400 m at the World University Games. In 2024, he represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Paris.

A lack of support is the biggest challenge to becoming a professional athlete in South Africa, he believes. “Athletics isn’t as well supported as the mainstream sports and does not always get the recognition it deserves. But we work just as hard as any other sportspeople in South Africa,” he adds.

Balance and persistence

Isaacs trains six days a week, which includes track sessions with his coach, Heinrich Fortuin, at Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch – a track he still describes as his athletics home – as well as gym, physiotherapy and recovery sessions. “The challenge is to find a balance between pushing your body to its limits, and practising enough caution not to injure it,” he explains. “I’m at the age where most of the 400 m athletes peak. These are the prime years; the years you won’t get back. So, it is very important to look after your body.”

His dream is to stand on the podium of an individual event at a global scale. “The life of an athlete is one of persistence. Keep working hard, keep knocking on that door, and the door will eventually open. Everyone has their own time, and my time is coming. I just need to be patient, put in the work, and trust in my training and my body.”

At the end of October, Stellenbosch University’s brightest minds gathered at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) for the 2025 Research and Innovation Excellence Awards – an evening that combined celebration, reflection and camaraderie. The theme was “Transforming knowledge into sustainable solutions”.

The awards recognise visionaries who shift thinking and shape solutions. As a reflection of the theme, this year’s handcrafted trophies, created from upcycled plastic by Lily Loompa, stand as symbols of sustainable creativity – proof that excellence and sustainability belong together.