The University of Pretoria (UP) recently honoured UP affiliates who had made the grade for this year’s Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans initiative over lunch on Hatfield campus.

“Your achievements are not just a testament to your individual brilliance and dedication, but also a shining embodiment of the values and aspirations of our beloved institution,” said Professor Carolina Koornhof, UP’s Executive Director of Finance and Business Initiatives, during the event.

For the past 17 years, young people who have had a beneficial impact on society have been chosen by the Mail & Guardian for its 200 Young South Africans list. Since the inception of the awards, 191 UP staff members and alumni – including the 32 honourees this year – have been recognised as the country’s most exceptional youth. 

This year, the publication received more than 3 000 nominees, and the theme was ‘Celebrating South African visionaries’.

“As we celebrate your accomplishments, which are at the forefront of improving our society, we are reminded of the extensive network of change-makers that UP has fostered over the years,” Prof Koornhof said. “Each one of you is a living testament to the transformative power of education, proving that knowledge, when coupled with passion and purpose, can indeed change lives.”

Mail & Guardian honourees 

Samantha Castle, Senior Manager of Alumni Relations at UP, said that UP-affiliated individuals stood out in every category this year, from arts, entertainment and health to technology and innovation.

“I am honoured that many of you could join us today,” Castle said. “I would like to wholeheartedly express my personal and collective pride in each and every one of you. You are inspiring a whole lot of us, because when you shine, UP also shines and the whole of South Africa shines.”

Sanan Mirzoyev, an awardee in the Justice & Law category, said: “Finding out that I had been selected meant a lot to me and I was quite surprised. This award adds credibility to what I am doing and it affirms that I am heading in the right direction; it really is a confidence boost.”   

Sephela Thema, awardee in the Mining & Minerals category, said: “I wasn’t working directly towards receiving this award, but getting this recognition is amazing and I am grateful to my peers who nominated me. I can say that I have been indirectly working on this through the work that I do. I am really excited.”

“I did not expect this,” said Noluthando Sithole, an awardee in the Rural Development Projects category. “I co-founded an NPO with friends, and at first, it was a hobby more than anything, but it grew to be something very close to me. I was pleasantly surprised to have won and it is exciting.”

Prof Koornhof encouraged the awardees to consider furthering their studies at UP.

“With more than 900 postgraduate options available, our institution offers a rich academic environment where innovation and research are not just encouraged but celebrated. Additionally, I urge you to explore the diverse opportunities offered by UP Online, our digital learning platform that brings world-class education to your fingertips and allows you to study at UP from anywhere, at any time and at your own pace.”

She also took the opportunity to remind the honourees to sign up to the recently launched UP Alumni Online Mall, an exciting first for a university in Africa.

“This platform is exclusive to UP alumni, and offers you savings of thousands of rands on your groceries, gym, health, travel and movie expenses, for just R150 a month or R1 800 a year. The best part, though, is that while you shop and save, the proceeds from your membership goes toward the UP Alma Mater Fund, which helps students in the ‘missing middle’ fund their studies.”