Psychology Alumni Flying the UP flag high

The Mail & Guardian publishes the names of 200 exceptional and noteworthy individuals below the age of 35 in its list of 200 Young South Africans. This list has been published for more than 15 years and has featured UP alumni, staff and students. As a partner in this trailblazing project that showcases South Africa’s most innovative young professionals, the University of Pretoria would now like to draw attention to two of our prominent psychology alumni, Ms Ayanda Magida and Ms Abigail Mutshidzi, who have been recognised for their outstanding achievement in their careers and were included in the lists of 2019 and 2021 respectively.

 Ayanda Magida graduated from the University of Pretoria with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences (cum laude), followed by a BAHons and master’s degree in research psychology. As an academic researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, her research focuses on the future of work, the social and economic effects of digitalisation and digital and digital financial inclusion. She is currently a PhD candidate conducting research on the political economy of the digital divide in South Africa with a view to contributing to the academic understanding of the digital divide in the African context. She has made, and continues to make valuable academic contributions to this area of study through her research endeavours, which not only broaden existing knowledge of digitalisation, but will hopefully inspire the development of implementable action steps that will contribute to positive changes.

Magida takes on several roles: she oversees and manages the research portfolio for the Chair of Digital Business at the Wits Business School (WBS); is responsible for driving the research agenda and coordinating the school’s master’s and PhD programmes; plays a significant role in the 4IRSA initiative, which seeks to proactively facilitate discussions about the Fourth Industrial Revolution; is responsible for the development and implementation of the 4IRSA initiative; and acts as an advocate for the transformation of female representation in academia. She is one of the 30 African and Coloured women to have received a fellowship from the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF), whose primary aim is to alter the gender and racial profile of leaders in academia. Magida is representative of South Africa’s brilliant young minds committed to the country’s overall improvement. 

Abigail Mulondo Mutshidzi, who holds a master’s degree in psychology from UP and is a PhD candidate and lecturer in Public Health at the University of the Free State, is another bright star that continues to shine and make significant contributions, particularly in the health sector. Her commitment to public health has led to her well-deserved recognition by the Mail & Guardian. Her work involves the promotion of health education and the prevention of disease by creating awareness in communities in various ways. In essence she aims to facilitate access to health care and promote universal health coverage (UHC). She said: ‘I hope that at the end of my journey I will have done absolutely everything in my power to make sure that every single person has the opportunity to receive the best health care and treatment, regardless of their financial or social standing.’ Mutshidzi wears many hats, all of which demonstrate her dynamism and her desire to make a meaningful difference in South Africa and beyond. She is a lecturer and also the founder of the Graduate Digital Desk, which is described as a platform creating opportunities to add to the South African knowledge economy through the support and mentorship of students on their postgraduate journeys. She is an alumna of the Global Young Leaders Conference (GLYC) and a Golden Key International Honor Society member and advisor, in which capacity she continues to contribute towards academic excellence and leadership. Her arduous efforts in the fields of health and leadership truly encompass the kind of young people that South Africa needs to build a better tomorrow. 

The Mail & Guardian’s list of 200 Young South Africans celebrates excellence, but also inspires young people in South Africa to realise their potential to be changemakers. Ayanda Magida and Abigail Mutshidzi are exemplary and reflect the positive changes that can be achieved when young people take control of their futures by responding innovatively to day-to-day challenges.

For more information about the Mail & Guardians list of 200 Young South Africans go to:

https://200youngsouthafricans.co.za/