Coveted accolade for SA students
NINE South Africans were awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships for positively impacting the lives of fellow South Africans and for their commitment to making a difference in the world.
The national secretary of the Rhodes Scholarships in Southern Africa, Ndumiso Luthuli, said they were inspired by the energy, leadership potential and commitment of the recipients to making a positive contribution and impact in Africa and beyond.
“We are excited by this cohort of Rhodes scholars-elect; outstanding young graduates from universities across the region who have studied diverse disciplines, ranging from ICT, to entrepreneurship, to occupational therapy, medicine and social work, to engineering…
“Rhodes Scholarships, which were set up following a bequest in the will of the late Cecil John Rhodes, who died in 1902, are awarded to young graduates, of outstanding intellect and character.”
The awards are granted to holistic all-rounders, based on talent and excellence.
Among the recipients are Lisha Jeena, Nerissa Naidoo and Muhammed Razzak.
Jeena, 26, was honoured as UKZN’s Distinguished Student in her year.
She founded the UKZN Médecins Sans Frontières student organisation and pioneered health screening initiatives in underprivileged communities.
Jeena aspires to further her interest in public health and infectious diseases.
She also seeks to register for an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine at Oxford University.
Naidoo, 23, obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree, summa cum laude, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and was awarded a post-graduate Fulbright Scholarship.
She recently graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Harvard University.
“I am invested in defending fundamental freedoms, both online and off, particularly those of minorities navigating a digital world,” said Naidoo.
Razzak, 23, is completing a Master of
Science degree in Electrical Engineering, at the University of Cape Town.
He is passionate about finding solutions to challenges faced on the African continent.
He has done stints at a top-tier management consultancy and in the engineering industry.
At Oxford University, Razzak intends to further his studies in engineering.
The other recipients are Kgosietsile Diphokwane, Emma Dreyer, Seluleko Ngcobo, Tala Ross, Andrew Tucker and Natali van Zijl.
Notable South African Rhodes Scholars included an economic adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trudi Makhaya; the former chief executive of Standard Bank, Jacko Maree; the former vice-chancellor of UCT, Dr Max Price; and former judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Belinda van Heerden.