Now in its 15th year, the Alumni Awards recognise outstanding personal and professional achievements of graduates who are living the values of Nelson Mandela University and its predecessor institutions – a belief in education as a liberatory tool, being in the service of society and creating impact that reaches far beyond the self.
“This year’s recipients reflect what it truly means to use education not only to rise, but to uplift others,” said Alumni Relations Director, Paul Geswindt.
“Their lives are stories of perseverance, purpose and profound care – for their communities, their professions, and for the futures they are helping to build.”
In honouring its alumni, the University also pays tribute to the rich legacy of its founding institutions – the former University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), Port Elizabeth Technikon and Vista University (PE Campus) – each of which contributed to the tapestry of transformation that is now Mandela University.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa acknowledged alumni for journeying with the University and supporting it in strengthening its networks nationally, on the continent and globally.
“We acknowledge the foundations upon which our university was established, and we celebrate all our alumni and friends, including those from our founding institutions, because without knowing your history, you cannot find your future,” she said.
“So, we honour these alumni, the professors and vice-chancellors who have built this institution and the strong foundations on which we work at the moment. We share in their vision, are proud of the values entrenched in building our new-generation university.”
That legacy is reflected in Dr Paul Dalmeyer, recipient of a Special Award for his lifetime contributions to reproductive medicine and medical education. It is championed by Mr Khaya Matiso, whose decades of leadership in higher and technical education have opened doors for thousands of students.
It also shines through Hayley Ward, South Africa’s top squash player and a national accounting top achiever; through Atherton Mutombwera, whose biotech startup made international headlines; and through Babalwa Nkwentsha, who is shaping policy and programmes impacting over 25 000 young people through innovation, partnerships and global platforms.
In total, 12 awards were presented – six Rising Star, four Achiever, and two Special Awards – spanning fields as diverse as biotechnology, construction, public health, education, sport, finance and youth development.
But it was their personal reflections that left a lasting mark.
“When I received the email, I was genuinely speechless – a rare feat for me,” Brent Sin Hidge, a hospital pharmacist and digital health advocate, quipped as he accepted a Rising Star Award at the Boardwalk Convention Centre on Friday night.
“This award isn't just for me. It's a testament to the incredible people who believed in me. To my former lecturers here at NMU … you didn’t just impart knowledge; you ignited a passion and saw potential in a young student. Your dedication to teaching and your unwavering support laid the foundation for everything that followed.”
He recounted the sacrifices of his mother, the influence of his lecturers, and his hope that his work would help build “a sturdy tree, one whose shade the next generation – including my daughter – can rest under.”
For fellow Rising Star recipient, quantity surveyor and Technical Director MEPF (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection Services) Lead at AECOM Africa, Khanyisa Mabala, the evening was a full-circle moment.
“I would have never imagined accepting an award like this, in this very hall,” she said.
Her powerful tribute to her late father, who took her on construction site visits at age 11, reminded the audience that the seeds of purpose are often planted early and nurtured in love.
“My role model had already told me I belonged,” she said. “So, when I entered a male-dominated industry, I wasn’t seeking validation – I already had it.”
She paid homage to the lecturers at Mandela University who “saw something in me long before I saw it in myself,” including her mentor, Prof Gerrit Crafford.
“He unknowingly nominated himself for this award. So much of who I am today is a reflection of his influence.”
Managing Director of Ultimate Education Group and creator of the SABC2 show Ultimate Maths, Shaun Jacobs, recalled the defining moment that changed the course of his career forever.
“I think it was during my third year; we were sent on an excursion to a rural school just outside Gqeberha. The aim was to understand the diversity of South Africa’s education system. What I experienced that day shook me. It lit a fire in me. It opened my eyes to the inequalities so many learners face daily, and it sparked a purpose in me that hasn’t faded since,” he shared.
“That one day became the foundation of my mission: to make high-quality education accessible to every learner in South Africa – whether they live in Sandton or a small village, whether it’s midday or midnight. That rural school visit still comes up in stories I tell around the braai, because it wasn’t just a field trip – it was the beginning of my calling.”
Accepting his award, Ryan Le Roux, acknowledged family and friends who had been is greatest support, including Pastor George Georgiou and Professor Jean Greyling for their role in starting up the LEVA Foundation.
“I’m part of a generation that didn’t start apartheid, nor did we lead the revolution that ended it. But I’ve been a direct beneficiary of its horrendous legacy – and that’s most visible when you look at how wealth is still distributed in our country,” he said.
After graduating, Le Roux spent five years playing rugby around Europe, all while “quietly carrying this growing conviction that I needed to come home and make a difference”.
And so, he did, challenged by a notion that justice wasn’t abstract but concrete and intentional. He began teaching and coaching until he realised that those he was helping were already privileged and would thrive with or without his support.
“It was during my time at this University that these words of Mandela took root: ‘Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice’.”
Founder of Chapu Chartered Accountants Inc., Rhangani Mbhalati, who grew up in a village in Tzaneen, uses his firm to create jobs, mentor youth and build economic inclusion from rural Limpopo to Rwanda.
“This recognition is both an honour and a deeply personal milestone,” he said. “Nelson Mandela University has been instrumental in shaping the foundation of my professional and personal life. The values and knowledge instilled in me during my time at the university continue to guide my work, especially in building a purpose-driven firm that empowers young professionals from under-resourced backgrounds.”
Through their acceptance speeches – live and via video – the recipients echoed a central belief, that Nelson Mandela University is not just an institution of learning. It forges purpose-driven lives, cultivates leadership and equips those determined to make a meaningful difference.
“These stories remind us that the values of Nelson Mandela—integrity, compassion, justice and resilience—live on in every graduate who chooses to serve before self,” said Geswindt.
As alumni, they represent not only what Mandela University has achieved—but what is still possible.
Celebrating excellence and service: Nelson Mandela University officials and alumni at Friday night’s Alumni Awards ceremony at the Boardwalk Convention Centre were (clockwise from left): Alumni Relation Director Paul Geswindt; SRMA Senior Director Dr Denver Webb; Special Award recipients Khanya Matiso and Dr Paul Dalmeyer; Achiever Awards recipients Ryan Le Roux, Runeshan Moodley, Professor Willie Chinyamurindi and Rhangani Mbhalati; Rising Star Award recipients Brent Sin Hidge and Shaun Jacobs; Alumni Association President Siphile Hlwathika; Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa; Rising Star Awards recipients Khanyisa Mabala and Babalwa Nkwentsha; and DVC: Learning and Teaching Dr Muki Moeng.