Twenty-four students who achieved the best marks in their faculties for their diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification were challenged to look beyond themselves in serving others, regardless of the discipline in which they had studied.
“We have much work ahead in helping to overcome unemployment, poverty and inequality in our country. We trust that you will look beyond yourself to respond to these and other challenges,” said Mandela University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa in her welcoming address.
Joining Prof Muthwa in congratulating the achievers at the Feather Market Centre for the prestigious function was the University’s Chair of Council Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill and the executive deans of the institution’s six faculties.
Partners, parents, supervisors, donors, sponsors, school principals and members of the Junior City Council were among the invited guests.
One of the recipients, Denis Nyirenda, flew in from Malawi, where he is principal of Health Sciences at Malawi College, to receive his award as the best Master’s in Technology by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology.
While there were diploma and degree winners from each faculty, the overall winners of the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards were Anrich Bosch (Best BTech in the social sciences and humanities), Depoa Nabela (best diploma) and Ruan Olivier (best degree) and Amy-Rose Westcott (best honours degree).
All the winners
First-Year Undergraduate Awards
Lize Muller
Rudolf Oelofse
First Diploma Awards
Adrianne Johnson
Depoa Nabela
Sandile Ngwenya
Luthokazi Veleko
Chezney MacLeod
First Degree Awards
Ashley Vrancken
Ash-Lee Bint
Robynne MacFarlane
Mylan Jonas
Elizabeth Colloty
Dione Botes
Ruan Olivier
Bachelor of Technology Awards
Rupert Family Trust Award for the best Bachelor of Technology Graduate: Social Sciences and Humanities
Anrich Bosch
Rupert Family Trust Award for the best Bachelor of Technology Graduate: Science, Engineering and Technology
Nicholas Quinn
Honours Degree Awards
Rupert Family Trust Award for best Honours Graduate: Social Sciences and Humanities
Natalya Apopo
Rupert Family Trust Award for best Honours Graduate: Science, Engineering and Technology
Amy-Rose Westcott
Master’s Degree Awards
Rupert Family Trust Award for the best Master’s Degree by Coursework: Social Sciences and Humanities
Jaco Kapp
Albert Wessels Trust Award for the best Master’s Degree by Coursework: Science, Engineering and Technology
Nicole Worthington
Nelson Mandela University Council Award for the best Master’s Degree by Dissertation: Social Sciences and Humanities
Sarah Jemutai
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa Award for the best Master’s Degree by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology
Riaan Engelbrecht
Nelson Mandela University Council Award for the best Master’s in Technology by Dissertation: Social Sciences and Humanities
Mieke Barnard
Nelson Mandela University Council Award for the best Master’s in Technology by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology
Denis Nyirenda

Among the 24 recipients of the annual academic awards were (from left) Sarah Jemutai, Sandile Ngwenya and Nicholas Quinn.

The 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Scholars are (from left) Anrich Bosch, Depoa Nabela and Ruan Olivier. Absent was Amy-Rose Westcott.