I grew up in a community where hardship wasn’t just a story you heard; it was the backdrop of everyday life. My great-grandfather used to tell me I was a born leader, and even as a kid, I felt this pull to do something meaningful — to help others find a better way forward.
That’s what led me to NYU Abu Dhabi. I started in maths and physics in high school, but the world of political science was where I truly found my voice. In those classrooms, surrounded by peers just as passionate about change, I felt like I belonged. The debates, the adrenaline, the way we wrestled with big questions — they were unforgettable. And then there were the moments of collective silence, like when something terrible happened in the world, and we all felt it. Those were the moments that shaped me the most.
Home Region: Durban, South Africa
Current: Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Voices of Mzansi
Location: South Africa
Major: Political Science
After graduation, I started working part-time remotely for NYUAD over the summer, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was calling me. I’ve always loved writing, so I began publishing opinion pieces on politics and international relations. But I quickly realized how hard it is for young voices to break through. If you don’t have an executive title, your words often don’t carry weight, no matter how good they are. That, coupled with the censorship of important topics, lit a fire in me.
So, I started Voices of Mzansi. It’s a platform where young South Africans can share their opinions — unfiltered, uncensored, and rooted in research. I want to change how national dialogs happen, to make space for youth to speak and be heard.
Now, I’m preparing for my master’s in political studies at Wits University as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar. It feels like coming full circle — studying at one of Africa’s top institutions while building a platform that I hope will reshape conversations in my home country.
In the long term, I want Voices of Mzansi to be a cornerstone of South African media — a place where young thinkers influence policy and inspire change. And for me, I just want to keep doing what my great-grandfather saw in me: leading, helping, and making the world a little better.