​Barely a month after receiving two Rector's Awards – one for excellent leadership and one for excellent service delivery – Education student MK Nompumza received news that he has been awarded a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.

The overarching mission of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa, by providing excellent educational and training opportunities to individual Africans with leadership potential; as well as by creating a network of well-rounded leaders of talent, effectiveness and integrity across African society.

The scholarship is awarded to individuals that reflect a commitment to the principles of education, reconciliation, leadership and entrepreneurship for postgraduate study at South African universities or tertiary institutions. The heart of the leadership development programme is delivered primarily through a series of residential workshops.

“I am honoured to be a part of the 2018 class of Mandela Rhodes scholars," said MK.

“I feel that being awarded this scholarship, out of many other young African leaders, gives me an opportunity to reflect upon my leadership journey to date; and it inspires me to continue leading the change that I want to see."

MK, who will receive his bachelor's degree in Education in December, has made use of every opportunity that came his way over the past four years.

He was elected as the chairperson of the Education Student Committee in 2015/2016 and was instrumental in the design and implementation of a Leadership in Education short course. For the past two years, he acted as the coordinator of this course presented by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development.

He travelled abroad to attend an international summer school at Humboldt University in Berlin and was also involved with a partnership research project on planning and policy for bi- and multilingual schools.

His dream is to become a true facilitator of learning in which ever school he teaches one day.

“I believe that the rapid changes that we see occurring in South Africa require young leaders who are innovative thought-leaders – something which I aspire to be. I see being a Mandela Rhodes scholar as an opportunity to develop as a leader, and to take my experiences and the lessons learnt to benefit and do more for and within the schools, communities and leadership positions that I find myself in."

MK will pursue an honours degree in Education Development and Democracy in 2018.