Fort Hare Activist School 2026

Chevandre Louw is a final-year BEng Mechatronics student at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, who grew up in Alicedale in the Eastern Cape. Despite early academic struggles, Louw has developed a commitment to supporting others through education and mentorship. Alongside his engineering degree, he works as a facilitator for Social Consciousness and Sustainable Futures (SCSF) in NMU's DVC: Teaching and Learning office, and leads Ujima Mentors—a peer mentoring initiative that pairs students across the university's faculties to improve the student experience.

Louw's impact extends beyond campus. He sits on the founding Core Team of the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association South Africa (HELTASA) Student Forum and was named one of eight students nationwide as a 2026 Siyaphumelela Scholar—an honour recognising academic promise and resilience. Throughout his work, Louw consistently applies systems and design thinking to scale human-centred practice grounded in Ubuntu philosophy and a culture of care, believing that meaningful change happens when we centre the wellbeing and dignity of those we serve.

Petrus Prinsloo is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa. His doctoral work sits at the cutting edge of nuclear medicine and radiochemistry, aspiring for his research to contribute meaningfully to more equitable access to advanced medical care across the African continent.

Petrus's academic journey began at Nelson Mandela University, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry, followed by an Honours degree and a Master of Science in Chemistry. His path has been defined both by academic achievement and by a consistent drive to push beyond familiar boundaries.

This spirit of deliberate, strategic ambition has led to participation in programmes including the SA-JINR International Student Practice and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Fort Hare Activist School, along with a self-guided 11 month research internship at the University of Oldenburg in Oldenburg, Germany during his Masters.

Petrus has served in several leadership positions during his academic career. From serving as a high school prefect to student representation at both undergraduate and post-graduate level at NMU, where he has also participated in multi-level strategic planning. He has built a track record of engaging constructively with institutions and advocating for the people within them.

His long-term aspiration is to work at the intersection of science and international policy in order to contribute to capacity development spaces where technical expertise can directly inform the decisions that shape how science serves society. He believes that researchers from the Global South have a critical and underrepresented role to play in these conversations, and he is building deliberately toward making an impact in these spaces.

Petrus sees the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Fort Hare Activist School as an important part of his journey as it provides an opportunity to deepen his understanding of the social and democratic dimensions of the change he wants to contribute to, and to connect with a community of young leaders who share a commitment to building a more just and equitable world.

Samantha Nhabete is a passionate economics student at the Nelson Mandela University, driven by two pillars: service and community. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that true liberation begins with how we educate ourselves, our children and our ability to organize our communities. 

She is an education activist with a primary focus on Foundation Phase education. Samantha understands how it feels to navigate school without any guidance, which is why she advocates for children to learn self – actualization, identity and consciousness from an early age. Her advocacy and sense of purpose have been deeply shaped by her journey in pageantry. Beyond the stage, pageantry has empowered her to speak truth to power through community outreach, group work, awareness campaigns and child and youth development.

Samantha currently serves as the Chairperson of Rethinking Economics for Africa (REFA) at her institution, where she leads efforts to organize for change and build a student society which creates a space that encourages students to think beyond the classroom, to question our economic landscape and to see themselves as active agents of social change.

She aspires to see a future of inclusivity, transformational change and real growth in capacity and community.

Xolile Simphiwe Ngwatyu is a South African creative, marketer, and social development practitioner from Orange Farm, Gauteng, currently based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape—a journey that has taught him that "home" can sometimes mean several provinces and a very long bus ride. A graduate in Marketing Management with majors in International Marketing and Small Business Management, Xolile has built a multidisciplinary profile across youth development, disability inclusion, culture, creativity, and social innovation, turning what could have been scattered interests into a coherent career.

Currently, Xolile serves as a Social Media Marketing Specialist at the University Accessibility and Disability Services (UADS) at Nelson Mandela University, using digital communication and storytelling to promote disability inclusion and accessibility while amplifying the experiences of students with disabilities. As a neurodivergent person himself, this work has given him personal perspective on how institutions, environments, and systems can either enable participation or quietly make life unnecessarily difficult. He is also Projects Manager at Rhythm Syndicates (RS), a youth-led cultural innovation initiative focused on preserving disadvantaged African languages through music and creative expression—work recognized through the SDSN Youth South Africa Innovation Challenge. His journey has included student leadership across multiple platforms: serving as Choir Director and NMU Choir Executive Committee member, Projects Officer within Enactus, and soft-skills facilitator, shaping his understanding of leadership as service, collaboration, and community building.

Xolile is particularly interested in youth unemployment, disability inclusion, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. He asks the uncomfortable questions: Who gets included? Who gets left behind? Who gets to make decisions? For him, activism extends beyond protest—it is about political education, storytelling, organising, creating platforms, and building sustainable initiatives that give communities greater agency over the issues affecting their lives. He sees the Fort Hare Activist School as an opportunity to deepen his understanding of activism and organising while learning from others committed to building a more just and participatory South Africa.

Zwivhuya Arnold Nethonzhe is a Master of Arts candidate in Public Administration at Nelson Mandela University and an emerging young leader with a strong interest in public service, social justice, democratic participation and youth development. His academic journey includes a Diploma in Public Management, an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration and Management, and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Public Administration, all completed cum laude. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Administration.

His interests centre on governance, service delivery, community development, public participation and the relationship between citizens and public institutions. He is particularly interested in how government can become more accountable, responsive and connected to the communities it serves.

Beyond academics, Zwivhuya is actively involved in student development and leadership. He serves as a Tutor in the Department of Public Management and Leadership at Nelson Mandela University, where he supports students academically and contributes to their growth. He also serves as a Cluster Convener in the Siyaphumelela Mentoring Programme, helping to coordinate mentors and strengthen student support. In addition, he is Chairperson of the SAAPAM Student Chapter at Nelson Mandela University, where he contributes to student leadership, academic engagement and conversations on public administration and governance.

For Zwivhuya, leadership must be useful. It should create opportunities, open doors, build confidence and leave people better than it found them. He believes that education and leadership carry a responsibility to serve others and contribute to meaningful social change.

What do we fight for together?

We fight for a South Africa where democracy is experienced in everyday life, not only during elections. We fight for dignity, equality, justice, opportunity and meaningful participation.
We fight against inequality, unemployment, corruption, gender injustice and exclusion. We fight for ethical leadership, accountable institutions, responsive public services and a society where young people are taken seriously as leaders and active citizens.

Most importantly, we fight for a country where a person’s background does not determine how far they can go. Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Our responsibility is to close that gap.

For Zwivhuya, this fight is about building a democracy that works for people, a public service that respects people and a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It requires courage, solidarity and collective action.

We do not build a just society alone. We build it together.

Aphelele Vava is a third-year LLB student at the University of Fort Hare with a passion for Political Science and Medical Jurisprudence. A committed student activist recognized for his independent leadership style, Aphelele currently serves as Chairperson of the Law Faculty Student Council, where he represents students on academic matters and faculty concerns. A Canon Collins Scholar—a prestigious London scholarship recognizing leadership and academic excellence at tertiary level—he expresses his ideas through essays and blogs addressing contentious issues such as curriculum decolonization and the Constitution's unfulfilled promises to Black South Africans.

Throughout his academic journey, Aphelele has held multiple leadership roles: Additional Eastern Cape Provincial Member in the Representative Council of Learners (2023), Treasurer General for Junior Chamber International (2024), Facilitator for first-year law modules at the Teaching and Learning Centre (2025), and Deputy Chairperson of Labour Aid South Africa at the University of Fort Hare. Beyond campus, he regularly visits local schools to mentor youth, raise awareness about persistent social issues, and provide free tutoring. He has also been invited to radio stations to educate communities about their labour rights.

Grounded in the teachings of Steve Biko and Frantz Fanon, Aphelele envisions himself as a decolonial legal scholar and public intellectual. His immediate goal is to become a political analyst and founding director of "Izwe Lethu Malibuye Political School," where he will analyze laws and government policies. He aspires to pursue a Doctorate in Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. As Fanon writes in Wretched of the Earth: “To educate the masses politically does not mean making a political speech. What it means is to try, relentlessly and passionately, to teach the masses that everything depends on them.”

Asonele Magwaxaza is a young activist, motivational speaker, student leader and emerging economist, originally from Mthatha, Eastern Cape. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in economics at the University of Fort Hare.

His leadership journey began early. In 2017/18, he served in the Learners’ Representative Council at Kwanobuhle High School as Head of the Disciplinary Committee. At university, he became involved in political, academic and social student formations and, in 2025, served on the University of Fort Hare Student Representative Council as Academic Affairs Officer before becoming Acting ISRC President.

Asonele stands for democratic participation, accountable leadership, education, economic opportunity and the empowerment of young people. His activism demonstrates that leadership is not only about holding a position; it is about using that position to represent people, raise difficult questions and demand accountability. Beyond formal activism, Asonele uses communication and motivational speaking as instruments of social transformation, he is using social media to encourage resilience, confidence, leadership and personal development among young people.

He is working towards a South Africa where education becomes a vehicle for economic mobility, young people have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them. He represents a generation seeking to move beyond protest towards power, participation and transformation. As an activist, he believes that young people must educate themselves, organize, lead and build the alternatives they want to see.

Ayanda Mtimkulu is a proud born-again child of God. A 23-year-old from the naughty townships of Cape Town. Khayelitsha being the exact township. Currently studies at the University of Fort Hare, doing her Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and currently holder her undergraduate degree in Theology. A young activist? Definitely. Does she know it all? Absolutely not. She is a firm believer of accountability and humanity. She is a person who is not afraid of a challenge, be it physical or mental. Not one who is easily intimidated by people, unless they are intimidating. She is also very reserved but very vocal once you break through that “shy” ice. Being a believer sort of labels one into an expectation, but she will be above those expectations, and sort of different from the norms. She is very  weird and goofy, spirit-filled and full of life. She however has a short temper that is working on.

She is strong-minded, outspoken, confident in public speaking, leadership-oriented, willing to challenge things, and passionate about making an impact. She is a believer of liberation, and liberation in the mind. She believes that should we choose to do anything we can accomplish it. All you have to do is remove the idea that there are limitations. Two of her favorite quotes are from the great Steve Biko, they are “I write what I like” and the other one is “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” Let all mind be liberated.

Liza Asavela Mfana (nickname: Jaguar) is an activist, a published social commentator, an advocate for liberatory and humanizing pedagogy, a fighter, a business practitioner, but most importantly a lover of humanity, life and peace. He strongly believes that the youth are the key in ensuring this country has a positive future. Liza is a young man from the rural villages of the Eastern Cape. He was born in East London but was raised in Centani and Butterworth. He spent his high school years in Molteno High School where he matriculated in 2014. Mfana has since been active in the political and intellectual discourse of the country. Having secured Resident Training with Activate Change Drivers and a Higher Certificate in Public Management from the Young African Leadership (YALI), he is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Commerce (General) qualification with the University of Fort Hare (UFH). As a member of the 2026 Cohort of the Fort Hare Activist School (FHAS), he brings over a decade of experience in political and academic activism, having held various local, provincial and national roles in both spaces.

Mfana is an avid proponent of Black Conscious Pan Africanism, believing that African people hold the power to change the world for the better, only through unity. He advocated for the unity of all 53 African states into a single Federal government, with one command, one military, one currency and one national identity. He strongly believes that there is a succinct balance of radicalism and diplomacy and has dedicated his life in the pursuit of this balance. As such, Mfana’s life is dedicated to picking up the baton from where the likes of Biko left it, in pursuit of an egalitarian society where race, social class, gender, and other identities no longer serve as determinants of one’s social standing. Mfana therefore aspires to contribute to the epistemic, socioeconomic, and political development of South Africa and Africa towards this end. In this pursuit, he intends to contribute through academic contributions, governance participation and law-making, and diplomatic engagements through the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and other relevant international bodies.
 

Ntandazo Nyanga is a 24-Year-old leader. a registered student at the University of Fort Hare Alice campus in respect of Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Extension, holds a Diploma in legal secretary he is a seasoned religious leader and is also part of traditional leadership in his village. He has been an activist since his high school journey in 2016 by forming part of Equal Education in the Western Cape where he led a bring safety to our schools protest to parliament his Activism went to tertiary where he participated in numerous organizations including leading SCO as Chairperson and Council Secretary , EFF Branch Coordinator and went on to becoming a member of: Faculty board , Teaching and learning , Research and Higher degrees committee in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture and was elected Chairperson of the Student faculty council . He is currently the activist and ground force of Young brightest Motivated Minds (YBMM), a ruling party in his campus and is also serving as its legal advisor. He is influenced by words by his mentor “leadership is not about how many people you lead but how many leaders you produce” which led him to develop a foundation that focus on developing leaders he also believes that one should have a responsibility or they will be a responsibility themselves which he uses to encourage young people to take part in everything around them.

Sanelisiwe Sila is a political science candidate and rising activist from Dutywa in the Eastern Cape, currently pursuing a Master of Social Science in Political Science at the University of Fort Hare. Following her completion of a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Political Science at the same institution, Sanelisiwe's academic interests focus on governance, public policy, state intervention, graduate employability, and youth development. Her current master's research critically examines state intervention in graduate internship programmes and their impact on graduate employability in South Africa, seeking to understand how government policies can better respond to the challenges faced by young graduates and create meaningful employment opportunities.

Coming from a rural community in the Eastern Cape, Sanelisiwe has developed a particular interest in issues affecting marginalized communities—service delivery, youth opportunities, and social justice. Beyond academia, she tutors history to grades 10-12 learners, firmly believing that access to knowledge is a critical tool for empowering young people. Her experiences have strengthened her commitment to becoming a voice for communities often overlooked by policy and to contributing to initiatives that promote genuine social change.

As an emerging activist, Sanelisiwe is determined to build her leadership, organizing, and advocacy skills while developing networks with young people and community stakeholders. Her aspiration is to become a South African diplomat for human rights, dedicating her work to advancing justice and dignity for communities facing systemic injustices across South Africa.

Sibongile Xhati is a final-year LLB student at the University of Fort Hare, aspiring to become a lawyer who uses the law as a tool for transformation and social justice. Her journey has been shaped by an acute awareness of the inequalities that continue to define South African society and by a strong belief that young people must be active participants in shaping the future they want to inherit. Through her involvement in politics, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Fort Hare Activist School, peer leadership programmes, and other student initiatives, Sibongile has strengthened her commitment to social justice, equality, youth empowerment, and accountable leadership.

As a law student, Sibongile has found a powerful intersection between advocacy and the law. Through moot court, legal research, academic facilitation, and practical legal experience, she has developed a passion for using legal knowledge to articulate the concerns of people whose voices are often overlooked. Her activism stems from the conviction that meaningful change requires more than identifying injustice—it requires the courage to speak, organize, participate, and act. She understands that activism is not simply about protest but about understanding communities, challenging systems that exclude people, and creating practical pathways towards dignity and opportunity.

Sibongile stands for a society in which constitutional rights are meaningful in practice, where young people are empowered to participate in decision-making, and where leadership is grounded in service, integrity, and accountability. She is working towards becoming a highly skilled legal practitioner and advocate for social and economic transformation, determined to demonstrate that excellence and activism can coexist—that one can succeed professionally while remaining committed to the struggle for a more just, equal, and democratic South Africa.

Uzusiphe Vuzane is a committed student activist, emerging researcher and youth leader currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Fort Hare. His academic and activist journey is grounded in a strong interest in rural development, food security, climate resilience, education and socioeconomic inclusion. His current research examines smallholder farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of Artificial Intelligence climate advisory tools and their potential to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture in rural communities.

Uzusiphe has served in various student leadership capacities, advocating for student welfare, institutional accountability, access to education and meaningful support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. His activism has particularly focused on food insecurity, student accommodation, access to essential services and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives. He believes that leadership must be rooted in accountability, service, courage and a genuine commitment to improving the conditions of those who are often left behind.

Uzusiphe envisions a South Africa where education, knowledge and opportunity are used to dismantle inequality and empower young people to shape their own futures. His activism extends beyond confronting injustice; it is about building responsive institutions, strengthening communities and advancing practical solutions that restore dignity and create meaningful socioeconomic opportunities.

Zikhona Nonxuba is a legal professional in the making, entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist with a deep passion for social change, justice and community empowerment. She is driven by a strong sense of purpose and a belief that leadership should be rooted in service, action and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of others. 

As an entrepreneur, Zikhona is passionate about building initiatives that create opportunities, promote economic empowerment and respond to real challenges within communities. She sees entrepreneurship not only as a pathway to economic independence, but also as a tool for innovation, empowerment and social transformation.

Her commitment to philanthropy is grounded in a desire to serve and uplift communities. Through her community-focused initiatives, she seeks to contribute to the restoration of dignity, support those in need and create opportunities for people to improve their circumstances.

Zikhona's activism is driven by her passion for justice and her refusal to remain passive in the face of inequality and social injustice. She believes that change requires courage, collective action and a willingness to challenge the status quo. For her, activism is not simply about speaking about change, but about organising, participating and taking practical steps towards achieving it.

She is particularly passionate about unity and the role it plays in creating meaningful and sustainable change. She believes that when people unite around a common purpose, they can transform their communities and influence the society they want to see.

Through the Fort Hare Activist School, Zikhona hopes to deepen her understanding of activism, strengthen her leadership and organising skills, and connect with a community of young leaders committed to social transformation. Her vision is to use her legal knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropic work and activism to contribute meaningfully to building a more just, equal and empowered society.