University of the Free State (UFS) nGAP Journalism Lecturer Duduzile Dlamini has been honored in the prestigious Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list for 2026 under the Education, Training, and Skills Development category.
The 32-year-old academic and University of KwaZulu-Natal PhD candidate in Gender Studies joins an elite cohort of emerging South African leaders. This year’s recognition holds double historic weight, marking two decades since the Mail & Guardian initiative launched and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto youth uprising.
Key Achievements & Community Impact
- Hands-on Newsroom Pedagogy: Dlamini bridges the gap between media theory and practice by securing live broadcast partnerships for UFS students with media houses including KovsieFM, OFM, and the SABC in Bloemfontein.
- Academic Innovation: Nominated for the UFS Innovation in Learning and Teaching Award, her research spans media, gender, and digital platforms—notably her 2024 Communitas publication examining how Black South African women navigate digital space on YouTube.
- Civic & Youth Empowerment: Co-founder of Abatsha Force of Change (advocating for electoral reform), founder of the Friends in Literature book club, and creator of the Our Stokvel community crowdfunding platform.
