TEDxUniversityofPretoria

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Adonia Mankou Yanate

  Interior Designer

  Adonia Mankou Yanate is a qualified interior designer and founder of Shumukh Design, an emerging interior design studio based in South Africa. With a philosophy rooted in storytelling, cultural relevance, and spatial impact, she is committed to redefining how African spaces are imagined, experienced, and valued. Her work balances modern innovation with the richness of African materiality, heritage, and form, creating interiors that are visually striking, deeply intentional, and proudly connected to the continent’s creative legacy. Adonia’s work and perspective have been featured in African Column, Lioness of Africa, To Build magazine, Afrimaxx on DW (Deutsche Welle), Africa Radio, and showcased at Decorex South Africa.

• Ayanda Cebekhulu

  Physics Student | Executive PR Officer | Creative Science storyteller | MC

  Ayanda Cebekhulu is a physics student at the University of Pretoria and an astronomy enthusiast. He is also an MC and is currently the Executive Public Relations Officer for the Blue Crane Space Society. With a strong passion for blending science, creativity, and human connection, Ayanda operates at the intersection of space exploration, storytelling, and community building. Known for consistently excelling academically, he has earned top results in his studies and has received recognition for his leadership in various pursuits. Outside of the lecture halls, Ayanda has led science outreach events, hosted debates, and championed initiatives that inspire curiosity about the world. His work bridges the realms of physics and art, demonstrating that innovation thrives when imagination meets knowledge

• Duduzile Mabaso

  Founder & Director of Her Pride Foundation

  Duduzile Mabaso is a public policy, government affairs, and stakeholder engagement professional with expertise in regulatory affairs, governance, and sustainable development. Holding a Master’s in Political Studies, she develops advocacy strategies, manages partnerships, and advises on policy alignment to drive systemic change. She serves as a Board Member as a Vice Chair of Amnesty International South Africa, championing human rights, youth engagement, and strategic governance. As Founder of the Her Pride Foundation, she leads initiatives on mental health, menstrual equity, and career development for girls in the VAAL. Recognized for her leadership in youth empowerment and gender equality, Duduzile is committed to shaping inclusive policies and sustainable community-driven solutions

• Eddie Kasambala

  AI Business Solutions Engineer at Microsoft | Champion for AI & Digital Transformation | Social Impact

  Eddie Kasambala is a visionary leader and AI Business Solution's Engineer passionate about using technology to uplift people and communities. Recognized as a regional finalist in the 2023 EDHE Inter-varsity Entrepreneurship Competition, Eddie blends business acumen with a purpose-driven approach to spark meaningful change. At Microsoft, he helps organizations harness AI and modern work strategies to boost productivity and collaboration. Beyond his professional role, he is deeply committed to social impact—mentoring young people, leading non-profit initiatives, and championing youth empowerment across Africa. Eddie holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Pretoria and is pursuing postgraduate studies with a focus on digital transformation. His mission is clear: to ensure Africa embraces technology without losing its soul.

• Grace Barnes

  Interdisciplinary Artist and Educator

  Grace Storm Barnes is a performer, choreographer, spoken word artist, author, and educator whose work explores the intersections of grief, love, and healing through movement, poetry, and performance. She holds a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre Composition, an MA in Applied Drama, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Drama at the University of Pretoria, where her research, Grief as Poetic Body, investigates mourning as nonlinear, collective, and embodied. Since 2016, Grace has created and toured acclaimed original works including Regression, Slip, Breathe, Wait/Weight, and Grieve, that is how you survive, which premiered at the National Arts Festival in 2024 before touring Cape Town and Ghana. She has also published three poetry collections on love, loss, and grief. Through her practice, Grace crafts multidisciplinary forms that give voice and body to experiences often left unspoken, inviting audiences to reimagine grief as a passage into memory, love, and joy.

• Jordan Jamie Chiedza Chaya

  Sustainability advocate; Barista; agricultural economist student

  Jordan Chaya is a sustainability advocate, barista, and aspiring agricultural economist who believes that global challenges can be understood and approached through small, everyday rituals, like a cup of coffee. What began as a personal love affair with coffee has grown into a platform for exploring the hidden costs of convenience and the urgent need for sustainable choices. As a public speaker, she uses her voice to show how small daily actions connect to larger systems of food, waste, and climate, inspiring audiences to recognize their power in shaping a more sustainable future.

• Kgomotso Mathabe

  Cancer neurobiologist

  Kgomotso Mathabe is the head of the Department of Urology at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, where she oversees clinical services, teaches undergraduate medical students, and trains medical specialists, including research supervision. She was the first woman to qualify as a Urologist at the University of the Witwatersrand and the second Black woman in the country. She holds qualifications in medicine including specialisation in Urology and healthcare management, and outside of medicine in gifted education, public management, and governance. Kgomotso believes a healthy, educated, and skilled nation can solve its own problems and co-create solutions with government, reducing dependence. Thus, education, skills development, and health services should be prioritised. She also values continuous personal development and lifelong upskilling. She is currently a PhD candidate studying the interaction of prostate cancer with the nervous system.

• Leslie Moloto

  STEM Educator

  Leslie Moloto is an educator and leadership practitioner passionate about reimagining learning in Africa. With extensive experience in teaching, curriculum innovation, and design thinking, Leslie has worked with students and teachers from across the continent to spark curiosity, critical thinking, and agency. He leads initiatives that blend technology, leadership, and storytelling to cultivate future-ready leaders. Beyond the classroom, Leslie is committed to creating spaces where bold ideas and contradictions can coexist, driving meaningful conversations that inspire change. His work reflects his belief that education is not just about knowledge transfer, but about shaping societies that thrive in complexity.

• Tinaye Des Kamukapa

  Research Consultant (Skills and Enterprise Development), Entrepreneur, Public Speaking Coach, and Business Radio Presenter

  Des Kamukapa is a dynamic Research Consultant in the Skills and Enterprise Development environment; entrepreneur; public speaking coach; and business radio presenter. Blending his love for research and a passion for empowering others, Des helps organisations and individuals unlock growth through analytical insights, strategies, and impactful communication. As the host of the Business Hour on TuksFM, he makes complex business topics relatable to the youth. Currently pursuing his Master of Administration (MAdmin), Des is researching the integration of artificial intelligence in public administration education, bridging innovation with governance and learning.

• Tlangelani Khosa

  Storyteller, Digital Creative, Software Engineer, Public Speaker & Student Support Advocate

  Tlangelani Khosa (TK) is a purpose-driven digital creative and a dynamic storyteller whose journey is a testament to the power of faith and resilience. As a Dean's List Top-achieving Eduvos Alumni with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, he aspires to obtain an Honours Degree in Computer Science, a journey that has currently led him to the University of Pretoria. His experiences there have solidified a profound conviction about the lasting impact of student developmental spaces on his mission. As a Golden Key International Member and a recognised Elevate Africa Top `25 Speaker, TK continues to use his platform to challenge the current narrative of education and inspire others to cultivate their potential in a meaningful and impactful way. As a past Academic SRC Leader, he believes the biggest hurdle to our own future potential is our comfort with holding onto self-limiting beliefs. This conviction is what drives his aim of continuing to make a lasting, generational change