Johannesburg (13 November 2025) – Ten Rhodes Scholarships have been awarded this year to inspirational young graduates from South Africa and Botswana, to pursue fully-funded post-graduate studies at Oxford University in 2026.
Congratulations to ten outstanding young graduates, who will be heading to the University of Oxford in October 2026 to join a global cohort of more than a hundred Rhodes Scholars from around the world to undertake fully funded post-graduate studies and become part of a strong community of Scholars determined to make a positive difference in the world.
The National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarship Southern African constituency, Ndumiso Luthuli, announced the awards earlier in the week and confirmed the following Rhodes Scholars-Elect for 2026 (in alphabetical order):
- Sazi Bongwe, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Gauteng regional finalist, Harvard graduate)
- Ntando Dube, KwaZulu-Natal Rhodes Scholar-Elect (KwaZulu-Natal regional finalist, University of Pretoria graduate)
- Raphael De Sousa, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Western Cape regional finalist, UCT graduate)
- Ruth Kasanga , South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Gauteng regional finalist, University of Pretoria graduate)
- Kabelo Mbuyisa, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Gauteng regional finalist, Wits University graduate)
- Dr Nandipa Mponda, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Western Cape regional finalist, Stellenbosch graduate)
- Dr Ngwao Ngwako, Botswana Rhodes Scholar-Elect (BLMNS regional finalist, University of Botswana graduate)
- Coral Pillay, South Africa-at-Large (Gauteng regional finalist, Wits University graduate)
- Kerry Porrill, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (Western Cape regional finalist, Stellenbosch graduate)
- Thobani Sangweni, South Africa-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect (KwaZulu-Natal regional finalist, UCT graduate)
(See Bios at the end of the media statement)
The Scholars-Elect are from universities across the region and have studied disciplines ranging: from Maths to Medicine; from Language and Literature to Astrophysics; History of Art and Visual Culture to Actuarial Science; History and Politics to Physics.
Commenting on this year’s awards, Ndumiso Luthuli the National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships for Southern Africa, said: “The Rhodes selection process aims to identify young people with proven academic excellence who also show exceptional character and grit, the courage to lead and make a difference in the broader community, the energy to use their talents to the full, and a commitment to solving humanity’s challenges. We believe that the ten Scholars-Elect for 2026 personify these core selection criteria. All intellectually gifted, driven, and well-rounded young leaders, they will be impactful changemakers in the years ahead.”
The Rhodes Scholarship, described as a “globally inclusive and thoughtful community of leaders”, is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903. Since inception, nearly 1,000 high-achieving graduates from universities across the Southern Africa constituency have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to further their studies at the world’s leading university.
Each year large numbers of outstanding young graduates, from universities across the region and across academic disciplines, submit their applications for the Rhodes Scholarships for Southern Africa, by 01 August. The selection process for the Rhodes Scholarship is demanding and rigorous. It includes a lengthy online application, a thorough review of applications for shortlisting by committees across the country, and then shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview with the regional selection committees comprising renowned experts and leaders in diverse fields.
This year, 57 candidates were shortlisted for regional interviews in September and October 2025. The candidates attended a pre-selection dinner with the Rhodes Scholarship selection committees; and the following day were interviewed by a diverse panel. Following the regional interviews, 22 finalists were selected for the final round of interviews with the South Africa-at-Large national selection committee.
The national interviews were held over the weekend of from 07 – 09 November 2025 in Johannesburg and the winners were announced on Sunday evening.
“The Rhodes Scholarship selections never get easier,” says Beverley Johnson (Regional Manager, Rhodes Scholarships for Southern Africa), “as each year we receive so many outstanding applications from talented, high potential individuals from across Southern Africa and academic disciplines. The shortlisting process is intense and interviews are challenging. Tough choices have to be made by the national selection committee which can only award 10 Scholarships each year.”
The Rhodes Scholarship is global in reach. Students from anywhere in the world can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and many find that taking part in the rigorous selection process is a profoundly positive experience which leaves them well placed to go on to a Rhodes Scholarship or other opportunities worldwide.
Over the last three months selections have taken place in constituencies across Africa and the world. Over 100 Rhodes Scholarships have been awarded to high achieving young leaders from international universities across the globe to further their post-graduate studies in Oxford next year.
Sir Rick Trainor, Interim Warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said: “For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford and fostered a vibrant global community. We are delighted to introduce the 2026 Class of Rhodes Scholars Elect who represent cultures and perspectives from every corner of the world. I look forward to seeing the positive contributions they will make in the world through their studies and the many and varied activities and initiatives with which they are involved.”
Rhodes Scholars form a lifelong community of people in many fields and careers, united by a commitment to having a positive impact on the world.
The applications for the 2027 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2026. More information about the Scholarship application.
Contact Information
Babette Littlemore, Director of Communications: babette.littlemore@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
About the Rhodes Trust and Rhodes Scholarships
The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, is an educational charity that forges brighter futures for individuals and the world.
We do this through a family of global fellowship programmes. All these programmes find brilliant people from around the world, give them wonderful opportunities to learn and act together, and support them as they form lifelong communities. We began in 1903 with the Rhodes Scholarship. This is the world’s pre-eminent graduate fellowship, bringing exceptional young people of character to the University of Oxford to study. Over 8000 Rhodes Scholars, from more than 50 countries, have gone on to serve at the forefront of education, business, science, medicine, the arts, politics and beyond. All this is made possible by the wonderful generosity of our Second Century Founders, John McCall MacBain and the Atlantic Philanthropies, as well as over 3000 other benefactors from around the world.
A hundred years on, we helped create the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, which finds, funds, and empowers young Africans to study in South Africa. In 2016, we partnered with Atlantic Philanthropies to create the Atlantic Institute which empowers catalytic communities of emerging leaders to advance fairer, healthier, more inclusive societies. A year later, we helped launch Schmidt Science Fellows in partnership with Schmidt Futures, which believes in a vision of a world where interdisciplinary science flourishes without limit. We worked with Schmidt Futures again to create Rise, a program that supports brilliant people through their lives, starting at ages 15-17. And in 2022, we partnered with Harris Manchester College to launch Oxford Next Horizons, a rich, six-month experience designed for mid to late career participants from any field, who reflect, explore and imagine what’s next for them and the world.
We are based at Rhodes House in Oxford, which is home to most of our staff team who offer a comprehensive programme of support and learning for our Rhodes Scholars, convene a lifelong network for our alumni, and run several of our partnership programmes.
Bios of the Rhodes Scholars-Elect for 2026
Mr Sazi Bongwe (Harvard University)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Sazi Bongwe (22) was born and brought up in Johannesburg. He attended St John’s College, where he was the Head Prefect in his Matric year, and went on to study English Literature at Harvard, with a secondary field in European History, Politics and Societies.
Before beginning his studies, he worked for half a year as a journalist, reporting on the lives, struggles and cultures of South African people for New Frame and The Mail and Guardian. He continues to write, on such subjects as literature and art, history and politics, for such publications as The New York Review of Books (forthcoming), The Nation, and Africa is a Country. In the course of his studies he received an Artist Development Fellowship, in recognition of significant artistic promise, to spend three months writing in Paris. He has acted in and written plays, and had his photography exhibited. He hosts a bi-weekly music hour on the student radio.
At Oxford, Sazi hopes to spend a year continuing his studies in literature and language, before spending another studying history of art and visual culture. He believes that the work of art makes us pay attention to the world, imagine it differently, and work to change it, and it is to this end that he directs his studies and his work.
His intended course of study at Oxford University: MSt Comparative Literature and Critical Translation or a Master of Fine Art (MFA)
Mr Raphael De Sousa (University of Cape Town)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Raphael De Sousa (22) grew up in Cape Town, where he attended Milnerton High School and Parklands College. He graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in March 2025 with a triple major in Mathematics, Physics, and Applied Mathematics, and is currently completing a BSc (Honours) in Physics at UCT.
Raphael’s academic interests lie in theoretical and mathematical physics. He is particularly fascinated by quantum field theory — the mathematical framework underpinning the Standard Model of particle physics, one of the most successful theories in modern science. During his third year, he collaborated on research in soliton theory and co-published the paper “The energy–frequency diagram of the (1+1)-dimensional Φ⁴ oscillon” in the Journal of High Energy Physics.
Beyond academia, Raphael is the co-founder and developer of Delta Education, an initiative providing free, offline mobile apps for high school students in mathematics and physical sciences. The platform has reached nearly 60 000 downloads and runs a calculator donation campaign that has distributed over 300 scientific calculators to under-resourced schools across Cape Town, with plans to significantly increase this number in the coming years. Delta Education aims to expand to all subjects, grades, and South African languages to make quality education accessible to every learner.
He is also an incoming Allan Gray Fellow, driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and the use of technology to address social challenges — currently with a focus on education. In his free time, Raphael enjoys hiking and running.
At Oxford, Raphael hopes to pursue an MSc in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, where he will delve into the mysteries of quantum field theory and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model, with the long-term goal of lecturing in Africa and inspiring the next generation of physicists.
Ms Ntando Dube (University of Pretoria)
KwaZulu- Natal Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Proudly hailing from Imbali Township in Pietermaritzburg, Ntando Dube (23) attended high school at St John’s Diocesan School for Girls, where she was the Head Girl in her Matric year.
Ntando holds a BSc Actuarial and Financial Mathematics (cum laude) and BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science from the University of Pretoria. As a Technical Member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (TASSA), she is currently working as an Actuarial Associate in the Non-Life Actuarial Team at Ernst & Young South Africa.
While at the University of Pretoria, she was a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award, the Postgraduate Merit Plus Award and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Scholarship. In addition to serving as a class representative in numerous classes, she was also a teaching assistant in the Actuarial Science Department, focusing on second-year Financial Mathematics.
Despite her rigorous degree, and being a full-time student, Ntando simultaneously balanced both academic and professional responsibilities during her time at the university. Initially, as an Intern at Africa’s first digital women’s health platform, Zoie Health; then Bank of America, Merrill Lynch as an Investment Banking Intern and, most recently, as a Research Intern at the Harvard Business School Africa Research Centre. It was at the Centre that her admiration for the African continent was born. It was Africa’s attributes of resilience, indomitability and, more so, its great potential rather than its perceived need, that drew her deep affection and lasting reverence. As a result, while at Oxford, she hopes to pursue an MSc in African Studies.
Guided by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, “Life’s most urgent and persistent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’,” she is deeply committed to public service, especially as it relates to education. In 2020, she appeared on National Television shining a light on COVID-19 and its contribution to the digital divide within the educational space. A few years later, she founded Libraries4Learning to create safe library spaces and address low literacy rates within her community. At present, she serves as an Advisory Board Member for Amathuba Foundation, an education-focused non-profit in South Africa. These efforts underscore her commitment to addressing the educational inequality that exists within her broader community.
An individual with multiple interests, she runs an e-commerce floral shop with her sister, is a new-found runner, a keen reader and a lover of French cinema. Additionally, she enjoys musical theatre, has an appreciation for hiking and lives life guided by a simple, yet poignant, poem: If by Rudyard Kipling.
Ms Ruth Kasanga (University of Pretoria)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Ruth Kasanga (23) attended school at New Forest High School, where she was the Head Prefect in her Matric year. Ruth is currently completing a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Pretoria, where her research examines the capability of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities’ youth development policies to achieve human security outcomes in complex regional environments. She graduated cum laude in her BA Honours International Relations degree and summa cum laude in her BPolSci International Studies degree, both from the University of Pretoria.
Ruth recently completed a Politics internship at Oxford Economics Africa and currently serves as a Youth Advisor to the Embassy of Sweden in South Africa. She is part of the teaching support staff in the Department of Political Sciences, and is a Research Assistant at the African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria.
Ruth has received numerous awards, including the Politika and CF Nieuwoudt Awards for top undergraduate student in Political Science and International Relations, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for her honour’s degree, and the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for her master’s degree.
She is the founder of LeadHership by Ruth, a mentorship programme supporting early professional development of young women aspiring to enter politics and international relations across Southern Africa. Ruth is also a Youth Fellow with the Sweden-based International Youth Think Tank, where she co-develops participatory democracy policies presented at international forums such as the Athens Democracy Forum and implemented in countries including South Africa, Sweden, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.
Ruth enjoys collecting contemporary African literature, travelling, and hiking in her spare time.
At Oxford, Ruth hopes to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government.
Dr Ngwao Ngwako (University of Botswana)
BLMNS/ Botswana Scholar-Elect for 2026
Ngwao Ngwako (26) graduated from University of Botswana with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. She is currently working as a Medical Officer under Greater Gaborone DHMT rotating in 16 clinics. Ngwao’s research work spans adolescent HIV and mental health and cancer care in Botswana. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications and recently completed an advanced course in biostatistics to strengthen her data-driven approach to health equity.
Ngwao is also founder of Ignite Youth Network, a school based, youth empowerment program delivering mental, sexual and reproductive health education and career mentorship in junior schools.
Ngwao, has received honourable mention for Excellence Beyond Lecture Halls by the University of Botswana, and multiple international research scholarships, to attend and present at international conferences including Paediatric Academic Societies conference in the US. Ngwao has held leadership positions including being student class representative throughout medical school and being part of the Youth Advisory Panel under the UNFPA.
She enjoys swimming, crocheting and being part of a local book club. Ngwao is also a passionate writer and poet who uses storytelling including her personal experience as a cancer survivor to amplify survivor stories and inspire conversations on resilience and health.
At Oxford University, Ngwao hopes to pursue the Masters of Global Health Science and Epidemiology.
Mr Kabelo Mbuyisa (University of the Witwatersrand)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Kabelo Mbuyisa (23) was born in Rietvallei Ext. 2 a township in Krugersdorp in the West of Johannesburg, Gauteng. He matriculated from Thathulwazi WR High School and graduated with a Bed (Cum Laude) in Senior Phase & FET and triple majored in Physics, Life Sciences and Geography. He holds an Honours Degree in Education from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently completing his MEd by Research Dissertation where he is exploring Decoloniality in Science Curriculum Policies and seeks to validate indigenous knowledge systems as genuine scientific knowledge equilateral to western science for the humanization of Africans and their knowledge systems.
Kabelo has also just commenced reading for an MSc in African Studies at Oxford University where he is doing a comparative study in Africa’s resource-rich countries evaluating the impact of geopolitical competition for resources in education and economic development outcomes which aims to directly influence the fiscal allocations to address underdevelopment in the African continent. He works as a Research & Organisational development consultant for the Club of Rome; and is the Executive-Chairman at the Pedagogical Science Institute and Education for Economic Development centralized regulatory Non-Profit Company he founded.
Over the course of his studies, Kabelo has been awarded multiple honors and scholarships such as the Faculty Jake Hutton Memorial Award, 22 certificates of first class, Golden Key membership, Wits University Council Merit Scholarships and Postgraduate Merit Awards. He is a 2025 Mandela Rhodes Scholar, recipient of the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Higher Education Award, NRF-DAAD Germany scholar, a FirstRand International Postgraduate Scholar and an Allan Gray Postgrad Candidate Fellow amongst others. He is the youngest member in Africa of the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for diversity and development and has served in multiple significant leadership roles where he advocates for relational social justice.
Outside of his academic pursuits he spends his time with podcasting, hiking, cooking, writing and quality moments with his family.
At Oxford University he will pursue a DPhil in International Development where he will explore how African resource-rich countries can leverage the global just transition to green industrialisation to diversify their economies and deal with their education and technology development challenges for the improvement of the lives of ordinary people.
Dr Nandipa Mponda (Stellenbosch University)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Dr Nandipa Mponda (26) grew up in Cape Town and attended Herschel Girls’ School. Nandi graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2023 with an MBChB and is currently completing her internship and working as a junior doctor in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Her experiences in the South African public health sector have shaped her passion for health economics, health policy, and addressing the challenges of population health in resource-limited settings.
Nandi served on student organisations focused on health advocacy, global health, and medical education, including serving as Professional Exchange Director for the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association, and Secretary of the Global Health Students Network. She also co-authored a paper accepted for publication in the South African Medical Journal on the usability of an electronic health record in a public healthcare facility, exploring digital innovations to strengthen healthcare service delivery.
During her studies, Nandi received multiple academic awards, including the Excel Award, Senior Merit Award, and the Public Health Enhancement Fund Scholarship.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Nandi enjoys baking layered cakes, maintaining a seasonal vegetable garden, and sewing handmade clothing.
At Oxford, she intends to pursue an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine, followed by an MBA, furthering her commitment to advancing equitable and financially sustainable healthcare reform in South Africa.
Ms Coral Pillay (University of the Witwatersrand)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Coral Pillay grew up in Chatsworth and attended Southlands Secondary School. She is currently completing an MSc in Astrophysics at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she previously earned her BSc Honours in Physics with distinction. Her research focuses on how galaxies and the supermassive black holes at their centres grow, merge, and shape the cosmos over billions of years.
Coral is interested in bridging the gap between advanced supercomputer simulations of the universe and observations from modern radio telescopes, including South Africa’s MeerKAT+ and the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Coral has also contributed to international research with the European Space Agency’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Consortium, expanding her expertise into the extraordinary realm of gravitational-wave astronomy. During her postgraduate studies, she has received awards to conduct research abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and at the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) in the Netherlands, where she worked as a summer student in 2024.
At home in Johannesburg, Coral is an active science communicator and community organiser, passionate about making science more inclusive, socially engaged, and politically responsive. She believes that science can be a tool for social resistance, expanding opportunity and democratising knowledge for all who seek to better understand our universe. Outside her research, Coral enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and taking in her city’s art and music scene. She delights in new experiences, especially those shared with her loved ones.
Coral hopes to pursue a DPhil in Astrophysics at the University of Oxford.
Kerry Porrill (Stellenbosch University)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Kerry J Porrill (22) hails from Cape Town and attended Cannons Creek High School. She is currently a BSc Honours student at Stellenbosch University, where she studies Mathematics. She recently received a Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence for achieving one of the highest averages of the Stellenbosch University’s BSc graduates of 2024.
Kerry is passionate about mathematics and has participated in many mathematics competitions. Notably, she represented South Africa at the International Mathematics Olympiad while in high school and since matriculating she has been involved in training and leading the national teams. Kerry has run several Maths training camps for girls interested in Mathematics Olympiads, and she led a team to the European Girls Mathematics Olympiad this year, which was South Africa’s first time participating.
Kerry has also co-authored a paper that was recently published in the Journal of Algebra and its Application. This paper was the result of an internship she participated in at the end of her second year.
When she isn’t busy studying, she enjoys reading and playing video games.
Kerry hopes to pursue a DPhil in Mathematics at Oxford.
Mr Thobani Sangweni (University of Cape Town)
SA-at-Large Rhodes Scholar-Elect for 2026
Nkosinathi Thobani Sangweni (23) hails from a small village in Ulundi, Kwa-Zulu Natal, called Ntendeka.
Thobani graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc in Physics and Astrophysics in 2022 and a BSc Honours in Physics in 2023. He is currently completing an MSc in Physics at the University of Cape Town.
Thobani’s research is within the ATLAS experiment at CERN and explores a search for tWZ production which contributes towards understanding rare Standard Model processes. Beyond research, he serves as a physics tutor and lab demonstrator for first- and second-year undergraduate students.
Thobani is an avid football player and is learning to play the electric guitar in his spare time. He is a big Formula 1 fan and an Anime and Manga enthusiast.
Thobani hopes to pursue a DPhil in Particle Physics at Oxford University in 2026.
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Congratulations to ten outstanding young graduates
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