University Mentors

Kiara Maduray 

An Alumni Experience Analyst at ALX South Africa.

Kiara currently serves as an Alumni Experience Analyst at ALX South Africa. Her extensive background includes Teaching both in South Africa and abroad in Europe, complemented by a strong foundation in Software Engineering. In her current role, she utilizes her diverse experience to enrich the Alumni Experience and offer valuable insights. Additionally, Kiara mentors the ALX Dirisa Datathon team, providing guidance and support with her knowledge and expertise in the field.

Xolisa P.Piyose

Lecturer at Mangosuthu University of Technology.

Xolani currently  serves a Lecturer at Mangosuthu University of Technology, Xolisa brings years of experience from various South African universities, where he has taught subjects like Technical Programming, Computer Security, and Artificial Intelligence. His work includes curriculum development, research, and external moderation. Xolisa has a keen interest in interdisciplinary collaborations and aims to integrate ethical computing and social responsibility AI in the tech field.

His publications, including a 2023 paper on IT career preferences, reflect his dedication to advancing knowledge and empowering future IT professionals. He has also received multiple Vice Chancellor’s awards for excellence in IT during his studies.

Lungile Mngonyama

She is pursuing her Mathematical Sciences Honors at Wits.

Lungile is currently pursuing a degree in Mathematical Sciences Honors at Wits, with a strong passion for applying mathematical principles to real-world problems. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has gained valuable experience as a software developer, where she has honed skills in coding, problem-solving, and collaborative project management.

Lungile’s academic journey has also equipped her with a solid foundation in data science, enabling her to analyze and solve complex datasets, develop predictive models, and derive actionable insights. This interdisciplinary background allows her to approach problems from multiple angles, combining mathematical precision with practical software development skills and data-driven decision making.

Femi Elegbeleye

A software developer.

He is a highly skilled software developer with over seven years of experience in both academia and industry, specializing in IoT, AI, machine learning, and data analysis. His expertise encompasses software development, research, and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies. As a lecturer, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of IT students in South Africa and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on the next generation of innovators.

Ndhlovu Ripfumelo Percy

BSc in Computer Science and IS at the University of Venda.

Mr Ndhlovu RP completed his BSc in Computer Science and IS at the University of Venda in 2020. He continued his studies, completing his BSc Honors in Computer Science from the same University in 2021. He completed a learnership as desktop technician from Afrika tikkun services in 2021. He is currently registered as a second-year MSc in Computer Science student at the University of Limpopo.

He started his career as an intern placed to University of Mpumalanga funded by DIS-HSRC from October 2021 to September 2023. From November 2023- January 2024, he was employed as a UMP Colab Facilitator. He is currently employed as an associate lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga from February 2024.

Ms Mamabolo 

A lecturer at Sol Plaatje University .

She serves a lecturer at Sol Plaatje University under the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology. Ms Mamabolo has 6 years of corporate experience within the systems analysis and designs discipline and 1 year of IT auditing. She has been in academia for 12 years teaching Information Systems, Java, and Android programming. Ms Mamabolo is also the Chairperson of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS), facilitating community engagement activities within the northern Cape.

She has been involved in hackathons for the past 6 years, passionately assisting students with idea formulation especially those that address challenges within the community. She has successfully mentored both ICT and Data Science students who participated in the MTN hackathon, DIRISA Datathon, NEMISA hackathon, ITWeb Security Sumit hackathon, Northern Cape Broadband hackathon, just to name a few.

Sizakele Mathaba

She persuing her PhD in Data science technologies for Education sector with University of Zululand .

Ms Sizakele Mathaba is a computer science lecturer at University of Zululand. She has worked in industry (CSIR, ACCENTURE &IBM) and later joined academia. She is currently doing her PhD in Data science technologies for Education sector with University of Zululand, and she teaches Databases (SQL) and Web development technologies. 

Ratshikombo Sedzani Meshak

He’s persuing his Honours degree in Computer Science  at UWC.

Ratshikombo Sedzani Meshak is a proactive and inquisitive Honours Computer Science candidate at UWC. He aspires to contribute to groundbreaking research in the realms of AI and machine learning. He has held the position of tutor, providing consultations to students who faced difficulties understanding course content, assignments, and other computer science challenges. The courses he assisted with included AI, Operating Systems, Computer Networks, Databases, Machine Learning, and Software Engineering.

Nonjabulo khuzwayo

Studying Bsc Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Zululand.

I’m a data scientist with a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics, specializing in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. My passion lies in using data to solve complex, real-world problems. In 2023, my team and I earned 2nd place at the Datathon 2023, where we applied advanced data science techniques to tackle challenging problems. In addition to my work in competitions, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a judge at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, helping to evaluate and mentor young, aspiring scientists in the fields of technology and innovation. Currently, I’m also a mentor at the CSIR Coding School, where I guide and support emerging tech talent, sharing my knowledge of coding and data science. Looking ahead, in 2025, I’ll be pursuing my honors in Biomathematics at Stellenbosch University, further expanding my expertise in the intersection of mathematics, biology, and data science. Through these experiences, I’m dedicated to both growing my expertise in AI and machine learning and contributing to the development of the next generation of tech professionals