A group of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Industrial Physics students, specialising in Nuclear Technology, have won the 8th annual Rosatom "Atoms Empowering Africa" video competition. This remarkable achievement highlights TUT's commitment to nurturing future leaders and showcases the exceptional talent within the Faculty of Science.
The winning team, comprising advanced diploma students Koketso Chaba, Angel Makibi and Philasande Ntuli, impressed international judges with their creative submission, earning them an all-expenses-paid trip to Moscow, Russia. Their trip explored Russia’s rich scientific history, visiting key sites like the Atom Pavilion and the Museum of Cosmonautics. A major highlight is their visit to the city of Obninsk to see Rosatom’s training academy and the world's first commercial nuclear power plant.
The students’ success was celebrated by top industry figures. Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, commended the participants for their "exceptional quality of their work," noting that their voices are "helping shape a vision of the future grounded in sustainability, innovation and scientific exchange."
Reflecting on the competition’s broader impact, Princess Mtombeni (Africa4Nuclear) said: "The Atoms Empowering Africa video competition is a brilliant way for young Africans to showcase their creativity in communicating nuclear science."
This win is a powerful testament to the students' hard work and passion. As Ms. Chaba noted, "It's an honour to represent our institution and country." Makibi added that the win "affirms our capabilities and the meaningful contributions we can make through nuclear science."
The competition also saw another group of TUT students, Molemogi Mokaila, Sweetness Ngomane, and Sethabile Dubazane, from the same programme, shortlisted for their video. Their impressive performance was noted by their lecturer, Katlego Sebopela, who also served as a judge on the international panel. According to him, it was amazing to see two of the shortlisted South African groups come from the Department of Physics.
This success demonstrates that the Nuclear Technology programme, under the leadership of programme coordinator Prof Mandla Msimanga, continues to nurture future scientists who are not only technically skilled but also globally competitive and socially conscious. Their journey is an inspiration to all aspiring students, proving that with creativity and dedication, they too can achieve greatness on the global stage.
The winning team comprising advanced diploma students Koketso Chaba, Angel Makibi and Philasande Ntuli.