Dr Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo, former Unisa Junior Lecturer in the College of Education and alumna, recently received the 2025 South Africa’s Young Leader in Education Award at the prestigious Forty under 40 South Africa Awards Ceremony.  Mokhele-Ramulumo states that being recognised as one of South Africa’s most influential and trailblazing young citizens is humbling and incredibly affirming. “This recognition highlights the hard work that I engaged in while balancing motherhood, scholarship, and leadership,” she says.

Among the many personal key educational projects that stand out for Mokhele-Ramulumo is the ReneWable Rangers, a digital educational game for children between the ages of four and six, which is designed to introduce them to renewable energy and environmental stewardship through storytelling, culture, and digital play and reward. She explains: “The project was inspired by my own sons’ speech delays and their surprising engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts through educational games. That experience pushed me to shift from microbiology to early childhood STEM education, eventually forming the heart of my PhD, which I obtained in 2024 at Unisa.”

Elaborating, Mokhele-Ramulumo explains that in the ReneWable Rangers game, her sons, Wavhudi and Rivhavhudi, are cast as the brave heroes who restore power to South Africa during a fictional loadshedding crisis. “They travel with Dr Mummy Ranger (a reflection of me), discovering how each province uses renewable energy,” she adds. 

Continuing, Mokhele-Ramulumo remarks that professionally, this award affirms that the work she does in the lecture halls, research labs, game development rooms, and community spaces has significant impact. She emphasises: “It also reminds me that leadership in higher education is not only about publications and policies, but also about serving people — that is helping students to find their voices in academia.” 

ReneWable Rangers gets a nod from the 2025 NSTF-South32

In addition to the game’s unique approach in bringing STEM education to children, Mokhele-Ramulumo explains that the game is disability-adaptive, multilingual, and rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy. “Also,” she continues, “it has earned a nomination for the 2025 NSTF-South32 Emerging Researcher Award for its impressive design and unique inventiveness.” She affirms that the ReneWable Rangers is more than just a game; it is a movement to prove that no child is too young to learn about science, climate justice, and sustainable solutions through interactive and educational games.

During the presentation of awards, Sandile Tshabalala from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), congratulated the nominees for getting this far and demonstrating their unshakeable leadership prowess despite the current negative conditions bequeathing the country. He remarked: “We congratulate you and hope that this day marks a turning point to realised that we are responsible for carrying our country forward.”

‘A prosperous Africa must be built by us’

Speaking next, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former African Union Chair, said that this celebration recognises those who dared to dream, had the courage to act and the determination to succeed. She congratulated the participants, stating that they are the very essence of the building blocks of the Africa that we want. She added: “Africa’s prosperity must be driven by its citizens as it plays a dynamic role in the global arena and economy, and your contribution is perfectly aligned to this objective.”

During her keynote address, the Honourable Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, honoured the recipients for their achievements.

Focus on people before platforms

Mokhele-Ramulumo is currently a Senior Lecture at the North-West University. She credits her strength to a combination of boldness, hard work and self-compassion. She concludes: “Never underestimate the value of your unique story. Build impact before applause. Focus on people before platforms.”

* By Freddy Abilio Mlambo, Acting Marketing and Communication Specialist, College of Education