Unisa’s Office of the Dean of Students, through the Higher Health Peer Educator Programme, participated in the Mandela-Sobukwe Peer Leadership Camp led by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, the Honourable Buti Manamela. The camp took place from 10 to 14 February 2026 and aimed to develop young change agents to influence not just the local and continental future, but also the global future.

Watch the camp highlights

The office is committed to enhancing students' co-curricular development. Among others, Unisa student and peer educator, Kheto Siphesihle Simelane, participated in the leadership camp as part of the Dean of Students’ co-curricular programmes. The camp acknowledged students who are committed to serving through the Higher Health Peer Education Programme. Additionally, it focuses on developing the youth as future leaders, building on the legacies of the late former South African President Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid revolutionary Robert Sobukwe.

The camp coincided with the State of the Nation Address and other iconic events, including the anniversary of Mandela's release from prison on 11 February 1990. It also provided a platform for young aspiring peer educator leaders to converge, discuss innovative ideas, and brainstorm new ways to address the challenges that confront South African youth. Students also had the opportunity to engage with some of the world's top minds around leadership legacy and principles, health and psychosocial wellness skills.

Participants were further exposed to civic and social values, the role of technology and artificial intelligence in human advancement, climate change and cultural diversity. Importantly, they learned about the country’s history, which is foregrounded by the success of South Africa's National Development Plan, which aims to drive sustainable change. 

* Submitted by the Office of the Dean of Students