University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN Golden Key

University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN Golden Key

UKZN’s Golden Key International Honours Society inducted new members in a ceremony held on the Pietermaritzburg campus.

The annual event recognises individuals who show academic excellence in their respective fields in the previous academic year. The Society is made up of the top 15 percent of students in their selected disciplines. Honorary members are also inducted at the event.

The top five new members are selected on the basis of community involvement and excelling in the three core pillars of the society – academics, leadership and service.  Recipients this year were Mr Mahomed Moosa, Mr Rishalan Govender, Ms Reeya Singh, Mr Christopher Kokeletso and Mr Isaac Machafa.

Honorary members included Dr Sibusiso Chalufu, Executive Director: Students Services was inducted as an honorary member for Westville, Ms Ntokozo Madlala, Head of the Drama Department and Ms Lettitia Egling, a Lecturer at the School of Management Science.

Moosa, a BCom and HED Honours graduate, achieved a cumulative academic percentage average of 70 percent.  He is a certified Pastel trainer and has conducted outcomes-based assessment for the Institute of People Development since 2010.

One of his projects involved the opening of a private primary school in Pietermaritzburg after the building had been abandoned for many years.

Govender is a Biochemistry graduate who achieved a cumulative percentage average of 74 percent. During his studies he received numerous merit awards for outstanding academic achievements and certificates in a variety of fields.

He has been on the Dean’s merit list since 2009 and received a postgraduate scholarship to pursue his honours and masters degrees.

Govender, a registered medical scientist, assists with workshops and training and has participated in several mathematics and science Olympiads. He has a wide variety of service- related initiatives and acts as a student tutor for chemistry practicals to first-year engineering students on the Howard College campus and for final-year BSc and honours students at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.

Singh is a third year Pharmacy degree student with a cumulative percentage average of 87 percent. She was the best first-year student within her field of discipline and received a Dean’s Commendation Award in all her semesters along with various merit certificates.  She is a volunteer-assistant in the reserve library on the Westville campus and during her spare time attends isiZulu language classes.

Kokeletso is a Fine Art: Music graduate with a cumulative academic percentage average of 76 percent. He received certificates of merit for keyboard studies and is actively involved in various community projects. His community service and extra-curricular activities include being the Manager of the Internal Affairs UNASA-UKZN, Auditor for the Botswana Students Society, Aerobics Club Member and a member of the UKZN Choir.

Machafa is a BA Honours (Music- Ethnomusicology) summa cum laude graduate who achieved a cumulative academic percentage average of 83 percent and received various awards, including the Vincent Maphai Scholarship for being the best Masters student at UKZN.

He is actively involved in communal affairs being a volunteer for the UKZN Foundation Volunteer Programme for the Partner Africa Campaign, a tutor at the Ukusa community music initiative in Mbira (an African music traditional instrument) and a member of the Anglo Cluster Residences football team.

The Society thanked families for supporting Golden Key members in their endeavours.

For more information about the Society, visit the Golden Key International Honour Society website (www.goldenkey.org)