ABSIP NMU Student Chapter

04/09/2026

15/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Lona 🌸

Meet Olona “Lona” Rawu, the Community Outreach Director of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and a Diploma in Economics (Extended) student.

As Community Outreach Director, Lona hopes to strengthen ABSIP’s connection with the communities around us by initiating meaningful and impactful projects that bridge the gap between students and the broader community. Her vision is to encourage students to use their skills, knowledge, and opportunities to create positive change beyond campus.

🤝🏾 Outside academics, Lona enjoys volunteering, spending time outdoors, and connecting with people who share her passion for personal growth and leadership.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Kind
Empathetic
Committed

💭 Life Motto:
"I did my best, and God did the rest."

🎵 **Favourite Song: Dive - Ed Sheeran

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Nelson Mandela, whose resilience, humility, and lifelong commitment to equality and empowerment inspire Lona to believe that meaningful change requires patience, courage, and dedication.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Trevor Noah - his journey from humble beginnings to global success inspires her to embrace her roots, use her voice, and find humour even in challenging moments.

😂 Fun Fact:
Lona describes herself as having a "dual personality" - sometimes she's shy and introverted, while other times she's outgoing and ready to connect with everyone!

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who serve with compassion, lead with purpose, and recognise the importance of giving back to the communities around them. 💙

Join us in celebrating Olona “Lona” Rawu and her commitment to creating meaningful impact through community outreach! 🌸

14/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Carla 🌸

Meet Carla Noxolo Kasala, the Secretary of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and a Diploma in Economics student.

During her term, Carla hopes to contribute to the legacy already built within ABSIP-NMU while helping foster a space where students can connect, grow, and discover a greater sense of purpose. As Secretary, she brings a commitment to organisation, collaboration, and ensuring that the chapter continues moving forward.

🏎️⛰️ Outside academics, Carla has a wonderfully diverse range of interests. From following Formula 1 and enjoying hiking and golf, to art and horse riding, she enjoys experiences that challenge her, keep her curious, and allow her to appreciate the world from different perspectives.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Tenacious
Inquisitive
Witty

💭 Life Motto:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5–6

She also lives by a piece of advice from Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo: embrace the nerves, enjoy the process, appreciate the journey, and bring the people you love along with you. 🏁

🎬 Favourite Movie: The Greatest Showman

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Her mother, whom she describes as one of the strongest and most dedicated people she knows, always willing to go the extra mile for the people she loves.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Philip Anthony Mitchell.

🎶 Fun Fact:
Carla can whistle really well! 👀😂

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who are curious enough to explore, courageous enough to grow, and determined enough to leave their own mark. 💙

Join us in celebrating Carla Noxolo Kasala and the contribution she is making to the ABSIP-NMU community! 🌸

13/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Kamo 🌸

Meet Kamogelo Angel “Kamo” Mashigo, a Finance & Investment Sub-Committee Member of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and a Diploma in Economics student.

During her term, Kamo hopes to create opportunities that help members grow academically, professionally, and personally through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful engagement. She is passionate about bridging the gap between university and the finance and investment industry by supporting initiatives that expose students to industry professionals, practical skills, and career opportunities.

Kamo also hopes to foster an environment where members can build confidence, expand their networks, and prepare themselves for successful careers in finance. 📈💼

🌱 Outside academics, she enjoys volunteering, mentoring students, attending leadership and industry events, and exploring emerging trends in finance and technology. She also enjoys reading about economic development and entrepreneurship, spending time with family and friends, and participating in community-focused initiatives.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Driven
Collaborative
Resilient

💭 Life Motto:
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

📖 Favourite Book: Atomic Habits

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Ofentse Thulare, whose passion for empowering young people and creating opportunities through leadership and innovation motivates Kamo to pursue her goals with purpose and make a positive impact in her community.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Elon Musk.

💻 Fun Fact:
A "five-minute" LinkedIn scroll can quickly become a full research session with saved internships, company profiles, and career advice! 😂

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who are driven to learn, connect, create opportunities, and make a meaningful difference. 💙

Join us in celebrating Kamogelo “Kamo” Mashigo! 🌸

12/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Qhamisa 🌸

Meet Qhamisa Mata, the Treasurer of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy student. 📚

As Treasurer, Qhamisa aims to strengthen transparency and accountability within the chapter’s finances while creating more opportunities for member engagement. She hopes to introduce structured budgeting tools, explore innovative fundraising ideas, and support workshops that make financial knowledge more practical and accessible to students.

Her goal is to help build an efficient, responsible, and sustainable chapter while contributing to the growth and development of its members. 💼✨

💻 Outside academics:
Qhamisa enjoys creating digital content, community work, and volunteering. She also finds balance in reading, walking, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Resilient
Reliable
Authentic

💭 Life Motto:
"Delayed, not denied, trusting God's timing."

🎵 Favourite Song:
Indlela - Sun-El & Drega
A song that reminds her that life is a journey and that every step, even the challenging ones, shapes who we become.

🌟 Her inspiration:
Her mother, whose strength, faith, and ability to face challenges with grace have taught her the importance of resilience, compassion, hard work, and kindness.

👩🏾‍💼 Public figures she'd love to have lunch with:
Nonkululeko Goboda, South Africa's first Black female Chartered Accountant, alongside Mathebe Ngwenya and Sinovuyo Mondliwa.

🎬 Fun Fact:
Qhamisa loves creating digital content and secretly enjoys finding the perfect music clip or transition to match every mood or moment! 🎶✨

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who lead with integrity, resilience, and purpose. 💙

Join us in celebrating Qhamisa Mata and the impact she is making within the ABSIP-NMU community! 🌸

11/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Phumi 🌸

Meet Phumzile “Phumi” Madi, the subcommittee Treasurer of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning student.

During her term, Phumi hopes to support initiatives that positively impact students, collaborate meaningfully with fellow members, and represent students with professionalism and integrity. She also aims to excel academically while developing her leadership, communication, and organisational skills.

🏃🏾‍♀️ Outside academics, Phumi enjoys running, spending time with family and friends, and embracing opportunities for personal growth. For her, staying active is an important part of maintaining focus and balance.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Ambitious
Dependable
Resilient

💭 Life Motto:
"If it scares you, it's worth it."

🎵 Favourite Song: W.A.Y.S - Jhené Aiko

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Thuso Mbedu, whose resilience, determination, humility, and journey have shown Phumi the power of hard work, perseverance, and self-belief.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Thuso Mbedu.

💫 Fun Fact:
Phumi was born prematurely!

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who embrace challenges, pursue excellence, and continue to grow into the leaders they are meant to be. 💙

Join us in celebrating Phumzile “Phumi” Madi! 🌸

10/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Othi 🌸

Meet Othandwayo “Othi” Masala, an ABSIP Women in Focus Sub-Committee Member and a BSc student majoring in Biochemistry, Microbiology & Physiology.

During her term, Othi looks forward to collaborating with fellow members and helping organise events that are both informative and enjoyable. She is also excited to learn, challenge herself, and grow as an individual through her experiences within ABSIP.

🧶 Outside academics, Othi is a creative at heart. She enjoys crafting and creating decorative and useful items by hand, from pottery to knitting. She also loves baking and exploring her creativity through food.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Compassionate
Supportive
Imaginative

💭 Life Motto:
"Do what you can and let God do what you can't."

📖 Favourite Book: The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Francesca P. Albanese, whom she admires for her advocacy for human rights and her work as a UN Special Rapporteur.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Thabo Mbeki, to gain a deeper understanding of South Africa's political dynamics.

🎶 Fun Fact:
Othi really loves funk music, especially Jamiroquai! 🕺🏾

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who bring compassion, creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to learn into everything they do. 💙

Join us in celebrating Othandwayo “Othi” Masala and the contribution she is making to the ABSIP-NMU community! 🌸

09/08/2026

This Women’s Day, we remember the women of 1956 whose courage, sacrifice and strength changed the course of our nation.

Their legacy lives on in the women who continue to lead, challenge, build and create change today.

We honour them. We carry their legacy forward. We make space for those who come next.

Happy Women’s Day! 🌸🇿🇦

09/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Yenzolo 🌸

Meet Yenzolo “Yenzolo” Xolo, representing ABSIP Women in Focus and pursuing an LLM (Master’s).

During her term, Yenzolo hopes to help create a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels heard and valued. She is passionate about promoting academic excellence, strengthening communication between students and leadership, and initiating projects that encourage growth, engagement, and meaningful participation.

📚 Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, writing, community service, spending time with friends, and exploring new ideas. She is particularly drawn to activities that encourage personal and social development.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Committed
Empathetic
Proactive

💭 Life Motto:
"Your purpose is not just to exist, but to make an impact wherever you go."

📖 Favourite Book: Things I Never Said to Myself

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Her mother, whose strength, humility, and perseverance have taught her the value of hard work, compassion, and staying true to her values through life's challenges.

🍽️ A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Nelson Mandela - for his leadership, forgiveness, and unwavering commitment to justice.

💃🏾 Fun Fact:
Yenzolo loves dancing! It's one of her favourite ways to relax and lift her mood.

This Women's Month, we celebrate women who lead with empathy, purpose, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference. 💙

Join us in celebrating Yenzolo Xolo and the impact she hopes to make within the ABSIP-NMU community! 🌸

08/08/2026

🌸 Women's Month Executive Spotlight | Nongcebo 🌸

Meet Thandeka “Nongcebo” Mchunu, a Secretary Sub-Committee Member of the ABSIP Nelson Mandela University Student Chapter and a BA Development Studies student.

As part of the Secretary Sub-Committee, Thandeka is passionate about strengthening communication between ABSIP members and the Executive Committee. During her term, she hopes to contribute to effective coordination by ensuring members are kept updated, attendance is properly recorded, meeting minutes are maintained, and valuable feedback from meetings and events is communicated.

📚 Outside academics and society activities, Thandeka enjoys reading books and playing tennis. Her interests reflect her belief in continuous learning while also making time for activities that bring balance and enjoyment.

✨ Three words that describe her:
Kind
Loving
Caring

💭 Life Motto:
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

📖 Favourite Book: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

🌟 Someone who inspires her:
Her mother, whom she admires for being hardworking, continuously willing to learn, and for showing unconditional love.

👩🏾‍🎓 A public figure she'd love to have lunch with:
Dr Varaidzo Kativhu, a passionate girls' education activist and advocate for educational empowerment.

😂 Fun Fact:
She's an introvert who absolutely loves talking! 😭

This Women's Month, we celebrate women like Thandeka who understand that leadership is not always about being the loudest voice in the room, but also about listening, communicating, supporting others, and making sure that every voice is heard. 💙

Join us in celebrating Thandeka “Nongcebo” Mchunu and the contribution she is making to the ABSIP-NMU family! 🌸