Germiston teen launches initiative to empower girls
Her flagship initiative, Youth Connect, brings together international speakers to discuss social issues affecting young girls and to explore possible solutions.
Ramathibela believes that young people across the globe face similar challenges and that by sharing experiences and ideas, they can become powerful agents of change.
ALSO READ: Cansa slams vaping industry for targeting SA youth
Using Instagram Live sessions, the foundation tackles pressing topics such as the fear of missing out (FOMO), social media safety, and the struggle to find one's purpose.
Ramathibela's previous programme, Girls Unite, made a meaningful impact by providing young girls with essential items and teaching valuable life skills.
Her passion for philanthropy was sparked through her volunteer work at orphanages, where she witnessed firsthand how much of a difference compassion and support can make.
'Youth Connect is a youth empowerment campaign that aims to uplift the youth of South Africa,' said Ramathibela. '
'As future leaders, we must learn to stand up for ourselves and take ownership of our lives. The purpose of Youth Connect is to address the social challenges we face and to come up with innovative, youth-led solutions.'
She also outlined the upcoming Youth Month sessions:
• June 8: Fear of Missing Out with Reshoketswe Monare
• June 14: Navigating Social Media with Esther Bayeye
• June 16 (Youth Day): Finding Purpose with Thando Shabangu
'These topics are especially important during Youth Month,' said Ramathibela. 'So many young people are struggling to find their purpose or safely navigate social media. We want to show them how to use these platforms to build their personal brand and live intentionally.'
ALSO READ: New cricket deputy to help with youth
Outside of her activism, Ramathibela has made waves in the fashion and pageant world. She's walked prestigious runways, including the Hello Polokwane Fashion Show, and served as a host. She's also a semi-finalist in a national pageant, hoping to represent South Africa on the international stage in Portugal.
'Last year, I was supposed to travel to Colombia for an international pageant, but my visa was denied,' she recalled. 'Fashion has always been my passion, so hosting a fashion event was a dream come true. Even though I missed that opportunity, I'm now a semi-finalist in another competition. My dream is still alive, and I'm working hard to make it happen.'
Ramathibela encourages other young people to remain determined and resilient, even when things don't go according to plan.
'Last year, I achieved a lot, but as we celebrate Youth Month, I want young people to remember that their dreams are still within reach. Destiny delayed is not destiny denied. Success requires perseverance.'
Next year, she plans to enroll at the University of Johannesburg, where she will study communications, with the goal of becoming a radio presenter or host.
ALSO READ: East Rand Youth Orchestra and St Dunstan's present concert
Her vibrant background includes active involvement in gymnastics, hockey, netball, and cheerleading during her school years.
Youth Connect has also invited influential youth voices, including Mr Teen Supranational International 2024 (South Africa's representative in Peru); Miss Teen Independent International 2025 (who represented SA in the Philippines); Miss Teen Universe 1st Runner-Up 2024 (finalist in the South African national pageant).
These speakers will share their experiences and offer motivation to other youth during the upcoming sessions, which can be accessed via Instagram at @l_e_b_o_g_a_n_g_.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Basha Uhuru's Sounds of Freedom Concert to be held outside of Youth Month
Marketing Manager Constitution Hill Janine Muthusamy, however, wasn't able to say if this could be the concert's modus operandi For the first time, the Basha Uhuru Sounds of Freedom Concert will be hosted outside of Youth Month. The organisers have decided to host the festival in September. 'Hosting the iconic Basha Uhuru Sounds of Freedom Concert in September, which is Heritage Month, allows us as a Unesco World Heritage Site to further immortalise the 1976 Soweto Uprising's liberation legacy heritage,' Constitution Hill marketing manager Janine Muthusamy told The Citizen. Muthusamy said she hoped this move will further inspire youth to greatness, despite the youth-centred concert being held outside of its original date. She said, however, she wasn't able to say if this could be the concert's future modus operandi. 'Conhill [Constitutional Hill] has not decided if the event will remain a two-part festival in the future.' ALSO READ: 'We have not lived up to expectations' – Basha Uhuru organisers after Kabza De Small's no-show Sounds of Freedom Concert This year's Sounds of Freedom Concert was launched on Thursday evening at Constitution Hill, where the line-up was also revealed. This year's line-up is headlined by Khuli Chana and his wife, Lamiez Holworthy, Pabi Cooper, Admiral and Jahseed among the announced performers. Basha Uhuru was founded in 2012 to immortalise the memory of the youth who fought for their right to choose in the Soweto 1976 uprising, affording youth of today the freedom to explore their creativity and freedom of expression. This flagship creative arts festival was established to provide a platform that would facilitate the broad spectrum of artistic expression for young emerging professionals and entrepreneurs in the creative industry. Popular actress Sophie Ndaba will present the inaugural fashion show at the festival this year. 'This is more than a fashion show – it's a celebration of creativity, culture and collaboration,' Ndaba said. NOW READ: Ninth Mzantsi Jazz Awards to honour Themba Mkhize and Dr Jonathan Butler Youth month activities The theme of the 2025 edition is 'Celebrating the Legacy of Creative Expression'. The festival shone a spotlight on the role of youth and their participation in creative and social economies and societies in the Creative Conference in June. This year, the festival did a double take with new programme partners for the commemoration of Youth Month at The Creative Conference, hosted from 26 to 28 June 2025. Among the activities that were held in June was the Amapiano Summit, which was a two-day conference and a live showcase focusing on this now global genre of music, adding new areas of creativity to Basha Uhuru. The Basha Uhuru Creative Weeks had contributions from former Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, Gauteng MEC of finance and economic development Lebogang Maile at the AfriMasterclass Full Day Conference. Mmabatho and Refilwe Montsho also curated the Films of Freedom Film Festival. NOW READ: Film festival pays homage to class of '76 through opportunity to young filmmakers
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Crafted for success: A jeweller's leap into leadership
Noxolo Mseleku, CEO and Founder of Elegante Image: Supplied WHEN Noxolo Mseleku left her home in Illovu township, KwaZulu-Natal to pursue architecture in Johannesburg, she had no idea that a rejected university application would reshape her entire career trajectory. 'Jewellery chose me, I didn't choose it,' explains Mseleku, reflecting on how a lack of space in the University of Johannesburg's architecture department led her to the jewellery design programme instead. 'It was still about designing, drawing, creativity, so I embarked on that journey.' Mseleku's natural artistic flair – evident since childhood when she made clothes for herself and her cousins – found new expression in precious metals and gemstones. Her talent quickly emerged during her university years, culminating in a competition-winning piece that interpreted HIV and AIDS through a dying flower with a healthy infant at its centre, symbolising hope and resilience. Her dedication earned her a scholarship to study in Italy for two years (2015–2017). During this period, she also completed a diamond grading course at HRD in Antwerp, broadening her expertise in gemstones. 'I am definitely a sucker for romance and beautiful things, but what inspires me most is gemstones,' she says. Returning to South Africa, Mseleku briefly worked for Browns before launching her own company, Elegânté. The Italian name, meaning 'elegance,' reflects both her international education and design philosophy of creating 'classical pieces with a twist of modernity.' However, she soon discovered that opportunities for qualified jewellery designers were scarce, with many of her university peers leaving the industry entirely. Rather than follow suit, she decided to create opportunities herself. 'I decided to be the change I want to see,' she says. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The transition from creative designer to business owner required Mseleku to develop entirely new skills beyond her artistic expertise. 'I'm a creative at heart,' she says. 'But because I have a brand now, I have to bring in some business elements.' The evolution from pure creativity to business leadership became one of her greatest challenges and learning experiences. Today, Elegânté employs three young skilled professionals who focus on design and manufacturing while Mseleku has learned to step back from the workbench. 'They do the design and manufacture, and I do everything else – the sales and marketing,' she explains. This allows her team to concentrate on their technical expertise while she focuses on growing the business. All of this would have not been possible without the intervention of the De Beers Enterprise Programme. It's a programme that is a multifaceted initiative focused on supporting and developing businesses, particularly those in the diamond and jewelry sector. It provides a range of support services, including mentorship, training, and access to resources, to help businesses scale sustainably and contribute to the local and global diamond economies. One of the most significant lessons from the De Beers programme has been learning to build business structures that function independently. 'The business needs to function even when I'm not there,' Mseleku emphasises. This shift from being indispensable in every aspect of production to becoming a strategic leader who empowers her team has been crucial to Elegânté's growth.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Noxolo Mseleku's sparkling journey
NOXOLO Mseleku in her jewellery workshop. Image: Supplied. NOXOLO Mseleku has bedazzled some of the biggest names in South African entertainment. From Londie London to Abdul Khoza, LaConco, AzureDe and Sbahle Sithole, these are just some of the celebrities who have worn her jewellery. But the woman from Illovo on the KZN South Coast never imagined her creations would one day bring joy to people both at home and abroad. 'I love working with gemstones wholeheartedly. That's why I went to Belgium to study gemstones and diamond grading. Even our Instagram page is filled with gemstones,' says Mseleku. She always dreamt of becoming an architect and applied to the University of Johannesburg. But there was no space. After taking a gap year, she applied again, still no luck. Determined not to waste more time, she asked the university what other creative programmes were available. 'So I asked what they have which is design orientated and they told me that they have space in the jewellery department. I got accepted and that's how it all happened.' Mseleku says maybe she applied too late to get into architecture, but after a difficult start, things took an unexpected turn. 'Jewellery chose me, I didn't choose it,' she explains. 'Jewellery wasn't something I wanted at first. It's very manual, you have to melt metal, roll it, and work with tiny pieces. It's not just about designing and drawing beautiful things. After all of that, you still have to get hands-on. I found it difficult, especially the precision involved. I actually didn't like it at first and felt like I was failing at it." Things changed in her second year when she entered a competition and won. 'I started falling in love with the craft. So, like a spark it just came to me, it just happened.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Her winning piece represented HIV and AIDS through a dying flower with a healthy infant at its centre, all of it symbolising hope and resilience. That led to a two-year scholarship in Italy (2015-2017), where she immersed herself in jewellery as an artform. She also completed a diamond grading course in Antwerp, Belgium. 'I'm so glad that when I went to Italy, I found my passion and my love for jewellery. Because in Italy, jewellery is a culture to them, they have different techniques of doing things.' Mseleku is unapologetic about her love of bling, and yet she wears less jewellery now than before she started her career. 'I am definitely a sucker for romance and beautiful things, but what inspires me most is gemstones,' she adds. After returning to South Africa, she briefly worked for Browns Jewellers before launching her own brand, Eleganté, inspired by her Italian training and her design ethos of 'classical pieces with a twist of modernity.' She admits it wasn't easy starting out because the industry is expensive, and making it takes grit. But her perseverance paid off. 'My customers are millennials, young professionals, people that want the finer things in life, because we do your gold and your diamonds.' Mseleku says that Covid and the economic downturn hit her hard. She closed the retail leg of her business but continued with wholesale manufacturing. It's a sector, she says, where many talented jewellery designers have exited due to a lack of opportunities. She refused to give up. Today, Eleganté employs three young skilled professionals who focus on design and manufacturing. Mseleku has stepped back from the bench to focus on sales and marketing, ensuring the business grows while her team concentrates on their craft. She credits the De Beers Enterprise Programme for making that possible. The initiative provides mentorship, training and access to resources for entrepreneurs in the jewellery and diamond sector. Mseleku says it helped her sharpen her business model and build a more sustainable enterprise. However, she remains frustrated by how difficult it is for jewellers in South Africa to access raw materials, despite the country's mineral wealth. 'That is simply not true when people say we don't have the talent in this country. We do but there's so much red tape,' she says. 'They send the raw minerals out of the country, and then we have to buy back the finished goods. Meanwhile, we have skilled artisans right here who could create those pieces locally.' She says the export of raw materials affects her work directly. 'Right now, I need gold for a new collection, but I'm struggling to get it. Instead of allowing us to use what we have, they export the materials before we even get a chance. We should be exporting finished goods, not raw ones.' According to Mseleku, the challenge is widespread. 'We have a big, big problem with access to materials and it just doesn't make sense, because they come from here.' She believes beneficiation programmes like the one from De Beers are starting to make a difference. 'I'm really grateful to be part of that. It's a step in the right direction.' Beyond jewellery, Mseleku has taken on high-profile commissions; from crafting awards for the Gauteng Film Commission to creating a 30 Years of Freedom centrepiece for President Cyril Ramaphosa. She was also commissioned to create 800 pendants to raise funds for a hospital in Palestine. Looking ahead, her dream is to return to retail within five to ten years, open multiple branches, expand her workshop, and create more opportunities for fellow creatives. And she's definitely happy that there wasn't space to study architecture.
