Minister Nzimande Honors Memory of Nuclear Scientist Senamile Masango
Pretoria – The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, is grieving the loss of one of South Africa’s most esteemed young scientists, Senamile Masango.
The 37-year-old nuclear scientist passed away in the hospital on Saturday, 8 February 2025, following a brief illness.
“Ms. Masango was a young, innovative, and deeply passionate nuclear physicist who served our nation with great distinction in various roles, including as a board member of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA), where she chaired the research and development committee,” lamented Minister Nzimande on Monday, 10 February 2025.
“Due to her diligence and dedication to scientific excellence, she received numerous prestigious accolades, including being selected in 2017 as one of 50 scientists to participate in one of the initial African research missions within the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland (CERN).
“She also headed the research team that represented South Africa at the BRICS Youth Energy Agency.”
In addition to being an exceptional young scientist, Masango was a passionate advocate for promoting science among young black individuals, particularly young girls.
Through her Foundation, she implemented programs in South Africa and across Africa aimed at inspiring young girls about science and equipping women with the skills to become top-notch scientists, engineers, and researchers.
Motivated by her commitment to empowering women and girls, she launched the Women in Science and Engineering in Africa (WISE Africa) initiative in 2015, which provides mentorship to young girls in schools to encourage them to pursue careers in science.
“As a nation, we continue to face the challenge of a lack of confidence and often apprehension around mathematics and science, particularly within the black community,” Minister Nzimande remarked.
Through her efforts as an activist scientist, Senamile significantly contributed to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s strategic aim of boosting the number of young girls and women entering science careers and developing critical skills necessary for our nation’s advancement,” the Minister stated.
“At the time of her passing, Senamile was conducting research at TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for nuclear and particle physics, and was preparing to pursue her PhD in nuclear physics. This highlights the profound loss to our country’s public science framework,” Minister Nzimande expressed.
“On behalf of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the entire public science system of South Africa, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Masango.
“May her altruistic work inspire us to empower more young girls and women through science.”