Women in Science Awards 2026: Honouring Professor Keolebogile Shirley Motaung
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, announces venture capital funding for female tech founders at the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) in Sandton.
During the 23rd South African Women in Science Awards ceremony held on August 20, 2026, high school students Anele Mohoto, Alwande Mazeka, and their teacher Rose Gwambe were invited to witness the event in a Sandton ballroom. The South African government paid tribute to the late biomedical pioneer Professor Keolebogile Shirley Motaung, while South African Minister Blade Nzimande warned of the lack of venture capital funding for female-led tech startups, despite women now dominating university enrollments and academic positions.
The government aims to address this issue by transforming scientists into enterprise founders and global industry leaders, as well as investing in critical STEM fields such as engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence.
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