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26 April 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
“Seeing an African child succeed was always my motivation to work hard and strive for success,” says Masabata Chabeli, founder of NDSH, a newly established coding and robotics skills development programme.

Masabata Chabeli’s journey from teacher to tech entrepreneur led her to establish New Dawn Skills Hub (NDSH), which focuses on developing skills in coding and robotics, building a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) experts. 

Chabeli is a former UFS lecturer and a graduate of the EBL Institute of Business and Technology, which partners with the UFS Business School on community development, entrepreneurship development, and digital skills development programmes that benefit not only the youth but South Africans at large. 

Through NDSH she aims to bridge the gap between education and industry to from an early age equip pre-schoolers and learners with the skills necessary for success in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

She believes that when it comes to inventing new things not much has been done to encourage learners to be creative and innovative, especially at school level. “We have a long way to go,” she says.

Even though NDSH is still at an early stage of its development as a coding and robotics skills development service provider, the company already offers a range of programmes, from early childhood development (ECD) programmes for ages six months to Grade R, to a tutoring programme covering mathematics, science and technology.

Discovering her passion

Although she had always been a tech enthusiast, Chabeli never imagined pursuing a career in technology, let alone starting a business. “Teaching has always been my first passion,” she says. “But after more than a decade of teaching, I realised I wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted more, but I didn't know what that was.”

It wasn’t until 2017, when she was one of 45 lecturers from around the country selected to spend a month in China learning about 4IR technologies, including courses on coding and robotics, 3D-printing applications, and intelligent manufacturing, that Chabeli’s interest in tech was piqued. Two years later, she resigned from her position as a lecturer at the University of Free State to start her own tech business – and she hasn't looked back since.

Walking the road with Chabeli was Lesala Khetheng, Business Manager representing the EBL Institute of Business and Technology. Chabeli completed EBL’s Entrepreneurship and Business Literacy Programme and the Women in Digital Business Challenge.

I strongly encourage women who want to enter the innovation space to do so, because there is a great need. We must raise a next generation of innovators, who can solve their own problems through innovative ideas. – Masabata Chabeli
Overcoming the obstacles 

The journey towards achieving one’s dreams is often riddled with obstacles. “As a teacher with no prior business experience, I was ill-prepared for the day-to-day operations of running a business, and I neglected that aspect. However, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Entrepreneur Business Literacy (EBL) Institute mentorship programme in 2021-2022, which taught me about critical business components such as marketing, business management, cashflow, sales, and more.

“Having to prove that ‘I can’ as a black woman in technical fields has also been one of the challenges that I had to overcome. I have had to go above and beyond and work 10 times harder than my male counterparts to prove that I am just as capable,” she remarks.

Often being the only woman in the local industry made her doubt herself and feel like she didn’t belong. She says it was challenging because sometimes she found herself trying to talk, walk, and act like her male counterparts just to fit in. However, staying true to herself, being authentic, and having confidence in her abilities has helped her.

Greatest accomplishments

She says one of her greatest accomplishments thus far was taking a leap of faith by resigning and starting her own tech business. “The business was officially registered in February 2020, shortly before we were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, the business has been growing steadily, starting with only two children, and now serving over 50 across all our programmes.”

Another highlight for her was being selected as one of the Top 10 MTN SA Foundation Women in ICT Challenge female entrepreneurs. 

While she talks proudly about these successes, Chabeli is of the opinion that starting your own business is not for the faint-hearted. “It requires a lot of patience, hard work, and passion. You must prepare yourself for long hours and sacrificing time with family and friends. Discipline is also an important aspect when running your own business."

Women in the inventing space

“I strongly encourage women who want to enter the innovation space to do so, because there is a great need. We must raise a next generation of innovators, who can solve their own problems through innovative ideas,” she says.

Chabeli elaborates, “Seeing an African child succeed was always my motivation to work hard and strive for success, especially in the areas of literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, which are all valuable competencies for inventing new things. It inspired me to lend a helping hand in bridging the skills gap that our country is facing.”

News Archive

UFS breakthrough on SRC
2005-06-10

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) today unanimously approved the establishment of a Central Student Representative Council (CSRC)  to ensure the democratic participation of students at its three campuses in the governance of the university.

In a major breakthrough and transformation step for student governance, the Central SRC will include representatives of the main campus in Bloemfontein, the Vista campus and the Qwaqwa campus of the UFS.

The establishment of the Central SRC follows the incorporation of the Qwaqwa campus into the UFS in January 2003 and the incorporation of the Vista campus in Bloemfontein into the UFS in January 2004.

According to Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, today’s decision of Council is the result of a lengthy, negotiated agreement between the three campuses. Independent experts facilitated part of the process.

With the establishment of a Central SRC, the UFS has adopted a federal student governance model whereby the CSRC is the highest representative student body on matters of common concern for all students.

However, the three campuses of the UFS will retain autonomous SRC structures for each campus with powers and responsibilities for matters affecting the particular campus.

This arrangement will be reviewed after a year to make allowance for the phasing out of students at the Vista campus, as was agreed in the negotiations preceding the incorporation of that campus into the UFS.

The central SRC will have a maximum of 12 members made up of members of the campus SRCs, including the presidents of these three SRCs. In total, the main campus will have 5 representatives, the Qwaqwa campus will have 4 representatives and the Vista campus will have 3 representatives.

From these 12 members a central SRC president will be chosen on a quarterly basis to represent the general student body at Executive Management, Senate and Council.

In another key decision and significant step forward affecting student governance, the Council also approved amendments the constitution of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the main campus.  These amendments were the results of deliberations of student organizations, the SRC and the Student Parliament of the UFS main campus.

The amendments to the constitution of the main campus SRC determines that nine of the 18 SRC members must be elected by means of proportional representation and nine on the basis of an individual, first-past-the-post election.

This decision comes in the wake of calls by certain student organizations on main campus for proportional representation to be included as a means of electing student representatives.

The following portfolios of the main campus SRC will be contested by individual candidates on the basis of first past the post:

  • president
  • secretary
  • academic affairs
  • legal and constitutional affairs
  • student development
  • arts and culture
  • men’s internal liaison
  • ladies internal liaison
  • media, marketing and liaison

The following nine portfolios will be contested by affiliated organizations on a proportional representation basis.

  • two vice-presidents
  • treasurerdialogue and associations
  • transformation
  • campus affairs and recreation
  • sport
  • international affairs
  • community service

It also is a breakthrough to have all constitutional changes processed and approved at the June meeting of the Council, with all relevant student organizations having been part of the process and accepting the outcome of the process.

According to the chairperson of the UFS Council, Judge Faan Hancke, today’s unanimous decisions on student governance are an indication of how all UFS stakeholders represented in Council are committed to finding win-win solutions in the interest of the university.

“Once again the UFS has reached another milestone in its transformation and has shown the rest of the country that we are pioneers in the field of reaching intelligent solutions to complex situations,” Judge Hancke said.

According to Dr Moraka, the central SRC constitution will come into effect from the start of the second semester this year.

 MEDIA RELEASE

Issued by: Lacea Loader
    Media Representative
    Tel:  (051) 401-2584
    Cell:  083 645 2454
     E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

10 June 2005
 

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