MMUF Fellow Mbalenhle Matandela wins Rhodes Trust scholarship

MMUF fellow Mbahlenhle Matandela, a recent graduate of the University of Cape Town, is one of nine South African students to be awarded the Rhodes Trust scholarship in 2017. Somewhat ironically, Mbahlenhle is a veteran of the Rhodes Must Fall activist movement at UCT, which resulted in the 2015 removal of a much-contested statue of Cecil John Rhodes from the grounds of the campus; she also wrote her honours dissertation on the experiences of black women in Rhodes Must Fall. However, Mbahlenhle has said that she views the scholarship as reparation for the past injustices of colonialism and believes she can use the opportunity for good. Mbahlenhle will use the Rhodes to pursue an MPhil in development studies at Oxford University beginning in fall 2017. She plans to connect with other Rhodes Must Fall activists there, and to continue her activism when she returns to South Africa after the completion of her master's program. Our warm congratulations to Mbahlenhle!