For Tlotliso Mokomane, graduating with an MPhil in Civil Engineering with a specialisation in GIS at the University of Cape Town, is far more than an academic accomplishment. It is the closing of a powerful chapter and the beginning of an even more purposeful journey.
“This milestone feels like the closing of a chapter I had been writing long before I stepped into a lecture room,” he reflects. “Graduation is not just the completion of a master’s degree, it is the moment where all the late nights, self-doubt, and quiet prayers finally make sense.”
Her academic journey led her deep into the world of GIS and its power to drive social change. While conducting research in District Six and Die Vlakte, historic communities scarred by forced removals, Tlotliso walked alongside ex-residents who pointed to empty spaces and said, “This is where my home used to be.”
She carried their stories, their pain, their resilience, their memories, into her writing, her maps, and her analysis. Through this work, she discovered the profound responsibility of not just documenting space, but honouring humanity.
“This graduation is a reminder that I didn’t just survive this journey, I grew through it,” he says. “It represents becoming someone who can hold people’s stories with care and use research as a tool for healing.”
How Being a MINDS Scholar Shaped Her Leadership
Being a MINDS Scholar transformed Tlotliso’s understanding of leadership from a technical pursuit into a deeply human one.
“MINDS taught me that leadership is service rooted in empathy, collaboration, and community awareness,” she says. Exposure to a diverse network of young leaders across the continent showed him that Africa’s future is already being shaped by committed visionaries in every sector.
Through MINDS dialogues, leadership training, and Pan-African exchanges, she learned to connect her GIS work to broader responsibilities:
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safeguarding memory,
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amplifying marginalised voices,
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and using data for accountability and justice.
“MINDS gave me the confidence to show up not only as a researcher, but as someone capable of driving meaningful, people-centred change.”
Her Advice to Future MINDS Scholars
Tlotliso’s wisdom is grounded, heartfelt, and powerful:
“Walk into the programme with an open heart. MINDS is not just a scholarship. It is a transformation.”
She encourages scholars to embrace challenge, seek meaningful conversations, and learn from people whose lives differ from their own.
She adds: “Remember that leadership is not about being the loudest or the smartest; it is about honouring the trust people place in you.”
And finally: “Your degree matters, but your purpose is greater. Use this platform to become the kind of leader your community, your country, and your continent need.”
Lead with empathy.
Lead with courage.
Let the experience shape you in ways you never imagined.
