Celebrating a Cohort of 10 Postgraduate Scholars

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Supervising a single postgraduate student to completion is demanding work.

Guiding nine master’s and one PhD students across complex ethical questions shaping South Africa’s future is something far rarer.

For Professor Beatrice Okyere-Manu, this Graduation season marked a defining moment in her supervision journey as 10 of her Ethics students graduated together, each contributing research that speaks directly to national and continental challenges including governance accountability, artificial intelligence, healthcare justice, environmental responsibility, labour rights, education inequality, and emerging bioethical questions.

“For me, this Graduation represents a significant professional and personal milestone,” said Okyere-Manu. “While I have guided many scholars over the years, this is the first time I have supervised such a large, concentrated cohort simultaneously. To see 10 of them reach the finish line today is a great achievement.”

Rather than approaching supervision as an individual exercise, Okyere-Manu intentionally cultivates what she describes as a shared intellectual community shaped by dialogue, responsibility and purpose-driven scholarship.

“This moment affirms my belief that scholarship is not just an individual pursuit but a communal flourishing where we grow together through shared ethical inquiry and mutual support.”

Working through her Relational Ethical Transformative Praxis framework, she encourages students to apply ethical reasoning to real-world challenges facing African societies today. The result is a graduating cohort whose research addresses questions that sit at the centre of public life and policy debate.

“As we face the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, environmental pressures, and complex governance issues, we need a moral compass more than ever. Ethics provides the framework to ensure that our progress does not come at the cost of our humanity or our communal flourishing.”

Together, the 10 graduates represent a new generation of scholars equipped to contribute ethical insight across sectors where decisions shape lives, institutions and futures.

Dr Nothando Shandu (PhD)

Exploring germline enhancement through African moral philosophy

Shandu - a UKZN lecturer in the School of Arts in the Discipline of Philosophy - examined human germline enhancement technology through a Zulu ontological perspective.

“I became interested in how these technologies might be interpreted within African moral frameworks,” said Shandu.

Her research explored questions of lineage, identity and the sanctity of life within emerging genetic technologies.

“Including indigenous perspectives ensures that African communities are active contributors to the ethical governance of technology,” she explained.

She plans to continue advancing African bioethics through further research and policy engagement.

Master's students:

Mr Langelihle Jele

Championing educational justice in under-resourced communities

For Jele, graduating with a Master’s degree in Ethics is an academic milestone and a continuation of work he encounters daily in the classroom as a teacher. His research examined the ethical implications of unequal access to educational resources in a rural high school in Motherwell in the Eastern Cape.

“I am a teacher. Every day, I saw learners struggling because they had no textbooks, no proper desks, and no science labs,” Jele said. “I decided to study this problem because I believe every child deserves a fair chance to succeed, no matter where they live.”

His study explored how shortages of infrastructure and learning materials undermine not only academic performance but also dignity and opportunity for learners in historically disadvantaged communities. Using autoethnography together with consequentialist ethical analysis, Jele connected lived classroom realities with broader questions of constitutional responsibility and social justice.

“The South African Constitution says everyone has the right to basic education,” he said. “When the government fails to provide textbooks, safe buildings and proper toilets they are breaking that promise.”

Drawing on Ubuntu as an ethical framework, his research highlights the importance of collective responsibility in addressing educational inequality and supporting teachers working in under-resourced environments.

By documenting conditions in Motherwell, Jele hopes his work contributes to stronger advocacy for equitable resource allocation and encourages communities to engage more actively in shaping the future of local education.

Ms Nomvuzo Maphumulo

Exploring the ethics of sand mining and environmental justice

Maphumulo investigated the ethical implications of sand mining in South Africa and its impact on vulnerable communities.

“What motivated me was the growing awareness of its environmental and social impacts, particularly on vulnerable communities,” said Maphumulo.

Her research highlights riverbank erosion, habitat destruction, reduced water quality, and increased flooding risk as major environmental concerns. It also reveals how local communities often carry the social costs of extraction while economic benefits flow elsewhere.

“This raised important ethical questions for me around fairness, sustainability, and responsible resource use,” she explained.

Through ethical analysis, Maphumulo argues that resource extraction decisions must consider long-term ecological protection and community wellbeing rather than short-term economic gain.

“I hope my research helps make more responsible and educated environmental decisions in South Africa’s sand mining operations,” she said.

Ms Zesuliwe Mhlongo

Addressing doctor migration and rural healthcare inequality

Mhlongo’s research explored the ethical implications of the migration of doctors and its impact on healthcare delivery in rural South Africa.

“Growing up, I noticed a significant shortage of Medical doctors in rural communities,” she said. “This motivated me to explore the ethical implications of doctor migration.”

Her study found that migration contributes to longer waiting times, increased workloads for remaining staff, and reduced access to essential services in already underserved communities.

“Using a consequentialist approach, I found that this migration leads to more harm than good overall,” Mhlongo explained.

She hopes her future doctoral research in animal health ethics will continue addressing ethical challenges facing South Africa’s health systems.

Ms Samkelisiwe Mthwane

Examining artificial womb technology through a Zulu ethical lens

Mthwane’s study explored artificial womb technology from a Zulu Indigenous ethical perspective.

“My research aimed to foreground African ethical thought, ensuring that technological developments are evaluated in ways that are culturally relevant and inclusive,” she said.

Her work highlights how emerging biomedical technologies may reshape cultural understandings of reproduction, parenthood, and lineage.

“Artificial womb technology has the potential to significantly reshape cultural conceptions of parenthood and family within Zulu society,” she noted.

Mthwane plans to continue developing African-centred ethical frameworks through doctoral research.

Ms Sikhulile Mzobe

Ensuring fairness in AI-driven recruitment

Mzobe investigated the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in recruitment and selection processes.

“I was particularly motivated to examine how these technologies may affect fairness, access and human dignity,” she said.

Her research identified risks such as algorithmic bias and reduced transparency in hiring systems.

“Efficiency must not come at the expense of fairness and accountability,” she said.

She hopes her work contributes to ethical frameworks that guide responsible use of AI in employment decisions.

Ms Siphokazi Vezi

Reflecting on workplace culture during the COVID-19 pandemic

Vezi examined how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped workplace culture at UKZN’s New Arts Building.

“I became interested in understanding how these changes affected staff relationships, communication, and the overall sense of community in the workplace,” said Vezi.

Her study highlighted shifts toward hybrid communication and evolving expectations around staff wellbeing and institutional support.

“I believe institutions can strengthen workplace culture by prioritising open communication, empathy, flexibility, and staff wellbeing,” she said.

Vezi has already begun doctoral study in Ethics, continuing her research journey at UKZN.

Ms Asanda Xasibe

Evaluating the ethical dimensions of the National Health Insurance Bill

Xasibe’s research explored the ethical implications of South Africa’s National Health Insurance Bill.

“The NHI Bill represents a significant reform initiative and provided a valuable framework through which to evaluate whether contemporary health policy aligns with ethical principles such as justice, equity, and respect for human dignity,” she said.

Xasibe’s work examined debates around distributive justice, accountability, and equitable access to healthcare.

“I anticipate that this research will contribute to more critically informed and ethically grounded discourse on healthcare reform in South Africa,” she said.

Mr Kwanda Kunene

Exploring fairness in South Africa’s gig economy

Kunene investigated labour practices within South Africa’s expanding gig economy.

“I became interested in how platforms often operate outside traditional labour protections,” he said.

His research highlights job insecurity, algorithmic control and unequal bargaining power as key ethical concerns facing workers.

“Ethical analysis helps ensure that human dignity, fairness, and justice remain central as digital labour platforms expand,” he explained.

Kunene hopes to continue contributing to research and policy development promoting fair labour practices.

Ms Lusanda Mngadi

Strengthening ethical accountability in governance

Mngadi examined the ethical dilemmas surrounding state capture in South Africa.

“I was particularly interested in its ethical dimensions and how corruption directly affects the daily lives of South African citizens,” she said.

Her research highlighted the abuse of power, weakened service delivery and the erosion of public trust as central consequences of governance failures.

“My research contributes by showing that accountability is not only legal or institutional, but also ethical,” she explained.

She hopes to continue contributing to research on ethical leadership and governance through future doctoral study.

Reflecting on the cohort’s achievements, Okyere-Manu emphasised that their work represents more than academic success.

“You are now the ambassadors of a more just future,” she told her graduating students. “Use your expertise to ensure that wherever you are stationed, humanity and equity remain at the centre of the conversation.”

Words: Lee Rondganger

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini and supplied