Princess Mathebula is a final-year student in our Civil Engineering Department. Born and raised in Johannesburg, Soweto, Princess’s upbringing instilled in her the core values of respect and diligence. Her inquisitiveness about the construction of buildings and infrastructure, coupled with her innate problem-solving passion, set her on the path to pursuing a Civil Engineering degree. However, her journey didn’t stop there. It ignited her passion for leadership and her unwavering commitment to helping others reach their full potential and lead better lives.

In her final year, Princess decided to take on a significant challenge by assuming the role of Chairperson for the SAICE (South African Institution of Civil Engineering) student chapter. This decision was driven by her desire to develop further her leadership skills, including communication, confidence, and decision-making.

Leadership and Achievements:
Princess had many responsibilities as Chairperson of the SAICE student chapter. These included facilitating weekly meetings with the chapter committee, ensuring planned activities ran smoothly and on time, and hosting events involving industry professionals. One of the standout achievements during her tenure was the SAICE-Annual Cocktail event, which brought together seven prominent companies and UCT Civil Engineering students. Princess’s adept organisational skills secured catering and sponsorship worth R5500, covering all the event expenses.

This event proved to catalyse students to interact with their dream employers. It resulted in various students securing opportunities like vacation work and valuable contacts. The companies in attendance included Stefanutti Stocks, Zutari, HHO, M&D, PRDW Coastal Engineers, MPAMOT, and JG Afrika.

Additionally, Princess arranged a visit from the CEO of SMEC South Africa, who engaged with students and organised vacation work applications across the country. These achievements underscore Princess’s effective leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for her fellow students.

“A challenge never destroys but helps you move to a higher level of knowledge and a step closer to reaching your full potential.”

Personal Development and Insights:
“As Chairperson,” she shares, “It’s here that I refined my leadership skills and established connections with Civil Engineering firms, preparing me to excel in my future career and inspire fellow engineers.’ Her journey exemplifies the transformational impact of practical experience and leadership in engineering.

Legacy and Passing the Torch:
Princess has valuable advice for fellow junior students looking to step into leadership roles within the SAICE chapter or engage in extracurricular activities. Her thoughtful words underscore the importance of embracing leadership positions: “Leadership is a journey of self-discovery and growth, strengthening your character, inspiring others, and promoting effective teamwork.” Her wisdom highlights the many benefits of taking on leadership roles in our academic community.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders:
Princess’s mentorship extends to fellow students aspiring to assume leadership roles within the SAICE chapter or engage in extracurricular activities. She emphasises the importance of embracing leadership positions, offering this insightful perspective: “Leadership is a journey of self-discovery and growth that strengthens one’s character, inspires others, and fosters effective teamwork.” Her wisdom underscores the multifaceted benefits of leadership roles within the academic community.

As Princess Mathebula steps down from her role, her insight remains: “A challenge never destroys but helps you move to a higher level of knowledge and a step closer to reaching your full potential.” Her tenure as Chairperson highlights the technical growth and development that can be achieved through overcoming challenges.”