By Akani Nkuna
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the country’s first Black nuclear scientist, Senamile Masango, who died suddenly over the weekend.
He recognised her ground-breaking contributions to the field and her role in advancing nuclear science and inspiring future generations in South Africa and beyond.
This comes after reports confirming the passing of Masango, who was a member of the Human Resource Development Council.
“Ms Masango was a beacon of hope for many young people, especially women. Her passion for developing critical skills among the population and women in science in particular, will be sorely missed,” Mashatile said in a statement on Monday.
Masango was a globally acclaimed nuclear scientist, distinguished energy leader and pioneering entrepreneur. Renowned for her trailblazing contributions to nuclear science, she earned widespread respect for her prestigious research, including work at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN.
Masango gained global recognition as the first African woman to conduct experiments at CERN. Her brilliance was honoured with the prestigious Women in Science Award in 2022.
Beyond her scientific achievements, she was a visionary entrepreneur and founder of Mphathisithele Consulting, an energy consulting firm. She also served on a number of public sector science bodies, including the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation.
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation said that Masango’s passing leaves a void in the pursuit of science education and empowerment, especially for women and underprivileged groups.
“Masango’s tireless efforts to promote science education and empowerment, particularly among women and disadvantaged communities, will be deeply missed.
“Her founding of Women in Science and Engineering and her advocacy for increased representation and opportunities for women in STEM fields have had a lasting impact,” said the department said.
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, highlighted Masango’s dedication to innovation, women’s empowerment and youth development.
She said that Masango worked relentlessly to create opportunities for marginalised groups in science, enabling young women to enter male-dominated fields. Her impact was beyond research, shaping national and global discussions where she was highly respected.
“Senamile Masango was more than a nuclear scientist; she was a beacon of hope and inspiration to countless young women aspiring to pursue careers in science and technology. Her passing is a profound loss not only to her family, friends and colleagues, but to the entire country. Her contributions to the National System of Innovation (NSI) will forever remain part of South Africa’s scientific and developmental legacy,” Chikunga said in a statement.
Chikunga further emphasised that the government remained committed to honouring Masango’s groundbreaking contributions to the NSI and vowed to enhance initiatives that promoted women’s involvement in science, technology,and industry.
Key programmes including SANSI, which equips young women with tech and engineering skills, and the Emerging Industrialists Accelerator Programmes, which uses precision agriculture to empower women farmers with market-driven expertise and industry access.
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