L Sapo

The ANC mourns the passing on of the country’s first black female nuclear scientist Senamile Masango on Sunday 9 February 2025.  The 37-year-old, who many South Africans thought of as the “queen of science, was a beacon of hope for many young people, especially women.

Masango became the first black African woman to be part of a research team working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). She also became the chair of the research and development committee of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa and a research team leader representing SA at the BRICS Youth Energy Agency just to name the few.

She was recognized by the South African news publication Mail & Guardian as one of the country’s top 200 scientists under age 35 and was honored with an International Women in Science Award recognising her profound impact on the scientific community. 

Senamile, a trailblazer who set out to inspire young women, established a foundation to encourage young women to pursue education and careers in science. The challenges faced by young black women were of special interest to her. It is for that reason that the ANC believes that her tireless efforts to promote science education and empowerment, particularly among women and disadvantaged communities, will be deeply missed.