Etomeleng Tsoeleng
Renewable Energy & Sustainability
Nominee's Province:
Western Cape
Age:
23
Project Name/Description:
South Africa’s apartheid-era town and regional planning continue to disenfranchise marginalised communities. A young urban planner wants to bridge the divide between academia and real-world practice to change the built environment of our country for the better. Etomeleng Tsoeleng completed her advanced diploma in town and regional planning at CPUT, passing cum laude, and is now doing her honours at UCT. The 23-year-old recently won the SA Council for Planners student essay competition for her essay on how greater community participation in spatial planning will improve infrastructure backlogs across provinces. Originally from KZN but now living and working in Cape Town, Etomeleng says that bridging the academic and practical realms will give her greater power to effect change. “Through academics, I can advocate through journal articles and conference attendances and directly work with influential stakeholders like the government to see tangible change. But by working in the field I can stay relevant to industry developments,” she says. “I am from a rural area, and I understand the frustration that these people have. They can be part of the solution if they are included in the conversation.”
