The Department of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) held its annual Naspers Awards Ceremony on 13 November at Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).

The event celebrated outstanding achievement among first-, second-, and third-year Chinese students and highlighted the longstanding partnership between the department and Naspers.

This year, fifteen students received prizes at the ceremony, with a further three BA Honours students currently studying in China set to receive their awards next year. In addition, ten third-year students will be fully sponsored for a two-week cultural and academic trip to China, and two students have been awarded one-year full scholarships to study at Wuhan College. The honours were presented in the presence of peers, friends, faculty members, and invited VIP guests.

In attendance included VIP guests such as Ms Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa (CEO of Naspers South Africa), Mr Ian Barnard (Senior Consultant of Naspers), Mr Eric Li-Li Yigeng (Naspers Chief Representative Officer in China, Ms Wang Xiao (Chinese Acting Consul-General in Cape Town), Mr Chen Hu (Chinese Consul for Education), Prof Taryn Bernard (Vice-Dean, Teaching & Learning of FASS), Prof Ingo Muller (Chair of Modern Foreign Languages). Staff from Modern Foreign Languages came to offer their support to their dedicated students. 

The Masters of Ceremony, Mr Judah Milner and Ms Oneang Modiba, welcomed the audience and paid tribute to the dedication, perseverance, and intercultural curiosity shown by their fellow students. 

Prof Ingo Müller delivered the opening address welcoming all the prestigious guests in attendance as well as recognizing the outstanding academic commitments and achievements of the Chinese module students. “Tonight, we celebrate more than just awards, we celebrate courage, curiosity and the determination to engage deeply with another culture’s language,” said Prof Müller. He further reaffirmed that multilingualism is significant in our interconnected world where intercultural communication is key to progress, innovation, and peace. The generous support from Naspers has been instrumental in making these awards possible and supporting the Department’s Chinese language programme.

Guest speaker Chinese acting consul general in Cape Town Ms Wang highlighted the significance of the awards in strengthening China–South Africa relations. She noted the steady growth of Chinese language learning across South Africa and its role in fostering deeper cultural understanding. Marking 27 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, she offered warm congratulations to the award recipients and expressed appreciation to Naspers for its continued support.

Ms Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa delivered the keynote address, emphasising that students’ commitment to studying Chinese reflects the bold international connections we must continue to build. She noted that the future depends on creating bridges rather than walls, adding, “As I look around, I am grateful—because you are our future leaders, and your presence here gives me hope for what lies ahead.” She further acknowledged the depth of Naspers’ partnership with Stellenbosch University, noting that the recently renewed sponsorship underscores the company’s continued belief in the power of language, culture, and education to shape future global leaders. These awards, she said, exemplify Ubuntu in action and reflect the meaningful cultural exchange between the two countries.

Award Presentation

Certificates were presented by Mr Allen Luo, Head of the Chinese Section, and awards were conferred by Prof Müller and Ms Mahanyele-Dabengwa. The students who received the awards were:

Chinese 178 (first year)：

 Naspers Prize-Certificate of Merit

Lara Swanepoel 

Leah Emma Twigg

 Naspers Prize-Certificate of Excellence

Top 3：Keenan Athinio Damons

Top 2：Carmen Paige Harris

Top 1：Jake Samuel Savage

 Chinese 278 (2nd year):

 Naspers Naspers Prize -Certificate of Merit

Menise van Niekerk

Emme Smith

 Naspers Prize -Certificate of Excellence

Top 3：Marlé Retief

Top 2：Gift Mashai

Top 1：Taaraa Lakay

 Chinese 318/348 (3rd year)

 Naspers Prize -Certificate of Merit

Mia Shaw

Hae-Won Boesack

 Naspers Prize -Certificate of Excellence

Top 3：Leila Stander

Top 2：Anna Cousins

Top 1：Maarten Kyle Cuperus

Naspers Scholarships

Anja Syfert

Maysoon Pool

The ceremony was followed by a festive dinner and concluded with a joyful cultural showcase featuring karaoke, traditional dress, and tai chi. Laughter, applause, and enthusiastic participation from the audience created a lively and memorable end to the evening, demonstrating not only the students’ language ability but also their genuine engagement with Chinese culture.

The Chinese programme has been supported by Naspers since 1998, when the company became the founding sponsor of the first undergraduate Chinese course at a residential university in South Africa. Now in its 27th year, this partnership remains central to the growth of Chinese studies at Stellenbosch. In May 2025, the collaboration was formally renewed through a new multi-year donation agreement, securing continued investment in scholarships, awards, teaching staff, and international exchange opportunities through 2028. With the latest agreement in place, the collaboration between Naspers and the Department of MFL will continue to empower students, strengthen cultural exchange, and build meaningful connections between South Africa and China for years to come.