Mapping futures: Mampho Ngakane on innovation, mentorship and social justice
Mampho Ngakane is a survey technician at the Office of the Surveyor General in the North-West Province. She reflects on her academic journey, career and the role of mentorship and social justice in shaping her path. Mampho’s story is one of resilience, innovation and an unwavering commitment to community upliftment.
Her academic journey echoes her determination for growth and diversifying her expertise as she holds a Bachelor of Technology in surveying from Tshwane University of Technology, and a Master’s in town and regional planning from the University of Pretoria (UP). She later joined the organisation when her mini dissertation became part of a research project under the Anglo-American Municipal Capability and Partnership Programme implemented by the CSIR in collaboration with UP.
Mentorship and leadership
Mampho shared that mentorship has been a defining theme, though not always within professional spaces. Surveying, she notes, “is a male-dominated field, and in the public sector mentorship is not widely practised.” Nonetheless, her personal life has been enriched by the resilient and selfless women around her, whose courage inspired her to step into unfamiliar spaces and pursue greater opportunities.
At the CSIR, she was mentored by Engela Petzer, a senior researcher at CSIR Smart Places. Engela’s people-centred approach left a lasting impression, grounding Mampho in the belief that “those most affected by policies and decisions must always have their voices heard as nothing about us, without us,” she stated.
When asked how she lives out the CSIR’s EPIC values: Excellence, People, Integrity and Collaboration, Mampho points to her commitment to social justice and civic engagement. In 2015, she joined the #FeesMustFall protests in solidarity with students, despite already being employed, because their struggle resonated deeply with her. She has marched against femicide, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women across South Africa demanding safety and justice. More recently, she served as an independent observer during the 2024 general elections, a role that reinforced her belief in democracy and fair representation.
Beyond activism, Mampho continues to mentor as part of the CSIR Entrepreneurship Development Programme, guiding young entrepreneurs to stay the course, develop critical skills and grow their business ventures. She also holds leadership roles in the South African Planning Institute, having served as Interim Chairperson from October 2023 to February 2025 and currently as Deputy Chairperson for the North-West region.
A legacy of courage
Mampho hopes her legacy will be that of someone who was never a silent witness to injustice and who made meaningful contributions to advancing social justice from her corner of the world.
Women’s Month, to her, is a reminder of the extraordinary leadership of the women of 1956, who organised a 20 000-strong march during apartheid with discipline, unity and vision. Their example inspires her to face today’s challenges with courage and purpose, while equipping the next generation with the tools and opportunities to thrive.
Mampho’s journey embodies what it means to map futures with innovation, with mentorship, and with a deep commitment to justice. She reminds us that progress is not only about personal achievement, but also about lifting others, amplifying unheard voices and building a society grounded in integrity and collaboration.