The absence of one of South Africa’s most decorated black female scientists, academics and entrepreneurs – the late Professor Keolebogile Shirley Motaung, who passed away on November 12 – was solemnly acknowledged at the 2025 EDHE Awards event held outside Johannesburg last week.

On the world stage, Professor Motaung (left) was known for her work in stem cells, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. She was also the co-founder of Global Health Biotech, the company that developed a plant-based anti-inflammatory ointment.

Professor Motaung served as a FALF-FREF-Mandela Research Chair in Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion. FALF, which stands for Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF), is a non-profit company seeking to develop a pipeline of women academic leaders, using an intersectional lens to ensure no demographic group is left behind. Founded in 2020, FALF partnered with the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) to establish the position of Research Chair on Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion, which is located at Nelson Mandela University.

Professor Motaung also held several prominent national and international roles, including Chairperson of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) South Africa, Chairperson of Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Community of Practice for Entrepreneurship Research, Chair of the National Intellectual Property Management Office’s Advisory Board, and Board Member of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) among many others.

However, her greatest legacy may have been her passion for mentorship, entrepreneurship, and developing young black scientists and entrepreneurs, especially women. She dedicated her life to bridging the gap between scientific discovery and societal impact, and was a tireless advocate for women in STEAMI (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Innovation), mentoring several emerging researchers and entrepreneurs.

Welcoming the audience to the EDHE National Awards ceremony at the Birchwood Hotel on the East Rand on November 26, Dr Edwell Gumbo (right), Director: Entrepreneurship at Universities South Africa, first paid tribute to Professor Motaung.

“She was more than a colleague; she carried a vibrant, joyful and unmistakable presence in every room she entered. As Chairperson of the EDHE Community of Practice for Entrepreneurial Universities, she brought wisdom, energy and an unwavering commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship within our higher education landscape. Her contributions have shaped the direction of our work and will continue to influence this sector for years to come,” he said.

Dr Gumbo poignantly revealed that Professor Motaung’s passing had deeply affected him during an especially difficult period.

“I had just lost my mother on the 11th of November. The day I travelled home, moments before my flight took off, Prof Motaung called me — not as a colleague, but as a sister in solidarity, to comfort me, to strengthen me and to share her own experience of recently burying her mother. That conversation, full of care and warmth, was the last time I heard her voice. A day later, I received the heartbreaking news of her passing.

“Her kindness, her leadership, her brilliance and her humanity will remain with us forever.

May her legacy continue to inspire the entire EDHE family, and may her soul rest in eternal peace,” he said, asking the audience to rise from their seats and stand for a minute’s silence, in honour of this fallen giant.

“In Prof Motaung’s true style, I know she would have wanted this,” Dr Gumbo went on to say, referring to the EDHE Awards event that would announce and celebrate winners in the inaugural EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge and the annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity.

“We need to celebrate these awards in her honour. Asiphelelanga ngempela, sihlota uProf Keo. May your soul rest in peace. Your legacy lives on,” Dr Gumbo concluded.

Janine Greenleaf Walker is a contract writer for Universities South Africa.