Senamile Masango
South African nuclear scientist (1987–2025)
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Senamile Masango (1987 – 9 February 2025) was South Africa's first black female nuclear scientist.[1]
University of the Western Cape (MS)
Senamile Masango | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1987 Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Died | 9 February 2025 (aged 37) |
| Alma mater | University of Zululand (no degree) University of the Western Cape (MS) |
| Known for | South Africa's first black female nuclear scientist |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear science |
| Institutions | South African Nuclear Energy Corporation |
Biography
Born in Nongoma in May 1987, Masango's mother was a Zulu princess and her father was a local leader.[2] She grew up in a polygamous family, her mother being the youngest of her father's three wives.[3] At the age of 16, she enrolled in the University of Zululand but dropped out due to early motherhood and academic struggles.[3] Supported by her family, however, she was able to return to school and eventually earned a Master's Degree in nuclear physics from the University of the Western Cape.[2]
In 2017, Masango became a researcher at the European Organization for Nuclear Research.[4] In 2019, she was mentioned in the Mail & Guardian list of young South Africans to watch in science and technology.[5][6]
Senamile Masango died on 9 February 2025, at the age of 37, following an illness.[7]