South Africa’s brightest women scientists are about to get their moment in the spotlight. The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has announced the finalists for the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA), with the winners to be crowned at a gala dinner on 20 August 2026 at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel.
The announcement lands in a Women’s Month rich with meaning, as the country commemorates the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 march, when 20 000 women walked to the Union Buildings to stand up against apartheid pass laws. Seven decades on, South African women are marching into laboratories, observatories and innovation hubs, and SAWiSA exists to celebrate them.
Placing Women at the Centre
“Celebrated annually during Women’s Month, SAWiSA recognises and rewards excellence in science, technology and innovation by South African women. The awards also celebrate outstanding researchers and scientists, whose achievements inspire the next generation of women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology and innovation,” the DSTI said in its announcement on Wednesday.
This year’s theme, Placing Women at the Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation, aligns with the department’s wider mantra of placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of government, education, industry and society. It underscores the critical role women play in advancing scientific excellence, driving innovation and contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development.
A Fellowship Named for a Trailblazer
Among the most touching changes this year is a tribute to one of South Africa’s most distinguished black women scientists. The DSTI Fellowships have been renamed the DSTI-Prof. Keolebogile Motaung Fellowships, in honour of the late Professor Shirley Keolebogile Motaung, a celebrated scientist and academic.
The fellowships will be awarded to young women pursuing their master’s and doctoral degrees, in recognition of their academic excellence and research potential, ensuring that Professor Motaung’s legacy lives on in the careers she helps launch.
A Fresh Look for a Growing Platform
The 2026 edition also introduces a refreshed SAWiSA identity, reflected in a new logo, trophy and overall branding that combines scientific symbolism, feminine strength and South African identity. The department says the new look strengthens the visibility of research excellence, reinforces SAWiSA’s role as an instrument of transformation, and creates a recognisable platform through which awardees can inspire public participation in science, mentorship and future talent development.
For the finalists, the coming week is a celebration of years of dedication at the lab bench and in the field. For the young girls watching, it is something even more valuable: proof that South African women belong at the very centre of science, and that the next great discovery could carry their name. All eyes now turn to Sandton on 20 August, when the class of 2026 takes its bow, according to the announcement reported by SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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