In 2017, Sandra Mbatha arrived in Stellenbosch as a first-generation student, with borrowed suitcases and a blanket from her grandmother. The year after, she started interning at Stellenbosch University’s development and alumni relations (DAR) division. Eight years later, as Mbatha departs from Stellenbosch, she reflects on what it means to be “in service of humanity”. In an interview with SMF News’ Emma Giles, she unpacks the story behind her purpose and unrelenting drive to make a difference.
Sandra Mbatha welcomes visitors to the Stellenbosch University (SU) development and alumni relations division (DAR) offices at Admin B on Victoria Street with a warm smile. She worked here for the last eight years, before returning to Johannesburg. Mbatha lives to be “in service of humanity” and has an unrelenting drive to make a difference. PHOTO: Emma Giles
Sharing a meal, greeting a stranger, holding the door open for a colleague. Small, mundane, everyday moments that remind us that we are all human. For Sandra Mbatha, these are not just moments in between. They are the moments she spends every day nurturing.
For Mbatha, who recently resigned as an alumni participation coordinator at the development and alumni relations (DAR) division at Stellenbosch University (SU) to return to Johannesburg, sharing is a home staple.
Sharing is caring
Mbatha grew up in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, where her parents practised an open-door policy.
“We always had someone’s family, not even our family, like friends of friends, stay with us,” she says.
With a younger brother and a full house, sharing was “instilled” in her, says Mbatha.
At Parktown High School for Girls, which she attended from 2012 to 2016, community service was a standard extracurricular activity.
“You were always at the zoo feeding animals or at an orphanage helping kids,” she says.
The school emblem was “a star of service”, where each point represented an aspect of their service: to the body, the mind, the soul, to God, and to humanity.
This resonated deeply with Mbatha.
Then already she knew that her mission was to be “in service of humanity”.
“When you start to take it super personally, you give the clothes on your back for someone else, that’s when you realise: ‘This is what I’m here to do’,” she says.
What goes around comes around
In 2017, Mbatha began a journey of firsts. It was her first visit to the Cape, as she moved to Stellenbosch to start studying a BCom in international business as a first-generation student. With borrowed suitcases and a blanket from her grandmother in Estcourt, she got off the bus in Stellenbosch.
Later that year, she was placed in Irene Ladies’ Residence and switched degrees to a BA in international studies.
Sandra Mbatha, who worked as alumni participation coordinator at the development and alumni relations division at Stellenbosch University (SU) for the past eight years, stands beside SU’s logo in the Admin B building. She arrived in Stellenbosch in 2017 as a first-generation student, resided in Irene Ladies’ Residence and graduated with an undergraduate degree in international studies and an honours in HIV and AIDS management. PHOTO: Emma Giles
Residence rooms at SU are small, with no literal divider between roommates. There was, however, a stark contrast between Mbatha’s side and her roommate’s, which was filled to the brim with supplies, three duvet sets, and decorations.
“I had one choice at that moment. Either I let it get to me or that’s what I’m gonna give to someone else,” says Mbatha.
Mbatha continued her degree in international studies and was elected to the house committee of Irene in 2018. Instead of spending her honourarium on herself, like most do, she bought extra bedding for residents in need.
“No one will ever have to go through the things that I went through,” she says, looking out the window, her chair shifting slightly further away.
“There was one incident that completely broke me,” says Mbatha.
In her final year in Irene, someone took Mbatha’s toiletry basket. Frustrated and hurt, she asked amongst the residents if it could be returned, no judgement.
Someone knocked on her door and admitted to taking it, says Mbatha. The student was supported by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but explained to Mbatha that they had not paid their allowance and all they needed was some soap and shaving supplies.
“Don’t worry. Take it. I’ll figure it out,” Mbatha told the student.
Together, the pair, driven by a shared desire for change, started Pantry Projects, a food donation campaign for Irene residents.
A drive for change
This is not Mbatha’s only experience with campaigns.
In her second year at SU, Mbatha searched for a student job and stumbled upon the DAR division running a telefund.
Mbatha had a charming ability to talk to anyone on the other line. The DAR division offered her an internship. She started right away.
In 2020, Mbatha began working full-time at the DAR division. She had completed her international studies undergraduate degree in 2019 and was studying towards an honours in HIV and AIDS management.
“I had an aunt [who] passed from HIV,” says Mbatha. At the time, treatment medication was too expensive for her aunt’s family to afford.
“I wanted to understand how I could make things better, whether through policy, or just understanding things,” she says.
At DAR, Mbatha’s life motto shone. Using points of connection and some spin, she would find alumni who yearn to make a difference. “People must want to give back,” she says.
Other jobs with higher salaries came her way, but she declined them.
“They were not part of the mission,” she says.
Left to right: Alwin Mabuza, the individual and regular fundraiser at the development and alumni relations (DAR) division at Stellenbosch University (SU); Sandra Mbatha, who was an alumni participation coordinator at the DAR division until recently; and Viwe Benxa, the alumni participation coordinator of student engagement at the DAR division. The trio stands in front of a map of a global network of SU alumni that they work together to expand. PHOTO: Emma Giles
In a spontaneous interview at the DAR division’s offices at Admin B on Victoria Street, Viwe Benxa, the alumni participation coordinator of student engagement at the DAR division, says “bringing people together” has always been Mbatha’s strength.
“It’s very difficult in our line of work to bring all of those people together, specifically with the Stellenbosch history.” Even as “a black, young woman” talking to “an old, white man”, Mbatha unites people towards a common purpose, says Benxa.
Trying to be a better human
“Everything that I, Sandra, as a first-gen, black woman, have done is to try be a better human,” Mbatha says.
Sometimes, one can forget to be human, she says.
“I could have forgotten to be human when the older Afrikaans guys were calling me K words,” she says, referring to calls to some alumni for donations at the DAR division. “I could have forgotten to be human when I’ve made money and forget the people that need it the most.”
For Mbatha, to be a better human is to truly see people.
“I really would like everyone to walk away, having felt like I saw them,” she says, referring to her everyday interactions.
It takes a village
In Mbatha’s life, time, talent, and treasure are all possible avenues of giving. Sometimes giving back is helping your aunt write a CV or your niece finish her homework, says Mbatha.
As a first-generation student “the pressure is so big”, she says.
“You’ve been given this huge responsibility to be the one that knows,” she says.
Mbatha says her support came from her community. Family members of friends were a call away, a shoulder to cry on or a lift to her first swimming lessons.
Mbatha met her best friend, Electra Christodoulou, in pre-school.
From left to right: Zoë Christodoulou, Sandra Mbatha, Electra Christodoulou and Astra Christodoulou in 2007. Mbatha, who went on to study international studies and work at the development and alumni relations division at Stellenbosch University, immediately became part of the Christodoulou family after befriending Electra Christodoulou in pre-school in Johannesburg. PHOTO: Supplied/Cindy Christodoulou
“Sandra has been part of our lives for almost as long as I can remember,” says Cindy Christodoulou, Electra’s mother. Her character was clear from the beginning, says Cindy.
“If more people approached life with Sandra’s compassion, generosity, and willingness to serve others, the world would undoubtedly be a better place,” she says.
Homeward bound
Mbatha worked at the DAR division during and after her studies and has recently resigned.
Unsure of what the future holds, Mbatha recently returned home to Johannesburg, to live with her family.
“The core loves of my life are in Joburg,” she says.
Unemployment is scary, especially as a first-generation student, but she’s always listened to the universe, God and her ancestors and, for the most part, she believes her mission in Stellenbosch is complete.
Sandra Mbatha, until recently an alumni participation coordinator at the development and alumni relations division at Stellenbosch University, hugs a tree on Victoria Street, two days before returning to her home in Johannesburg. Mbatha says her mission is to be “in service of humanity”. PHOTO: Emma Giles
The town shaped Mbatha in more ways than one.
“I started to assume more responsibility as a human being. It’s where I started to ask myself important questions… About everything; my identity, who I want to be in the world, how I want to present myself,” she says.
Mbatha flew home on 23 May and her return to Stellenbosch is unlikely.
“I’ll always be part of Stellenbosch, one way or the other,” says Mbatha.
Sidebar: Her workplace
The development and alumni relations (DAR) division at Stellenbosch University (SU) aims to connect alumni from around the world in a diverse and flourishing network, according to the SU’s website.
For the last eight years, Sandra Mbatha, who says she wishes to be “in service of humanity” has worked at the DAR division and has recently resigned. In her intern year in 2018, the DAR division started “chapters”, connecting 220 000 Maties worldwide.
As project lead for the Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape chapters, Mbatha helped manage the #Move4Maties campaign which raised R300 000 in 2025 to address food insecurity and support the missing middle.
Photos of initiatives from the development and alumni relations (DAR) division at Stellenbosch University on the wall in their offices. In her second year of studies, in 2018, Sandra Mbatha received an internship at the DAR division. She went on to help manage the #Move4Maties campaign, which raised R300 000 in 2025 to address food insecurity and support the missing middle. She was also the lead for local networks of alumni, called chapters. PHOTO: Emma Giles