YOUTH MONTH
This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are driving positive change on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU).
For Hakeemah Malaykah Matinka, visibility is a form of resistance. As a queer, coloured Muslim woman, she has never fit neatly into the categories often upheld in institutional spaces. But rather than shrink herself to fit expectations, Matinka has forged a path of leadership grounded in care, courage and advocacy.
As an honour's student in Educational Development and Democracy, Matinka has come to prominence as the founding primaria of Walter Parry House, SU's newest senior residence. There, she is building what she describes as “a home rooted in justice, belonging and transformation".
Claiming space, creating change
As the oldest of ten children from an impoverished community, Matinka says the bar has always been set high for her to succeed and as a first-generation student provide a better future for her family. “It has been a struggle with the expectations of paving the way for my siblings and my single-parent mother."
Her passion for activism was born from personal experience, she explains. “Growing up as a queer, coloured Muslim woman meant navigating multiple systems that often made me feel invisible. But from a young age, I knew that my voice carried weight, even if it made others uncomfortable.
“My schooling journey, like many others who look like me, was marked by gaps in the system. But I didn't let those gaps swallow me. I used them as motivation to carve out space – first for myself, and then for others."
Matinka's academic focus as an education student is closely linked to her activism, with a strong emphasis on systemic transformation rather than symbolic gestures. “I believe in the power of education to liberate," she says. “The little girl in me, the one who didn't always see herself in books or teachers or leadership, deserves to know that she belonged all along."
Later this year, Matinka will take part in a prestigious international event. She was selected as one of only five student delegates out of thousands of applicants to represent South Africa at the G20 Youth Summit in Johannesburg in August. The Y20 is the official youth led engagement group of the G20.
Representing the track on Inclusive Social Development and Fighting Inequality, she will contribute to global policy discussions, focusing on issues such as period poverty and youth-led development. “It's a space where I can bring forward issues affecting marginalised communities, especially in the Global South, and ensure our voices are included in international decision-making," she says of her role at the summit.
Leadership that listens
Matinka previously revived the QueerUS Society on campus, serving as chairperson before moving into a strategic advisory role. Under her guidance, the society has become a critical support structure for queer students.
At Walter Parry House, she leads a house committee with a vision for an inclusive, affirming residence culture where marginalised identities are welcomed, not merely accommodated. She says she decided to step into leadership roles when she realised how many students feel disheartened and unheard.
The most rewarding aspect of leading by example is when people feel seen, Matinka says. “When a student tells me that a space I helped create finally felt like 'home' or when someone who never thought they'd speak up in public takes the mic with confidence, I realise it's been worth it."
But the journey hasn't been without its costs. Institutional resistance and burnout remain constant challenges. “Change is slow," she admits. “Pushing against the system can be exhausting."
Grounded by community
In times of uncertainty, Matinka's mother is her grounding force. “My mom's resilience and strength keep me going. I've also been lucky to have peers who challenge me to grow and hold space for me when I need rest. Their solidarity reminds me that I don't have to carry this work alone," she says with a grateful smile.
When progress feels distant, she grounds herself in the memory of those who came before her, and the knowledge that she too is a role model. “Knowing that someone out there is watching – someone younger, someone scared, someone looking for hope – motivates me. I remind myself that even small actions ripple outward."
Her advice to other students who also want to make a difference is simple: “Start where you are, with what you have. You don't need a title or a platform to make change. Listen deeply, speak up when you can, and remember that consistency matters more than perfection. Align your impact with your values, and don't be afraid to ask for help."
Whether it's in the halls of her residence, policy forums or quiet conversations with students who need to feel seen, Matinka is helping redefine what change can look like on a South African campus – not as a distant ideal, but as a lived practice.
PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman
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