“Education isn’t just about academics. It’s about people, journeys, and being bold enough to build something new.”
Maipato Mmako-Dlamini’s academic journey at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a masterclass in initiative, transformation, and turning purpose into possibility. What began as a BA in Humanities would evolve into a career shaped by leadership, mentorship, and a profound belief in student empowerment—most visibly embodied in her groundbreaking role with the Africa By Bus programme.
Raised in the east of Johannesburg, Maipato entered UJ ready to work hard and carve her own path. With a knack for self-directed learning, she balanced her lectures with her first student job—as an HP Campus Ambassador. The opportunity unlocked her creative spark and landed her in the African Nerds campaign, which ambitiously aimed to download an eBook from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to promote digital literacy. That bold spirit would follow her throughout her journey.
“The first time I mentored, I realised it was my purpose.”
Mentoring quickly became more than a side role. “It gave me clarity,” she reflects. “It felt deeply human—helping someone navigate life, not just studies.” Many of the students she mentored were in the audience when she graduated in 2017, a moment that affirmed her calling.
That same year, a happy accident—walking into the wrong office—landed her an interview for a tutoring role. She seized the moment, got the job, and continued to build credibility and experience across UJ’s academic and student support ecosystem. She also joined UJ’s International Office as a student assistant, helping international students settle in, run excursions, and representing the University with professionalism and warmth.
Despite juggling roles in mentoring, tutoring, and administration while studying toward her Honours, she never wavered. “I was always running, never walking on campus,” she jokes. “But the gym kept me sane.”
Africa By Bus: Steering UJ’s flagship student programme
What truly propelled Maipato’s impact beyond the ordinary was her impactful involvement in Africa By Bus, UJ’s flagship cultural immersion programme, as a coordinator and chaperone. Originally focused on travel and heritage exposure, the programme underwent a transformation under her guidance.
“I wanted to deepen the academic experience,” she says. “So, I added structured research into the trips I conceptualised.” Under her leadership, her students began conducting fieldwork aligned with the MAPS (Mastering Academic and Professional Skills) module. They gathered data during trips, produced research reports, and received academic credit.
“When I got involved, I brought in an academic layer. It wasn’t just about crossing borders—it became about crossing into knowledge.”
On her first Africa By Bus trip to Mozambique, she managed over 250 students, overseeing logistics, safety, and academic output. Her innovative approach resulted in the birth of Africa By Air-Bus in 2019, which flew students to Tanzania to explore digital storytelling and cultural narratives. Maipato recently came back from a trip to Zambia during July recess under the theme Pan-Africanism and regional integration.
In 2024, Maipato’s work was nationally recognised when she was named among the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in the Travel and Hospitality category. The honour affirmed her ability to fuse travel, education, leadership, and transformation into a singular, impactful programme that makes learning real and relevant.
Academic brilliance and relentless service
Despite her demanding schedule, Maipato remained committed to her own academic excellence. After years of mentoring others, she finally prioritised her own journey, completing her Master’s degree in 2024 with distinction. “This time it was for me,” she says. “It was emotional—proof that I could do it without needing to prove anything to anyone else.”
She continues to lecture in MAPS, a role that comes full circle from her days as a mentor in the same programme. She has been helping to shape first-year extended degree students’ foundational academic and professional skills with empathy and rigour for the last 9 years.
Her PhD in sociolinguistics, which she began in 2025, focuses on culture, multilingualism, and identity with a special focus on Tsotsi Taal. She’s already presented her research internationally, including in Romania via ErasmusPlus.
Still, what drives her most is student support. She works closely with UJ’s student services to flag at-risk students through mentor reports, track attendance, and deliver early interventions. “No student should disappear without someone noticing,” she says.
“I didn’t just find my voice at UJ—I helped others find theirs too.”
For Maipato Mmako-Dlamini, UJ has been a launchpad—but it’s also been a home she helped build. Through Africa By Bus, her teaching, mentoring, and research, she continues to widen the path for others to walk—and thrive.
Her advice to students is simple: “Put yourself out there. There are a lot of opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally. Our students just need to put their ears on the ground and capitalise on the chances they get.”
