stadios golden stars
Our Alumni
AFDA
AFDA, the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, is a South African-registered higher education institution with ten accredited programmes, ranging from higher certificates to masters degrees, primarily focused on the film, television and live performance industry.
VUYO DABULA
AFDA Live Performance honours graduate Vuyo Dabula is a household name in South Africa for his role as ‘Gadaffi’ in the SABC soapie Generations. Vuyo is no stranger to big screen either. He has starred in a number of feature films including the AFDA award winning feature film Soldiers of the Rock. He featured in international feature films Invictus, Small Town Called Descent, Finding Lenny and more recently played the lead role in the South African award winning feature film, Five Fingers for Marseilles.
DIAAN LAWRENSON
AFDA alumna Diaan Lawrenson is a seriously multi-talented individual. Better known in South African households as ‘Paula’ for her role in the role in the TV soapie 7de Laan, Diaan is also the Producing Television lecturer at AFDA Cape Town, a producer and actor in a host of television shows, short and feature films, theatre productions and music videos. She also co-owns an award winning production company called Jester Productions.
STADIO HIGHER EDUCATION
STADIO, formally Southern Business School, Embury, Lisof and Prestige Academy, is a registered higher education institution, offering more than 50 accredited programmes ranging from higher certificates to Doctorates in Contact, Distance and Blended modes of learning, across the faculties of Arts & Design; Commerce, Administration and Management; Education; Law; and Science and Tehnologies, across ten campuses.
ASHLEY HODGKINSON
When Ashley Hodgkinson studied at the Embury Institute for Teacher Education, she took along her mom, Mary-Anne. Born deaf, Ashley’s mom became her vessel. Their strength and determination lead Ashley to follow her dreams. Embury lit that path, “My happiest memory was that not a single person treated me like I was a disabled person—and I do not see myself as a disabled person at all—everyone made me feel that I was normal, except that I can’t hear, that is it. Do not let your disability limit you. Never give up, go after your dreams,” said Ashley.
SHARON SWEET
Sharon Sweet, business woman, mother and wife, is a reminder that reaching for your dream, no matter the circumstances, is something anyone can do. After experiencing a terrible crime a few years ago, she was reminded of her biggest regret in life and followed her dream of becoming a teacher. Determined and undeterred, Sharon said to students half her age; “I’m here for myself… I am following my dream and I should have done this long ago!” Since then, she has been elected to the SRC, been on an exchange, is studying further and is now a lecturer at Embury!
ASHLEY HODGKINSON
Rich Mnisi loved the concept and makings of fashion from a young age, rooted in his work he displays his childhood memories. Sticking to his roots, Rich Mnisi, an esteemed alumni of LISOF, and owner of the fashion brand ‘Oath- by Rich Mnisi’, has ventured out with his new debut furniture collection – ‘Nwa-mulamula’ (The Guardian), named after his great grandmother. Mnisi aims to embolden designers as he strives to create ranges outside of his comfort zone whilst encouraging other designers to exceed expectations not only for the Fashion world, but for themselves as well. The LISOF graduate, Fashion and furniture designer, Rich Mnisi has had his collections featured in WGSN, Design Indaba, Woolworths and SAFW with exceptionally phenomenal pieces. Pieces from his Nwa-mulamula exhibit are said to travel to be showcased internationally this year. Mnisi has proven that a young dream can become an amazing career.
THEBE MAGUGU
Born in the heart of Kimberley, where the fashion scene might seem limited, designer Thebe Magugu came into his own. The LISOF graduate started his young career, by founding a magazine entitled ‘Little Black Book’ which contained pages of fashion information as well as visuals. He then went on to study fashion at LISOF, graduating in 2014. Since then, his label has been a part of the Woolworths ‘Style by SA’ collection. The magnificent designer never fails to bring a beautiful, intelligent edge to the world of fashion. Magugu truly knows the key to expression, and his collections are exquisitely inspired by the phases and emotions he experiences, as well as the life changes he faces, from which a new collection is born. His most recent collection ‘Geology SS17’ debuted at SAFW. Magugu’s collections create a voice for all South African’s and the daily issues that they may face. Magugu, is no stranger to fabric and he shows his confidence just as true in his furniture collection. Thebe Magugu is truly an inspiring artist.
MEGAN PRITCHARD
My name is Megan Pritchard and I am a BCom Business Marketing graduate of Prestige Academy.I will forever be grateful for the fact that Prestige believed in me… so I became Miss Prestige Academy in 2012, the Student Representative Council Chairperson in 2014 and aced my qualification! Currently I work at Ogilvy Namibia, one of the largest communication companies in the world and I have been fortunate enough to work with brands, such as KFC, Old Mutual and Shell.' I have a big family, who has played an integral part in my life and that have made me who I am today. I just love them to bits.
RAPHAEL TRISCHLER
My name is Raphael Trischler and I am a 3D Manager at 7Storeys Construction. My typical workday consist of Architectural Visualisation. In other words, I work closely with the architects at 7Storeys, creating photorealistic 3D Renders of their ideas to bring them to life, and to portray them to our clients. My journey started at Prestige Academy studying the Diploma in 3D Design and Digital Animation. Even though Prestige covered everything there is to know of the Animation world, I still fell in love with the architectural side of 3D. The animation world is so vast that you truly underestimate the limit of creativity, which is why I find great passion in my work as every day is a new challenge and all my projects are different and unique.Outside of work, I am a young Capetonian that enjoys the city life, what it has to offer and of course, the social life that comes with it.
MAJOR GENERAL FRANCINAH NTOMBENHLE VUMA
Congratulations to Lt Gen Vuma - one of our Masters Students! Major General Francinah Ntombenhle Vuma, one of Southern Business School’s Master of Policing Practice students, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general as the Deputy National Commissioner of Management Advisory Services with immediate effect. Prior to this appointment, she was the Component Head, Operational Support at the Division Protection and Security Services. Lt Gen Vuma completed the Bachelor of Policing Practice Honours degree at Southern Business School in 2014. During her career, she has also successfully completed a number of management and leadership programmes.
CHRISTO SWART
Christo Swart believes we can make a difference through servant leadership by enriching the lives of others, as it is our calling to make this world a better place. He echoes Mahatma Ghandi’s words, “Be the change you want to see in this world”. A Southern Business School Master of Management alumnus, Christo also holds the BA (RAU), BD Theology (Pret) and B Proc (Unisa) degrees. Christo, who is the Head of School of Law, has been with Southern Business School since 2012. In the School of Law, Christo strives to equip graduates with sound ethical and academic best practices.
Milpark Education
Milpark Education is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a Private Higher Education Institution. With a national footprint in South Africa, Milpark has two teaching campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and a support office in Durban. The higher education qualifications offered focus on management, commerce, banking, financial planning & insurance and public management. Milpark offers courses on campus, at distance or via high engagement distance online learning.
AMASI MWELA
CEO FUNDI One of South Africa’s next-generation leaders, Amasi Mwela first joined FUNDI (then Eduloan) as COO in 2015. He was promoted to his current position as CEO of the organisation shortly thereafter. Understanding the power of both education and technology as enablers, Amasi led the company’s rebranding as part of its strategic future vision in the country and on the continent. FUNDI made several acquisitions as a result, bringing it closer to levelling the education playing field through its provision of comprehensive holistic solutions including funding, fund administration, support and related products. In this way, Amasi continues driving its mandate of “know more. Be more”. Amasi credits his background in finance and related roles at leading companies including Old Mutual iWYZE, American Express Corporate Travel, and both Standard Bank and FNB with equipping him with the experience and expertise required in his role as CEO. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Bond University) and has an MBA (Milpark Business School).
SAMUKELISO MNCUBE
CEO Azisa Global With over 20 years experience within the corporate and entrepreneurial environment, Samu has worked in various roles for leading South African companies before becoming an independent consultant in the fields of human capital and strategic communications. Samu has had exposure to various international organisational cultures and widely diverse professionals which have ensured her ability and ease to work with a variety of organisations. Her diverse career includes strategic roles in human capital development and strategic communication amongst others. Samu holds an MBA Degree from Milpark Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Business Management from Oxford Brookes University, from the United Kingdom. She is an accomplished workshop facilitator and motivational speaker covering a myriad of topics in leadership, including work-life- balance and women empowered entrepreneurial working ethic.