The Mail and Guardian’s 2023 “200 Young South Africans” list includes 18 Indian-origin South Africans who are excelling in various disciplines. They include artificial intelligence, health, and organized crime pioneers. Parusha Partab, 35, works in marketing firms across Africa and gets inspiration from India.
Simmi Areff, 35, in the Film and Media category, is part of an African Union fellowship that allows him to meet brilliant Africans and find new podcasting voices and stories. Kiveshan “Jives” Thumbiran, 29, a lecturer in the Arts and Entertainment area, actively contributes to the South African creative scene, notably for the Indian-born diaspora.
Five IT innovators were honored. AI expert Nabeel Seedat, 28, created tools to improve AI safety and dependability, helping clinicians make better judgments. He also made a cheap amputee robotic hand. The first Zulu chatbot was created by CSIR principal AI specialist Avashlin Moodley, 32.
Poornima Ramburrun, 32, has patented her artificial peripheral nerve healing technologies, removing the requirement for donor tissues. Zubeida Dawood, 33, a cyber-security expert and research group leader, wants to help impoverished South Africans by addressing the cyber-skills gap. Janesh Ganda, 33, investigated how rugby training load data may lower injury rates and improve preventive.
Rukshana Parker, 30, studied drugs, gangs, and assassinations in South Africa for the Education category. As principals and peer reviewers, Karthi Pillay, 34, and Rishen Roopchund, 32, contributed to education.
Entrepreneurship highlighted Marimba Jam creator Kiara Ramklass, 28. Brengen Energy’s CEO, 27-year-old Leslie Brenton Naidoo, wants to fight oil companies and offer cheaper gasoline to consumers.
Omishka Hirachund, 27, provides primary healthcare in rural regions with #KeReady. Psychologist Tasneem Hassem, 32, created online mental health screening criteria. These young Indian South Africans are leading innovation, inclusion, and good change in their communities and beyond.
