UKZN Education Student Mr Luthando Molefe has been appointed as the first Ambassador for Academic Affairs and Community Outreach by Nquthu Local Municipality in the Office of the Youth, for the next two years.

Molefe, who is known for his academic excellence, community engagement and leadership skills in the various roles he performs locally, nationally and internationally, plans to empower the youth during his tenure as ambassador.

His duties will include interacting and networking with young people, both in school and out-of-school, on how their lives could be transformed as a means of securing a bright future for themselves and the provision of knowledge and skills necessary for self-fulfilment.

He will also develop programmes that increase awareness of community service opportunities, provide training that promotes best practices in community engagement and assist staff within the division in building and evaluating community partnerships.

Youth Manager within the Municipality, Mr Sikhumbuzo Shabalala said, ‘We are very pleased and humbled to announce the appointment of Luthando Molefe as our Ambassador. Through his hard work and dedication working for and with the people of Nquthu, particularly the youth, he has demonstrated very strong leadership capabilities. We are sure that he will perform all his assigned duties in making sure that our communities are transformed. We, in turn, will give him all the support he needs and we wish him well in his future endeavours.’

Molefe said, ‘I am very grateful and humbled by this opportunity. This is something I did not expect at such a young age. I promise to serve the people of Nquthu with faith. This is in me and this is what I have been doing my entire life: serving people.’