Senamile Masango: South Africa's First Black Female Nuclear Scientist No More

Senamile Masango, a trailblazing scientist from South Africa, passed away aged 37. Dubbed the "queen of science", she was the country's first Black female nuclear scientist. The cause of her death is unknown. Her legacy of encouraging education and empowerment among women and marginalised communities lives on.

Senamile Masango's Enduring Impact On STEM & Empowerment

Senamile Masango's journey to success was not easy. She faced racial and gender discrimination throughout her career, according to a report in BBC. Masango mentioned in many interviews that she 'constantly had to prove' her value and capability as a Black woman in STEM. Despite these struggles, she left a deep impact on the lives of many aspiring scientists.

"The biggest challenge in my career is my skin colour. If you look like me, no-one believes in you; you must prove that you know your job and that you can think! There are still very few black women scientists. This means women like me have to work twice as hard to prove their worth." -Senamile Masango

Born in 1987 in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, Masango came from an unusual family. Her mother was a princess in the royal family, and her father was a prominent figure. She grew up in a polygamous family, her mother being the youngest of three wives. Masango said in many interviews that her upbringing was challenging, yet taught her resilience.

Masango was about 11 years old when she realised her passion for science after a geography teacher taught her about astronauts. "I was so fascinated to learn that there are people who travel to space - leave this dimension - and go to the moon," she once told Global Citizen, a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending extreme poverty.

Masango attended the University of Zululand at 16 to study physics but had to drop out after she got pregnant and failed a few modules, according to BBC. However, she went on to pursue an MSc in nuclear physics at the University of the Western Cape and graduated with distinction. Tragically, her daughter died in a car crash at the age of seven.

Masango was the first woman in Africa to join an African-led team conducting experiments at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern), the world's largest particle physics laboratory. Beyond her academic pursuits, she also established a foundation dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers.

"Girls are discouraged at an early age from taking science subjects; it is the root cause of the lack of women in the nuclear space." -Senamile Masango.

Masango was named one of South Africa's most successful black women scientists under 35 in 2019 and earned a spot on the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans in Science and Technology list. In 2022, she earned the coveted International Women in Science Award, recognising her profound impact on the scientific community.

South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile expressed, "She was a beacon of hope for many young people, especially women." The country's Department of Science, Technology and Innovation said, "Masango's tireless efforts to promote science education and empowerment, particularly among women and disadvantaged communities, will be deeply missed."