Nelson Mandela University’s Thabiso Letselebe will be using the experience he has gained in a range of administrative roles to good effect after being appointed to the South Africa delegation for the World University Games this year.
The 28-year-old education student takes on the role of communications and media manager for the national team to compete in the Summer Games in Chengdu, China, from August 19 to 28.
Letselebe, who hails from Kimberley, brings a wealth of knowledge from the various committees he has served on at the university and is excited at this latest opportunity.
He will join Madibaz Sport director Yoliswa Lumka on the general delegation management team. Lumka is the chef de mission.
The young administrator said the appointment, of which he was notified in mid-February, came as something of a surprise.
“I knew the appointment of the chef de mission was completed and the rest of the delegation management team was being finalised by the University Sport SA national executive committee.
“I did not know I was part of those deliberations and only found out on February 16 that I was the preferred choice.”
Letselebe said it was an exciting opportunity and an indication that the work being done by up-and-coming sport administrators was being recognised.
“It shows there is space for us to offer something new.”
His work will involve marketing of the team and creating a brand identity strategy in the build-up to the Games.
“There will be liaison work with media partners, which will include the broadcast partners on radio and television,” said Letselebe, who is currently the student assistant to Lumka in her position as director of sport.
“In addition, I will oversee the production of content for all digital and non-digital media platforms.
“There is also the job of working with FISU (the international student sports body) with regards to possible broadcast of the Games and to get stories of our possible medallists on the FISU international platforms.”
Letselebe’s connection with Madibaz Sport began in 2019 when he was the Student Representative Council sport officer.
“In the same year, in April, I was elected to the national working committee of the student leadership of University Sport SA and in October Ms Lumka and I were both elected to the USSA national executive committee for the term 2019 to 2023.
“I have overseen media and communication work for the USSA student leadership structures and have done short courses in digital media and communication.”
He served on the institutional committee of the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation from 2018 to 2019 and is currently on the institutional sport committee, which is the highest decision-making body in relation to sport at Nelson Mandela University.
In 2014, Letselebe was named in the Top 100 Brightest Young Minds in SA by the Brightest Young Minds (BYM) organisation and, in 2019, was included in the News24 Top 100 Young Mandelas of the Future list.
He serves on the BYM board’s communications committee and the FISU media and communications working committee, currently preparing for the Games in China.
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