Languages: 
WSU Masters candidate, Siphosethu Mase, received national recognition after placing third in the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Continental Essay Competition held in June.
Mase is one of five national entrants whose contributions were chosen as the cream of the crop in the eleventh annual installation of the SABS competition,
This year, entrants wrote under the theme: “Empowering Consumers through Standardisation to achieve their right to safe quality goods and services.”
Mase’s award-winning essay tackled pertinent issues in the South African context, including economic challenges, food and fuel price hikes, and the failing health and food security industries.
“Obtaining third place in the top five winners on a national level was a huge win for me. I think what set my essay apart was the fact that I wrote and told a story from a layman’s perspective. I touched on the issues faced by the majority of black South Africans living in the townships, and how they perceive standards in relation to the goods and services they are being provided by both the private and public sector,” said Mase.
Mase is no stranger to receiving accolades for her work. In February 2024 she won the second prize position in the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust Essay Competition hosted by WSU.
The Komani native highlighted her passion for the art of writing and her aspiration to serve as a role model for young people as the driving forces behind her participation in in such competitions.
Mase also asserted that her recent contribution aimed at shining a light on the supposed role of the national body of standards.
“We’ve witnessed the country sitting on the verge of collapse, with the economy gradually recessing. The country has been experiencing food and fuel hikes, coupled with a failing health, and food and security industry. All these challenges pose a threat to the legitimacy of National standards body, and thus I saw the need to tackle the issue and give my own input,” she proclaimed.
Mase, who holds an honours degree in Inclusive Education, said that she hopes to inspire critical thinking and encourage the public to question the status quo and carefully consider the products and companies they support.
By Yanga Ziwele
