Thousands of learners in South Africa miss out on university opportunities simply because they lack access to the right information at the right time.
For Lindelwa Mahlalela, a qualified teacher, this challenge became the inspiration behind her mission to bridge the information gap in education.
Mahlalela is an edupreneur from Mpumalanga, often referred to as “the place of the rising sun.” She is the founder of LeeConnect, a digital platform designed to help students access higher education opportunities across Africa. Through her work, she is dedicated to guiding students through university applications, student support funding, and career pathways.
“My journey into education started from working directly with learners and seeing how many of them struggled to access information about university applications and funding. Many talented students had the potential to succeed but did not know where to start or where to get information,” Mahlalela said.
Mahlalela said one of the biggest challenges in South Africa is the lack of clear information about university applications, course requirements, and funding opportunities.
Supporting learners through guidance and technology
Over time, she realised that access to information can completely change a young person’s future. By combining technology with mentorship and guidance, she said she has already helped more than 11,750 learners across South Africa navigate the complex transition from high school to tertiary education.
Leading an educational initiative at a young age has shaped Mahlalela’s leadership journey in powerful ways. She has also created job opportunities for young people across South African provinces so they can gain better work experience.
“It has taught me resilience, responsibility, and the importance of believing in your vision even when others may not see it yet,” Mahlalela said.
Like many other young founders in Africa, she has faced the challenge of building credibility in spaces where experience is often measured by age.
“Young founders, especially women, most times have to work hard to prove their credibility. But over time, the impact of the work speaks for itself,” she said.
The role of young women in education innovation
Despite moments of doubt, she said seeing students succeed keeps her motivated to continue.
She said when she sees lives changing because of her work, it reminds her that the journey is worth taking.
Mahlalela believes young women play an important role in reshaping access to education through innovation and digital solutions.
“When young women lead in education and innovation, they not only solve problems but also inspire other women to believe that they can lead and create change as well,” she said.
Across the continent, she sees a growing movement of women using technology to address educational challenges and create opportunities for young people.
A vision for LeeConnect across Africa
She said her vision for LeeConnect goes far beyond Africa. Her long-term goal is to expand the platform across the continent, helping millions of students discover opportunities that match their potential.
“Education should not be limited by geography or availability of information. Our goal is to connect African students with opportunities across Africa,” Mahlalela said.
If given unrestricted access to data, she said she would build a comprehensive digital ecosystem connecting students to universities, funding opportunities, guidance, and career pathways in one place.
Building a lasting legacy
At the heart of Mahlalela’s work is a simple but powerful mission: ensuring that young people have access to opportunities that can transform their future.
“If LeeConnect can help thousands of students, or even millions, unlock their full potential and pursue higher education, that would be a legacy I would be proud of,” she said.
Through innovation, leadership, and purpose, Lindelwa Mahlalela is proving that young women are not only part of the conversation about education, but are actively reshaping its future.
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