Beyond her professional responsibilities, Lebogang Maleleka is deeply passionate about youth empowerment and community development. She serves as a Human Capital Development Officer in the CSIR Youth Forum, where she helped coordinate impactful back-to-school donation drives in 2025 and 2026, benefiting schools and learners in need. This Youth Month and beyond, we recognise Lebogang as a phenomenal member of #TeamCSIR who is actively driving meaningful social change, both inside and outside the workplace.
Her passion for community upliftment extends beyond the workplace. Lebogang is actively involved in community advocacy initiatives through Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), a movement that advocates for the rights of mining-affected communities. Through the Klerksdorp branch, she contributed to organising a Youth Day event in Kanana in 2021 focused on addressing bullying among young people.
Held in remembrance of Lufuno Mavhunga, the initiative encouraged unity, resilience and peer support among youth, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Soweto Uprising generation. She has also participated in the Ratanang Youth Development Mandela Day charity drive, supporting vulnerable communities and reinforcing the importance of giving back.
Outside of her professional and community work, Lebogang has used pageantry as a platform for empowerment and mentorship. She previously held titles including Miss Klerksdorp 2019, Miss Teen Northwest 1st Princess 2020 and Miss Kanana 1st Princess 2021. Through these experiences, she has mentored young people as a model coach and pageant judge, helping learners build confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills.
This spirit of service and empowerment is also reflected in her work at the CSIR, where she serves as a junior assistant in the Learning Capability Development and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) office.
Lebogang holds a Postgraduate Diploma in human resources development from Vaal University of Technology, where she was recognised as the Academic Top Achiever in the Faculty of Management Sciences: Human Resource Management Programme. She also holds a bachelor's degree in human resources management from North-West University.
At the CSIR, Lebogang plays an important role in coordinating pipeline development programmes aimed at creating opportunities for students, graduates and young professionals. Her work supports initiatives such as Work Integrated Learning, internships, learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries, candidacy programmes and the Graduate-in-Training (GIT) programme.
She contributes to the smooth implementation of these programmes, from recruitment and onboarding to registration with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and professional bodies. Her responsibilities also include supporting B-BBEE verification processes, coordinating Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report submissions, maintaining compliance reporting, and engaging with SETAs, universities, TVET colleges and internal stakeholders to secure funding and strengthen partnerships.
Among her notable achievements are successfully coordinating multiple programme intakes, securing SETA funding for pipeline initiatives, supporting GIT candidates in registering with professional bodies such as the Engineering Council of South Africa, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), and contributing towards maintaining the CSIR's Level 1 B-BBEE status.
For Lebogang, Youth Month carries deep personal meaning.
"Youth Month reminds me that being a young professional in a science institution is a privilege, especially in the context of South Africa's high youth unemployment rate. Although I work in a support role, I recognise that my contribution helps enable innovation and creates opportunities for others. It motivates me to keep growing, demonstrating my capabilities, and making a meaningful impact in my space," she says.
Her message to young people aspiring to build careers in science and innovation is both clear and encouraging:
"Stay open-minded and make the most of every opportunity you receive. You don't have to be a scientist or engineer to work in places like the CSIR. There is space for diverse skills and roles. Most importantly, once you are given an opportunity, use it to show your capabilities and grow, because opportunities may not always come easily."
Lebogang's story is a powerful reminder that building South Africa's future in science and innovation requires more than technical expertise. It also demands passionate young professionals committed to creating opportunities, empowering others, and driving meaningful social change, both inside and outside the workplace.
Published 18 June 2026