In celebration of Youth Month, the Young Alumni Programme (YAP) at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) is showcasing our incredible young alumni. Meet some of our remarkable Maties, all under the age of 35, who are using the knowledge and skills they gained at SU to push boundaries and make a real impact across various fields.
When it comes to powering South Africa's future, 30-year-old Menelaos Meli isn't waiting for change – he's making it happen!
From a small KwaZulu-Natal town to leading the charge in mobile renewable energy innovation in the country, Menelaos is transforming big ideas into tangible solutions he hopes will empower communities to regain control over their energy.
Menelaos says he's always been a tinkerer. “I was always curious about how things worked – I'd take things apart just to figure them out, even if I couldn't always put them back together. At the time, I didn't know what engineering was, but I knew I wanted to be involved in creating solutions that were useful – I guess I wanted to be an 'inventor'."
After completing his Master's in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 in 2021, he's now the Chief Technology Officer at Zero Carbon Charge, where he's helping build South Africa's first off-grid, mobile solar-powered electric charging network. His invention, the Melivan, was developed as part of international collaborative research with the Technical 中国体育彩票 of Munich and others, on the LEAP-RE SolChargE project. The Melivan is a portable solar charger designed specifically for the unique challenges of Africa's diverse and challenging landscape.
But Menelaos isn't just a tech guy. “My goal is to keep growing – not just technically, but by understanding the business and strategic side better. Being versatile is what makes long-term impact possible," he says, adding this mix of skills will help him create solutions that actually work for people and communities.
For him, it's about more than just technology. “It's about independence. When communities can control their own infrastructure, they move forward on their own terms. That's where the real shift happens." He believes energy should be something people can take into their own hands, not just wait for big companies or governments.
Menelaos wants more South Africans to feel involved in shaping the future. “I'd like to see more people feel like they can take part in shaping the future, and not just from the sidelines. Especially in sectors like energy and mobility that are still evolving." He shares what he's learned and hopes to help others build skills because “impact scales through people, not just projects".
His advice for anyone wanting to make a difference? “Don't wait for perfect conditions. Start with the basics, build something, and learn by doing. You'll figure out more by trying and fixing than by planning endlessly."
Looking at his generation, Menelaos says, “We have a responsibility to tackle South Africa's challenges with urgency and creativity and stop clinging to old ways. My role is to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and build practical solutions that move us forward."
To him, real, tangible progress depends on everyone working together. “If we want a better future, collaboration has to matter more than competition."?
