University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) School of Law Master’s student Ms Yizozodwa Dlamini has been awarded a prestigious R30 000 South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR) Top-Up Bursary, recognising her academic excellence and the quality of her research in Constitutional Law.
The highly competitive bursary is awarded annually to postgraduate students at South African public universities whose research advances scholarship in constitutional law, human rights, justice and related fields. The award not only provides financial support but also acknowledges promising researchers whose work has the potential to contribute meaningfully to constitutionalism and social justice in South Africa.
Dlamini, who is completing her Master of Laws in Constitutional Litigation qualification at UKZN, is researching in the following areas: A Constitutional Analysis of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and Constrained Economic Agency Among Young Black Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa.
Her dissertation critically examines whether the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act has fulfilled its transformative constitutional mandate by creating meaningful opportunities for young Black women entrepreneurs through improved access to funding, business development support and sustainable enterprise growth.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind her research, Dlamini said growing up in an entrepreneurial family and later managing her own business exposed her to the structural barriers confronting many young Black women entrepreneurs.
“Despite determination, competence and an unwavering commitment to success, I encountered systemic financial, institutional and social constraints that had little to do with entrepreneurial ability and everything to do with unequal access to opportunity,” she said.
These experiences prompted her to investigate whether South Africa’s constitutional vision of economic transformation is translating into meaningful economic empowerment for women who continue to face entrenched structural inequalities.
The SAJHR bursary will assist Dlamini in completing her postgraduate studies while enabling her to focus on producing research of the highest academic standard.
“This funding will relieve the financial burden of completing my LLM by assisting me in settling my outstanding university fees, allowing me to focus fully on producing research of the highest standard,” she said.
She added that the award represented far more than financial assistance. “The confidence that the SAJHR has placed in me is both humbling and motivating. The recognition associated with this award carries opportunities that money cannot buy, opening doors to future academic collaborations, mentorship, professional networks and advocacy.”
Although she has not yet submitted work to the SAJHR, Dlamini intends to develop her dissertation into a scholarly publication as she progresses towards doctoral studies.
“As I complete my LLM and prepare to pursue a PhD, I hope to develop my research into a publishable article that contributes to constitutional scholarship and the ongoing discourse on transformative constitutionalism, economic justice and the economic agency of young Black women entrepreneurs in South Africa,” she said.
Beyond academia, Dlamini is committed to community empowerment. She is the co-founder of She Knows the Law, a non-profit organisation established during Women’s Month in 2025 to promote legal empowerment and improve access to justice, particularly for women and young people.
One of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, Own Your Future, aims to support matric learners, particularly those from rural communities, through career guidance and mentorship as they transition into Higher Education and the world of work.
Despite facing challenges in securing funding and institutional support, Dlamini believes grassroots initiatives remain powerful vehicles for social change.
Encouraging fellow students to pursue funding opportunities with confidence and authenticity, Dlamini advised applicants to focus on communicating their purpose.
The Dean and Head of UKZN’s School of Law, Professor Feddy Mnyongani, congratulated Dlamini on her latest achievement, saying: “Dlamini’s achievement reflects the calibre of postgraduate research emerging from the UKZN School of Law and highlights the University’s growing reputation for producing scholars whose work attracts recognition from leading external academic institutions.”
Words: Hazel Langa
Photograph: Supplied