SEBOKENG.- Two veteran educators and community builders whose paths crossed decades ago have once again emerged together in recognition of their continued service to society.

Makhudu Constance ‘Connie’ Mbowane was named Community Builder of the Year at the 2026 Vita Basadi Awards, while her former colleague, Likelei Maria Molefi, was recognised as runner-up in the Community Heroine category for the second consecutive year.

The recognition is particularly significant because the two women once worked within the same educational and community environment, dedicating much of their lives to supporting children, families and vulnerable communities.

Mbowane, a veteran educator and former principal of Montsusi Primary School in Sebokeng, became known for extending the school’s role far beyond the classroom.

Her work included mobilising unemployed community members, establishing food gardens to support learners and families, improving access to water and facilitating the construction of a bridge that made movement safer for both children and residents.

Her contribution earned national recognition as early as 2003, when she was named the overall Shoprite Checkers SABC2 Woman of the Year.

To make it even more interesting, more than two decades later, her 2026 Vita Basadi Awards reflect a lifetime of building not only infrastructure, but relationships between schools and communities.

Her nomination carried an additional layer of significance as it was submitted by Molefi, her former colleague and fellow community activist. Molefi, widely known as ‘Mama Silo’ or Mama Ouma, similarly began her journey in education before expanding her work into broader community development.

Through the Silo Institute of Love, she has continued serving children, young people, elderly residents and vulnerable families through educational support, feeding programmes, skills development, sewing, crafts, monitoring and other community-based initiatives.

Her 2026 Community Heroine runner-up recognition follows the same honour in 2025, acknowledging years of sustained grassroots service.

The two women’s journeys reflect a generation of educators whose influence extended far beyond teaching. They worked in communities facing poverty, unemployment and social challenges, often responding by creating practical solutions with limited resources.

On top of that, their reunion on the Vita Basadi stage tells a large story about women who helped build and heal communities long before public recognition followed.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Molifi said their 2026 recognition is therefore more than an awards moment, noting it is a reminder that some of South Africa’s most enduring community builders began their work inside ordinary schools, classrooms and neighbourhoods and never stopped serving.