24/04/2026
Mbuyelo Rikhotso, a student at the Mbombela Campus studying ICT, made history by winning UMP’s first-ever medal at a USSA (University Sport South Africa) Competition, He is part of the UMP Athletics Track and Field team that is currently in Cape Town for the USSA Athletics Championships held at the University of Western Cape from 23-25 April 2026, a prestigious national varsity event featuring the country’s top university athletes. Competing against elite opposition from well-established institutions, he secured the landmark medal after clocking 15.04 seconds in the men’s hurdles, running into a headwind, highlighting his determination and competitive grit against students from top athletics institutions like UWC, UP Tuks, and TUT. He went on to crown an outstanding season by becoming the national champion in the men’s 110m hurdles, firmly establishing himself as one of South Africa’s leading student athletes and a trailblazer for UMP sport. Mbuyelo also just missed out on qualifying for the Men’s 100m event after he finished 3rd in his heat with a time of 10.95.
Beyond his success on the university stage, he has also proven his ability to compete at the provincial and national levels. He previously represented Mpumalanga at the 2026 ASA Age Group Track and Field Championships, competing in the Under-23 group, gaining valuable experience against seasoned senior athletes. This exposure at a high performance level further underlined his versatility, competitiveness, and potential, contributing to his standout achievements at both the USSA competition and in claiming the national title in the men’s 110m hurdles. Mbuyelo also won Gold in the Men's Senior 100m event in a time of 11.95, and in the Men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 15.67, at the Athletics Mpumalanga Track and Field Championships held in Secunda on 7 March 2026.