“VUT’s Rethabile Molehe, a third-year PR student, shines as a PRISM Young Voices finalist, inspiring peers with his passion for storytelling and youth empowerment.”
15 September 2025 | Story By: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Supplied
3 minutes read time.
Mr Rethabile Molehe, a third-year Public Relations Management student at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), has been named a finalist in the prestigious PRISM Young Voices programme, recognising him as one of South Africa’s most promising young communicators. For Molehe, the announcement was surreal. “I didn’t put my hopes too high in case I wasn’t chosen. But I was thrilled when I got the email,” he said.
Launched in 2017, the PRISM Young Voices initiative offers PR professionals under 30 the opportunity to judge campaigns under the mentorship of senior industry leaders. The programme accelerates growth by combining mentorship, recognition, and hands-on experience at the PRISM Awards. This year’s finalists came from leading agencies, institutions and universities, including Eclipse Communications, Havas South Africa, University of Johannesburg (UJ), Durban University of Technology (DUT) and VUT.
To enter, participants submitted either a 300-word motivation or a one-minute video on The Human Factor. Molehe chose the video option, sharing his belief that public relations is both a profession and a way of life rooted in mentorship and ethics. He highlighted his role in VUT’s mentorship programme and the importance of applying artificial intelligence responsibly.
Molehe’s journey from township schooling to national recognition has been defined by resilience and self-improvement. A pivotal moment came during his first Media lecture, when he realised he had chosen the right course. Since then, he has focused on personal growth, with encouragement from VUT lecturers who inspired him through one-on-one mentorship and support.
For Molehe, being a finalist is both personal and professional. “It reminds me to keep believing in my dreams. Professionally, it is about learning from experts and striving to be a communicator who makes an impact,” he said. He believes young voices bring adaptability and creativity to a fast-changing media landscape.
Storytelling and youth empowerment remain at the centre of his ambitions. “I believe in using narratives to shape perception and build trust. On the social side, I am passionate about youth empowerment and education; that is why I became a mentor,” he explained.
Looking to the future, Molehe hopes to work in a PR agency, which he describes as “the hub of PR,” while also aspiring to become an academic one day “I believe in giving back, the same way others gave their time to us,” he said. He also stresses the importance of PR professionals developing technical skills in data, SEO and AI to remain relevant.
For VUT, Molehe’s recognition is both a personal triumph and an institutional milestone, showcasing the quality of its PR programme while inspiring fellow students to aim higher. With humility, authenticity and ambition, he stands out as a young voice with the potential to help shape the future of public relations in South Africa.