UCT's Women in S.P.A.M. Takes Gold in 2026 Effie College Nedbank Challenge

A four-woman team from the University of Cape Town, Women in S.P.A.M., won gold at the 2026 Effie College Nedbank Challenge, beating 18 other student teams from five South African tertiary institutions. The final rankings were decided on 19 October 2026, when finalists presented their work to senior Nedbank marketers at Joe Public in Johannesburg.

The winners, all enrolled in UCT's Postgraduate Diploma in Management in Marketing, are Ammaarah Pilodia, Natasha Nathoo, Zoe Fataar and Keesha Petersen. Silver went to NedNext — Refilwe Mohlala, Tayla Cooper and Khanyisani Dlongolo — from the AAA School of Advertising, Johannesburg, in their second year. Bronze went to Team Vectra, a third-year squad from Vega Emeris in Johannesburg: Blessing Mtetwa, Aliza Cobb, Buhle Sambumbu, Nyiko Siwele and Gabriella De Averio.

How the judging worked

The challenge ran from 7 August to 7 September. Students answered a live Nedbank business brief, applying the globally recognised Effie Framework for Marketing Effectiveness. A senior panel of marketing and communications professionals scored the 19 written submissions and shortlisted four teams.

Round 1 judges:

• Mogorosi Mashilo, founder and director, TrendER
• Danny De Nobrega, CEO, Kilmer&Cruise
• Akona Golimp, strategic planner, Joe Public
• Reshma Lakha Singh, head of marketing, University of the Witwatersrand
• Samuel Mokhele, independent creative director and founder of On 35 Holdings
• Cleo Campbell, head of media and creative capabilities, SAB (AB InBev)
• Zayd Abrahams, Zinc Consulting

A Nedbank panel — Tebogo Motsepe (executive head: marketing strategy, GMCA Nedbank), Tumisang Matubatuba (senior marketing manager: brand strategy), Mondre Bremner (senior manager: digital channels strategy), Modiegi Mulaudzi (head: marketing operations and strategy), Refilwe Magano (head: corporate and investment banking marketing) and Nomthandazo Mbatha (Nedbank Africa regions senior marketing manager) — then cut the four to three. Zayd Abrahams facilitated the final judging discussions. The finalists had just two days to prepare their presentations.

Top teams received Nedbank Avo vouchers, Effie College certificates and a tour of Joe Public's offices.

What does this change for the programme?

Now in its second year, Effie College claims growth as evidence of traction: five institutions entered in 2026 — UCT, UJ, NWU, AAA School of Advertising and Vega Emeris. The organisers frame the sponsor relationship as a two-way exchange; Nedbank supplies the brief and sits in adjudication, gaining what the announcement calls "fresh strategic perspectives from emerging marketers." That claim is difficult to verify from a press release, and no figures on programme uptake or submission quality accompany it.

"Effie College is about teaching the discipline of effectiveness from the outset," said Gillian Rightford, ACA executive director for Effie South Africa. "Students learn to apply the globally recognised Effie Framework for Marketing Effectiveness to a real business challenge, connecting clear objectives, sound strategy and creative thinking with the results they would expect to achieve. The opportunity to present and defend that work before experienced marketers is invaluable. It is also a powerful example of how brands such as Nedbank can help build our industry's future talent."

"Nedbank is proud to support Effie College in nurturing the next generation of marketing talent," said Refilwe Magano, head of marketing CIB at Nedbank. "The calibre of thinking presented this year was impressive and reinforces our confidence in the future of the industry. It was encouraging to see emerging marketers combining creativity and strategic thinking with a clear understanding of effectiveness and measurable impact."

One more date matters for the wider programme: the Nedbank Challenge is one of two live brand briefs in 2026, and the second — sponsored by Chivas Regal — enters judging in November.