Johannesburg, 13 May 2026 – Dr Marlena Kruger, CEO and Founder of MindUnique Education and Institute, has been named Woman in Health & Wellness at the prestigious 2026 Woman of Stature Awards South Africa – a recognition that underscores her pioneering work in digital well-being and her growing influence in addressing screen addiction among toddlers, young children and teenagers who are underdeveloped and suffer with their mental health and well-being.
Held at a glamorous red-carpet gala in Johannesburg on 11 April and a celebratory High Tea event for the winners and finalists on 8 May, the Woman of Stature once again celebrated all exceptional women shaping South Africa’s future across business, leadership, and community impact.
For Dr Kruger, the award and the launch of her books and journal are not only personal milestones but also a powerful validation of a message she has been championing for years: that screens are addictive by design, and therefore excessive screen exposure poses a real and already confirmed risk to the healthy development of toddlers, children and teenagers’ brains and bodies.
Recent global findings and legal scrutiny involving major technology companies such as META and Google have brought renewed attention and the confirmation of the addictive design of the internet and social media platforms – reinforcing concerns long raised by experts like Dr Kruger.
These developments highlight the urgent need for the drafting and promulgation of South African law to stop neglecting our vulnerable children, similar to other countries such as Australia, France, the United Kingdom, China and Austria. We urgently need to acknowledge these harmful digital drugs in our children’s hands by implementing strict boundaries to limit access and protect them from the dangers and harmful content on screens.
We can’t afford to wait for the government and technology companies to change. We, as the custodians of our children, must act today to educate ourselves as parents, educators and role models. We must take proactive steps to protect our children and teenagers in an increasingly digital world with all its opportunities, but also high risks and responsibilities.
“I am deeply grateful and excited to launch the digital well-being adventure books in English (HAPPY NEURO HEROES), Afrikaans (GELUKKIGE NEURO-WENNERS), as well as the unique hand-crafted bilingual SPRANKEL-joernaal and JOY journal. The full colour and interactive adventure guides with brain-based principles can be integrated in our daily lives to help us replace harmful and damaging screen time with joyful real-life experiences to thrive,” says Kruger. “It strengthens our mission to open up more opportunities to support children and families in living healthier, happier lives in a digital-saturated world. The growing evidence around screen addiction confirms what we are seeing every day – we need to act now, before it’s too late.” The books also contain practical steps to reduce and eliminate screen time to reset your child’s mind (brain), body and life.
Dr Kruger founded MindUnique Education in 2015 as a health and wellness organisation specialising in holistic well-being, with a strong focus on digital and neuro-integrative health. Through her work, she equips families and individuals with practical tools to navigate and rebalance their lives in a technology-saturated environment.
Her initiatives include development of holistic wellness products and books, talks, coaching, and professional quantum health assessments with associated energy and natural therapies – all designed to support mental, emotional, and physical resilience.
MindUnique proudly manufactures high-quality, high-density WoWe® electromagnetic field (EMF) protective products in South Africa, aimed at reducing exposure to non-ionising radiation from everyday technologies such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, wireless devices and cell phone towers.
A passionate advocate for children’s well-being, Dr Kruger established the TechnoLife Wise Foundation in 2017. Through this platform, she has launched impactful campaigns, including:
- Wait Until Grade 8
- No Phones at Schools
- Jump of Joy, which promotes physical development by providing skipping ropes to underprivileged young children.
“These initiatives are about restoring balance,” she explains. “Children need movement, connection, and real-world experiences to develop optimally – not constant digital overstimulation and access to harmful, addictive content.”
As digital technologies continue to shape daily life, Dr Kruger’s work is increasingly positioned at the intersection of health, education, and societal well-being – offering both a warning and a wonderful way forward to nurture our talents and humanity. To thrive and fulfil our unique purposes, jump for joy, and let our light shine in this digital-driven world.