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Role Models – Professionals
2025
Innovation and Commercialisation Unit, Stellenbosch University
For creating a solid and functional innovation and entrepreneurship platform
Innovation and Commercialisation Unit at Stellenbosch University (SU) won the Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. They received this prestigious award for creating a solid and functional innovation and entrepreneurship platform, identifying exciting research outputs, working with research teams to ensure that technologies respond to market needs, filing patents, presenting investment opportunities to commercial and industrial partners and nurturing spin-out companies. Ms Anita Nel represents the team as the Chief Director.
2025
Prof Namrita Lall
For developing and commercialising several innovative pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals
Prof Namrita Lall won the Innovation Award: Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. She received this prestigious award for developing and commercialising several innovative pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals from medicinal plants with a novel mode of action, and for establishing viable spin-off companies and promoting entrepreneurship amongst her graduates. Prof Lall is a Research Chair at the University of Pretoria (UP).
2025
Prof Olaniyi Amos Fawole
For pioneering sustainable postharvest and agroprocessing solutions
Prof Olaniyi Amos Fawole won the NSTF-Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. He received this prestigious award for pioneering sustainable postharvest, agroprocessing solutions, which reduce food losses, and for influencing industry and policy. Prof Fawole is the DSTI–NRF SARChI Chair-holder: Sustainable Preservation and Agroprocessing Research at University of Johannesburg (UJ); Founding Director of the Postharvest and Agroprocessing Research Centre (PARC) at UJ; Extraordinary Full Professor at Stellenbosch University (SU); and Visiting Full Professor at the University of Bari Aldo Moro.
2025
Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit
For building Africa’s most comprehensive monitoring programmes through tracking population trends
Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit won the Data for Research Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. They received this prestigious award for building Africa’s most comprehensive monitoring programmes through tracking population trends, habitat use, and climate change impacts (all of which directly informs conservation policies at national and international levels, and drives public education), for the benefit of both conservation and communities. Dr Els Vermeulen is the Senior Lecturer and Research Manager: MRI Whale Unit, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria (UP).
2025
Prof Nobanathi Wendy Maxakato
For her pioneering research into sustainable pathways for green energy solutions
Prof Nobanathi Wendy Maxakato won the NSTF-TIA Green Economy Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. (TIA = Technology Innovation Agency.) She received this prestigious award for her pioneering research into sustainable pathways for green energy solutions, and for developing advanced electrocatalysts for fuel cell technology that enables cleaner and more efficient energy generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, and for transitioning SA’s energy sector away from fossil fuels to a greener economy. Prof Maxakato is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the Founder and Team Leader of the Materials for Energy Research group at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
2025
Centre for Community Technologies
For their work in building unique bridges for academic innovation and community empowerment
Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) won the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. They received this prestigious award for their work in building unique bridges for academic innovation and community empowerment, using technology not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for sustainable development, social change, and digital equity. Prof Darelle van Greunen is the Director and a Distinguished Professor of Information Technology (IT) at Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
2025
Prof Shahida Moosa
For her leadership and coordination of the Genomics for Health in Africa project
Prof Shahida Moosa won the NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. She received this prestigious award for her leadership and coordination of the Genomics for Health in Africa project, a first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. Prof Moosa is the Head of Medical Genetics at Tygerberg Hospital and a Professor of Medical Genetics at Stellenbosch University (SU).
2025
Prof Andrew Forbes
For driving the strategy for developing a new generation of quantum scientists
Prof Andrew Forbes won the Special Annual Theme Award: Quantum Science and Technology at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. He received this prestigious award for driving the strategy for developing a new generation of quantum scientists, with some 90 young researchers supported and supervised across the country, and for creating a lasting and far-reaching impact in quantum science and technology in South Africa (SA). Prof Forbes is a Distinguished Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Director at the South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SAQuTI).
2025
Vehicle Dynamics Group (VDG)
For improving vehicle comfort, safety and efficiency in challenging environments
The Vehicle Dynamics Group (VDG) won the Engineering Research Capacity Development Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. The group received this prestigious award for improving vehicle comfort, safety and efficiency in challenging environments by developing a fundamental understanding of vehicle technology, training students, and collaborating with industry. Prof Pieter Schalk Els is the team leader; and Professor: University of Pretoria (UP).
2025
Prof Bongani Ncube
For addressing complex water governance and economics
Prof Bongani Ncube received the NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. She won this prestigious award for her leadership in addressing complex water governance and economics to ensure equitable access to water and improve institutional efficiency. Prof Ncube is the Chair-holder of the DSTI-NRF South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Governance and Economics of Water and Sanitation Sector Institutions and a Full Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
2025
Dr Jabu Mtsweni
For his leadership in cyber security and management of a large team developing and deploying solutions
Dr Jabu Mtsweni won the Management Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. He received this prestigious award for his leadership in cyber security and management of a large team at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), developing and deploying solutions, shaping national policy, and building South Africa’s cybersecurity capacity. Dr Mtsweni is the Head: Information and Cyber Security Research Centre; Technical Lead: National Policy Data Observatory, CSIR.
2025
Prof Anne Fitchett
For her success at facilitating entry of undergraduates into engineering
Prof Anne Fitchett won the Engineering Research Capacity Development Award at the 2025 NSTF -South32 Awards. She received this prestigious award for her success at facilitating entry into engineering and the smooth passage of undergraduates since 2004, creating an enabling environment that supports a passion for engineering and the enrolment of postgraduate researchers. Prof Fitchett is a Retired Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
2025
Dr Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh
For his multidisciplinary research interest, leadership and innovation
Dr Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh won the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. He received this prestigious award for his multidisciplinary research interest, leadership and innovation, which continues to shape sustainable environmental engineering. Dr Tetteh is a Senior Researcher: Green Engineering Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology (DUT).
2025
Dr Rachael Dangarembizi
For advancing neuroinfectious disease research, and her groundbreaking work on cryptococcal meningitis
Dr Rachael Dangarembizi won the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. She received this prestigious award for advancing neuroinfectious disease research, securing major funding, mentoring future scientists, and earning global recognition for her groundbreaking work on cryptococcal meningitis. Dr Dangarembizi is a Senior Lecturer: Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa), University of Cape Town (UCT).
2025
Mr David (Dawie) Benjamin Botha
For outstanding contributions to the NSTF organisation and South Africa over a lifetime
Mr David (Dawie) Benjamin Botha, the first and immediate past chairperson of the NSTF proSET Sector, representing over 50 professional societies in the NSTF, and former Executive Director of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) is the recipient of the third Ukhozi Award. He is recognised for his outstanding contributions to the NSTF organisation and South Africa (SA) over a lifetime.
2025
Prof Liza Korsten
For turning science into action to safeguard South Africa’s food supply
Prof Liza Korsten won the Lifetime Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. She received this prestigious award for turning science into action, safeguarding South Africa (SA)’s food supply through plant pathology and microbiology, tackling critical issues such as foodborne diseases and crop losses, with innovative and practical solutions that have inspired global change. Prof Korsten is a Professor of Plant Health and Food Safety at the University of Pretoria (UP); Co-Director: Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) – National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Food Security; President: Africa Academy of Sciences.
2025
Prof Yin-Zhe Ma
For his groundbreaking research into understanding the Universe’s large-scale structure
Prof Yin-Zhe Ma won the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award at the 2025 NSTF-South32 Awards. He received the award for his groundbreaking research into understanding the Universe’s large-scale structure, with major contributions in detecting “missing baryons” (or matter that is not directly visible), and pioneering detection methods that investigate how these baryons interact, contributing a critical role in galaxy formation and evolution. Prof Ma is a Full Professor and Head: Astrophysics Group; Stellenbosch-Groningen Joint Research Chair, Stellenbosch University (SU).
S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
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