C-rated

C-RATED (Established Researchers)

Dr Udochukwu Akuru is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He is the Chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – South Africa Section until 31 December 2025. He is also the South Africa Lead for the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) under the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) project.

His core research interests are in electrical power engineering, renewable energy technologies and circular economy. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at Stellenbosch University from 2018 to 2019.

Dr Akuru obtained a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Stellenbosch University in 2017, a MEng in 2013 and BEng in 2008 both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Dr Akuru is a registered engineer of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, a senior member of IEEE Engineers and a senior member of South African Institute of Electrical Engineers.

He has published widely in journal and conference outlets, and he also acts as a reviewer and associate editor to IEEE conferences and transactions, among others.

Dr Akuru is rated C1 by the NRF.
Prof Jonathan Okonkwo is Emeritus Professor in environmental chemistry in the Faculty of Science. He was the Rand Water Chair in Organic Contaminants from 2013 to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, in the UK and a Fellow of the Institute of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Sciences, in India.

He has made outstanding contributions to environmental chemistry, particularly organochlorinated and brominated emerging persistent organic pollutants. In 2019, Prof Okonkwo registered a patent on the development and fabrication of a preconcentration kit for the rapid analysis of polar compounds followed by gas chromatography. His work in the field of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in waste stream is internationally recognised.

His research activities include brominated, chlorinated and organophosphate flame retardants in different environmental media; the use of deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of organophosphate flame retardants from landfill leachates and sediment; as well as the use of biomaterial wastes as green adsorbents for removal of organic contaminants from aqueous medium.

He has published more than 150 scientific papers in high-impact journals such as Science of the Total Environment of STOTEN, Talanta, Environmental Pollution and Waste Management.

He has received numerous honours and awards including institutional awards for “Best Senior Researcher of the Year” in 2012 and 2016. He received his PhD at the Brunel University, in the UK, and realised his post-doctorate at the same university.

Prof Okonkwo is rated C1 by the NRF.
Prof Dharini Sivakumar is Professor Extraordinaire in the Faculty of Science. She also holds a joint position at the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, which is part of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, a partnership between the University of Queensland and the Queensland government.

She is credited for developing the research area in post-harvest technology and the curriculum in the Department of Crop Sciences at TUT.

From 2010 to 2015, she has been actively involved in investigating the influence of pre-harvest agronomy factors on the post-harvest quality of fresh produce.

She also works closely with the South African avocado industry and has forged research collaboration with several academic institutions abroad. The institutions include Marche Polytechnic University in Italy, Texas A&M University in the US, the University of Reunion in Reunion, the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy in Germany, and the University of Greenwich in the UK.

She established a working programme with rural communities in Venda, Limpopo to promote cultivation and agro-processing of traditional vegetables and fruits, which helped to develop entrepreneur skills, create employment, generate income and alleviate poverty.

Prof Sivakumar is rated C1 by the NRF.
Prof Christian Wolkersdorfer is a Full Professor and held the world’s first Industrial Research Chair for Mine Water Remediation and Management at Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia, Canada from 2008 to 2012.

He was also a Distinguished Professor for Mine Water Management at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Mikkeli, Finland. He has been teaching hydrogeology, mining hydrology and tracer hydrology at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany and within the AEG Master’s course at Tübingen University.

He is a mining hydrogeologist with 32 years of experience in mine water geochemistry, hydrodynamics, geothermal applications and tracer tests. He received his first PhD at Clausthal University, Germany and habilitated at Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany.

He is the President of the International Mine Water Association and the Technical Editor of the SCI-listed journal Mine Water and the Environment.

He has published more than 250 papers, books and book chapters about hydrogeology, archaeology and mining-related topics. He focuses on passive treatment technologies in remote areas and active treatment where local water sources or people might be directly affected by the pollution.

He is interested in electrochemistry and the integration of various technologies into new water treatment methods. Another focus of research is understanding the mine flooding process and stratification in flooded underground mines through tracer tests and optimised monitoring methods.

Prof Wolkersdorfer is rated C1 by the NRF.
Prof Justus Agumba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Building Sciences in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. He is the Ceta Research Chair in Digital Construction Skills.

With over two decades of combined experience in academia and the construction industry, Prof Agumba has a wealth of knowledge spanning multiple institutions in Kenya and South Africa.

His research interests are in health and safety, construction education, construction innovation, technology in construction, and project and construction management.

His scholarly contributions include over 40 publications in journals accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), as well as four peer reviewed book chapters and over 80 conference papers. As a respected voice in his field, he has served as academic conference organiser, session chair and editor/co-editor of conference proceedings. He has also served as manuscript reviewer for high impact journals and evaluates conference papers and book chapters.

His professional credentials include registration as Chartered Construction Manager status with the Chartered Institute of Building. He is also a member of Master Builders Association North’s Health and Safety forum and the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors. He holds a PhD in Engineering Management, a Master’s degree in Construction Management and a Bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying.

He has received numerous awards including “Best Digitalisation of Sustainability Paper” in 2023 at the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession International Research Conference for a paper he co-authored. He was awarded “Best Written Paper at the Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa conference in 2016. A paper he co-authored was awarded Best Written Paper on Societal Benefits at the CIB W099 conference in Ireland Belfast in 2015. In 2011 he, was awarded “Best Written Paper” at the conference of the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession.
Prof Madoda Cekiso is a Full Professor in the Department of Applied Languages. His research interests include reading and writing in a second language, learning styles, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and onomastics and second-language teaching methods.

He is the author of 75 articles in accredited journals, four book chapters and co-edited two books. Prof Cekiso has successfully supervised 24 Master’s students and 23 Doctoral students.

He is currently supervising two Master’s students and four Doctoral students. He has delivered papers at many national and international conferences. He has reviewed articles for national and international journals. He has externally examined several doctoral theses and master’s dissertations for various universities.

He holds a PhD in English from the North-West University.

Prof Cekiso is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Georgina Phillipina Coetzee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Auditing. Before taking up this position, she was the deputy executive dean of the College of Accounting Sciences at the University of South Africa. She was also the coordinator of the internationally accredited Central of Internal Audit Excellence at the University of Pretoria, and has received numerous awards recognising her contribution to the programme and the profession from both academia and the profession.

Her research interests are in governance, auditing and risk management.

She was involved in various collaborations with practice, professional institutions and other tertiary institutions such as writing textbooks (LexisNexis), supervising postgraduate students, presenting the MPhil in collaboration with GIBs and Erasmus University, reviewing research articles, developing CPD courses, training manuals, mentoring internal audit programmes (nationally and international), and serving on professional committees.

She holds a PhD in Auditing and has received numerous awards for her contribution to research in the fields of governance, auditing and risk management.

Prof Coetzee is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Thelma de Jager is Professor and Assistant Dean for Research, Innovation and Engagement. Her areas of expertise are teaching and learning strategies and methods to improve the development of learners/students’ critical thinking skills, science education, digital learning and pedagogy, differentiated teaching and the inclusion of multi-cultural students in education.

She served on the editorial board of the International Technology, Education and Development Conference and the South African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education.

She was awarded “Woman Researcher of the Year” and “Lecturer of the Year” in the Faculty of Humanities several times. She was also a finalist in the National Lecturer Awards representing TUT academic staff at Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa.

She has participated in various international projects as the main project leader and conducted research studies with Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, South Korea, and Indonesia. Furthermore, she was awarded a European Union Saturn bursary to participate in a research study at Groningen University, Netherlands. She has also received the National Research Foundation grant for research.

She has a Doctor of Education from the University of South Africa.

Prof Jager is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Dawood Desai is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Head of Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

His main research interests span the area of finite element analysis in structural dynamics, vibro-acoustics, fluid-structure interaction, materials characterisation, and precision manufacturing, as well as heat transfer with a keen interest in the transportation industry.

He has published in many peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference proceedings. He was awarded the “best research paper” at the World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science held at the University of California, Berkeley, US in 2019. More recently, he was awarded the “Scientist Medal” by the International Association of Advanced Materials in Stockholm, Sweden.

He is registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (SA), the SA Institute of Mechanical Engineering and is also a Member of the Aeronautical Society of SA, a division of Royal Aeronautical Society, in the UK.

He completed his undergraduate and Master’s qualifications in Mechanical Engineering and subsequently completed a teaching qualification in Technical Education (cum laude) and was awarded for best results. Thereafter, he was appointed Executive Chair: Automotive Engineering at the Tshwane University of Technology while working on his doctoral degree.

He was subsequently appointed Senior Lecturer and thereafter Associate Professor, Deputy Head of Department and Research Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

Prof Desai is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Thabo Ditsele is a Full Professor of Sociolinguistics. His research interest is sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, focusing on contact languages (viz, Sepitori and Tsotsitaal); language attitudes; language and identity; language policy and planning; multilingualism; and politics of language.

He has published 26 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and one book chapter. He has published a memoir in English titled “From an obscure village to around the world (Volume 1: Americas)”, a novel in Setswana titled “Maile Maila Boganana” and two short stories in a Setswana anthology titled “Pelo e ganne molora”. He has presented more than 40 papers at conferences and seminars around the world.

He is an editorial board member at the South African Journal of African Languages (South Africa); The Mouth: Critical Studies on Language, Culture and Society (Germany); and Arusha Working Papers in African Linguistics (US).

He holds a three-year teacher’s Diploma in English and Mathematics, an Honours in Industrial/Labour Relations, and a Master’s and Doctorate in Languages/Linguistics. He is also a language practitioner of English and Setswana and is registered with the South African Council for Educators as a professional educator in English and Mathematics.

Prof Ditsele is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Shengzhi Du is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

His research interests include human-machine systems, multiple modal human-machine interfaces, teleoperation, digital twins, computer vision, pattern recognition, control systems, mechatronic systems, intelligent systems, and brain computer interfaces.

He has extensive industrial and academic management experience. He and his team developed a series of process industry advanced control products and video surveillance systems.

He considers himself an engineer and researcher on practical systems and theoretical algorithms. He strongly believes the theoretical fruits become realised only when they could generate value in practical objects. He is keen to implement his ideas on Haptic feedback control, teleoperation, and digital twin in real industry, including mining, underwater, and other challenging environments to reduce injuries and increase the safety and productivity.
He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and was awarded R10-million research funds.

Prof Du is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Joey Jansen van Vuuren, a distinguished leader in cybersecurity research and education, has held prominent positions both nationally and internationally. She represents the global computer science community as Vice Chair of the International Federation for Information Processing Working Group 9.10 and as Chair of the BRICS University Integrated Thematic Group Computer Science and Information Security for Higher Education, leading international collaboration in cybersecurity education.

She also initiated the South African Cybersecurity Centre of Innovation at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which has led to several cybersecurity government initiatives in South Africa.

She is globally recognised for her expertise in developing cybersecurity capabilities in emerging economies in Africa and has contributed to South Africa’s National Cybersecurity Policy Framework, as well as advised on cybercrime legislation. She has been appointed as a senior non-key expert by the European Union to develop a cybercrime strategy for the South African police.

She has presented at numerous conferences, published journal articles and book chapters, delivered keynote addresses at major international conferences, and served on advisory boards across multiple sectors. She has also contributed to technical reports for industry and served as editor for multiple special issues of international journals. She is currently involved in the supervision of Master’s and Doctoral students and several cybersecurity research projects for government and industry.

She has been instrumental in curriculum development, leading the national work group responsible for curricular for new degree and diploma qualifications for universities of technology. Beyond academic and research leadership, she is committed to expanding educational capacity through TVET lecturer training in coding and robotics, as well as cybersecurity awareness initiatives in rural communities.

Prof Jansen van Vuuren is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Williams Kupolati is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering.

He joined the lecturing staff of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment after accumulating 13 years of professional experience working in various significant areas of civil engineering practice.

Prof Kupolati's research focuses on utilising waste, pozzolans, nanomaterials, and smart materials for civil engineering applications. This research extends to various aspects, including asphalt, concrete, rail systems, and building construction with a particular emphasis on promoting green infrastructure. His work emphasises multidisciplinary collaboration and the application of innovative materials for sustainable infrastructure development.

Prof Kupolati holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He obtained a BSc (Honours) degree in Civil Engineering and an MSc degree in Construction Management from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Prof Kupolati is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Janine Lewis is Associate Professor in the Department of Performing Arts. She is a Teaching Advancements at Universities (TAU) advisor and fellow. She was the Woman Researcher of the Year for 2017 and 2021 and twice the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Academic Excellence Awards.

Prof Lewis has taught internationally at the Ohio State University, in the US (2007), the Hunter Gates Physical Theatre Academy in Edmonton, Canada (2007) and the 6th Annual International Festival of Making Theatre in Athens, Greece (2010).

Her research focuses on performing arts, arts education and arts administration. Her most recent publication is “Humanity, expectations, access and transformation (HEAT): revisiting South African higher education entrance assessment in a postcolonial context”.

She has presented papers at various conferences in countries across the world and South Africa, and published widely in the fields of theatre, performance and higher education.
She has served as a programme director for various events, as plenary speaker and panellist at international conferences, and presented the keynote address at University of KwaZulu-Natal Academic Monitoring and Support Colloquium. She devised, directed and performed more than 46 productions.

She holds a Doctorate in Devising as WARPING (re)conceptual theatre making. Additional qualifications include PGDip Higher Education Pedagogy and MBA Higher Education Management from University of Haaga-Heila, Finland, and Touch for Health kinesiology. She also serves as a board member at the African Theatre Association, the Southern African Communications Industries Association and TAU. She is the chairperson for the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Creative Output Performance, Dance and Theatre subpanel.

Prof Lewis is rated C2 by the NRF.
Dr Martin Maboko is affiliated with the Department of Crop Sciences in the Faculty of Science. He is Group National Horticulturist at Hygrotech. He holds a PhD Horticultural Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research interests are plant nutrition, crop production, plant physiology, sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture and crop fertility.

Dr Maboko is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Katlego Makgopa is a physical chemistry Associate Professor, Director of the Centre for Applied Chemistry Research (CACRe), and a leader of the Nanomaterials for Electrochemistry Applications Research Team (NEART) in the Chemistry Department. He serves as the President of the South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANi).

He obtained his PhD in 2016 from the University of Pretoria, with the project titled: “Effects of carbon nanomaterials on the performance of symmetric pseudocapacitors”.

His current research interests entail the electrochemistry of nanostructured materials (that is, carbon nanomaterials and metal oxide/phosphate nanoparticles), and their potential applications in energy storage (that is, supercapacitors and lithium-ion battery) and conversion (that is, fuel cells and photovoltaics), as well as hydrogen production and wastewater treatment.

He has experience in employing a multi-disciplinary approach to materials characterisation, which draws from a repertoire of sophisticated techniques that includes advanced electrochemistry and advanced microscopic/spectroscopic instruments.

He has published more than 70 publications in international peer-reviewed journals (as articles and book chapters), co-edited one book titled: “Nanoelectrocatalysts for Energy and Water Treatment”, and supervised/co-supervised more than 11 MSc/MTech students and four PhD students to completion.

He has participated as a reviewer for accredited international journals in reputable publishing entities such as the Royal Society of Chemistry, Elsevier and the American Chemistry Society.

He is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) and the South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANi).

Prof Makgopa is rated C2 by the NRF.
Dr Henry Mason is the Academic Assessment Officer in the Directorate of Student Development and Support, where he is responsible for managing psychological assessments. He is a registered Research Psychologist and Psychometrist.

His research focuses on psychology and psychometrics, with particular emphasis on the intersection of student development theory, positive psychology, psychological testing, and data science in higher education. This emerging field, referred to as Positive Higher Education, recognises the vital role universities play in the lives of young people. It addresses student learning and well-being, including non-cognitive factors such as resilience, hope, and character strengths. Practically, his work aims to enhance student success, with a strong focus on promoting holistic student well-being.

Dr Mason has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has presented more than 100 papers, posters, and workshops at academic conferences. He serves on the editorial boards of five scholarly journals and is a past president of the Southern African Association for Counselling and Development in Higher Education. He has also served on and chaired several research committees, including the Research and Innovation Committee of HEDS (RICH), the RICH Research Ethics Committee, and the TUT Research Ethics Committee.

He holds a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (D Litt et Phil) in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Psychology, and Honours degrees in both Psychology and Industrial Psychology. He is currently pursuing an MBA in Higher Education through Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

Dr Mason is rated C2 by the NRF
Dr Ebenezer Megbowon is a development economist with a dynamic academic and research portfolio spanning health economics, agricultural and rural development, and macroeconomic performance.

His research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, focusing on development economics, health outcomes, food systems, poverty and food security, and macroeconomic time series analysis. He has authored and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed high impact publications, significantly contributing to the global discourse on sustainable development and economic transformation.

Beyond research, he is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, nurturing future leaders in economics by combining theoretical rigour with practical insights to deepen students’ understanding of development dynamics. He has supervised several Master’s students, acted as external examiner, and reviewed for numerous journals.

He currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, actively contributing to advancing economic research and knowledge dissemination. He has previously held various academic and research positions at the University of Fort Hare, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and the National University of Lesotho.

He earned his PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2017 and subsequently obtained a PhD in Economics (Health Economics) from North-West University in 2023. His academic journey also includes an MSc in Economics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a BSc Economics from Bowen University, Nigeria.

Dr Megbowon is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann is the Executive Dean in the Faculty of Science. Her research interests include phytoremediation – the use of plants to remove pollutants in the environment – which became her specialisation during her postdoctoral studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, in the US.

She collaborated on a project with the Agricultural Research Council, the University of South Africa, North-West University and TUT, funded by the Water Research Commission, to establish an online, interactive, free-access platform with information about contaminants of emerging concern in South African surface waters.

She graduated with a Doctor of Technology in Chemistry, specialising in environmental analytical chemistry at TUT in 2005, and an MBA in Education Management.

She has held various roles in higher education institutions including Campus Director for the Mamelodi Campus at the University of Pretoria and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda.

She has served on numerous boards and advisory committees including the South Africa-Swedish University Forum Academic Advisory Committee for Climate Change, the Natural Resources and Sustainability, the Council on Higher Education National Doctoral Review Panel and the National Research Foundation advisory committee of the South Africa-Netherlands Research Cooperation.

She is currently a council member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions and chairs its Qualifications Assessment Committee. She also serves in the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector Committee.

Prof Mokgalaka-Fleischmann is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Lizzy Monyatsi is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Seithuti Moshokoa is a Full Professor and the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science.

His research interests are mathematical sciences, mathematical analysis and mathematics asymmetric topology. He has authored and co-authored more than 180 publications with a Scopus h-index of 51.

He has over 35 years of experience in mathematics education and academic leadership. He was a board member of the South African Mathematics Foundation board member from 2015 to 2024. He was appointed as its executive director in early 2025.

He holds a PhD in Mathematics, specialising in topological structures. His higher education journey began with a Teachers Diploma, a BSc with majors in Mathematics and Psychology. He went on to study for Honours and Master’ degrees in Mathematics from Unisa.

Prof Moshokoa is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Mpofu is rated C2 by the NRF
Prof Mandla Msimanga is an applied nuclear physicist and Associate Professor of physics. He heads the Photovoltaic NanoComposites Research and Development Platform at TUT which currently focuses on the development of perovskite materials for photovoltaic and opto-electronic device applications.

He holds a PhD in Nuclear Applied Physics from the University of Cape Town (2010) with a specific focus on development of nuclear techniques for nano-materials analysis using ion beams. His current research work is at the confluence of applied nuclear physics and materials research wherein ion beams are used to modify and enhance structural and electrical properties of photovoltaic materials.

Prof Msimanga has published over 60 peer reviewed journal articles since 2010. Between 2015 and 2024, he mentored four PhD and ten Master’s students to graduation, and currently has several students in the pipeline – as well as postdoctoral fellows under his mentorship. In 2024 he won a Fulbright Fellowship to the United States for a six months’ research sabbatical at the Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico. Prof Msimanga has also led South African teams in three separate Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs) sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, aimed at development of nuclear techniques for applications in materials research.

Prof Msimanga is a Certified Physicist and a member of the South African Institute of Physics.

Prof Msimanga is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Thomas Olwal is a Professor and the Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering.

His research interest is in the application of numerous scientific and engineering complex problem-solving models, tools and techniques. These include distributed algorithms, computational agent-based modelling, cognitive radio networks, software-defined networks, decentralised decision-making, emergence and self-organisation, amorphous and security computing, autonomous systems, cooperation, optimisation, behavioural ecology, and biomimicry to solve real-world challenges in sustainable health, water, energy, spectrum, agriculture and climate change.

He received a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Paris-Est, Champs-sur-Marne, France, in 2010 and a DTech degree in Electrical Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology in 2011 (in a cotutelle programme).

He has worked as a senior researcher for Wireless Computing and Networking Research and Development at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He serves as a reviewer for several ACM/IEEE conferences and journals.

Prof Olwal is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Maurice Onyango is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

He started his academic career as a junior lecturer in 1998. In 2007, he was appointed a senior lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and rose to the rank of Full Professor in 2010. He has received several institutional awards in research and teaching.

He has published widely in the areas of drinking water and wastewater treatment using adsorption technique. He has great interest in developing novel nano adsorbents with enhanced capacity and kinetics for contaminants removal from water.

Onyango graduated with a BSc Honours degree in Chemical and Process Engineering at Moi University, Kenya in 1997. He received his Master’s in Environmental Science and Technology in IHE Delft, The Netherlands in 2001 and a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Nagoya University, Japan in 2006.

Prof Onyango is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Thierry Regnier is a Full Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology.

His main research interest is cellular agriculture and food safety. His current projects encompass cellular agriculture, sustainable environment, biocontrol, food development of underutilised indigenous fruits and nuts, screening of microorganisms for new antibiotics, flagrances, pigments, and biogas production.

He has supervised more than five Doctoral and 31 Master’s students. He reviews manuscripts for several journals, serving on advisory boards at the faculty and university level. His h-index on Scopus is 22, and he has authored and co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter.

He received his PhD in 1994 at the University of Montpellier II in France with the focus on secondary metabolites in wheat. For a year, he visited laboratories and research institutes in Syria, Indonesia and the US. For almost two years, he held a teaching post in Ivory Coast. He then moved to South Africa in 1997 and immediately extended his field of expertise from ecophysiology to genetics and plant pathology with an interest in chemistry.

He has been involved with several Erasmus programmes, and serves on several international committees.

Prof Regnier is rated C2 by the NRF.
Dr Maxleene Sandasi has over a decade of research experience in phytomedicines. Her expertise in plant metabolomics encompasses metabolite profiling of medicinal plants using advanced chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy techniques, and the application of chemometrics for pattern recognition, biomarker identification and quality control of herbal medicines.

She has vast experience in microbiology, plant metabolomics and chemometrics, bibliometrics, vibrational spectroscopy, chromatography, hyperspectral imaging and in vivo zebrafish husbandry and bioassays in epilepsy.

Her contribution to the scientific community includes 34 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-supervision of five postgraduate students and 18 presentations at local and international conferences. She continues to serve the scientific community as the Managing Editor for the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and a reviewer for many accredited journals in her field.

She obtained a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Zimbabwe in 2002. She joined the Tshwane University of Technology where she graduated with a BTech in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2007), MTech Pharmaceutical Sciences (2009) and DTech Pharmaceutical Sciences (2013).

Dr Sandasi is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Jerry Shai is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. He has contributed to biomedical research since 2010.

His research primarily focuses on the intersection of chemistry and health sciences, with a particular emphasis on the development of innovative diagnostic tools and the exploration of medicinal plants.

His recent publications reflect a diverse range of topics, including the creation of electrochemical immunosensors for the detection of human papillomavirus biomarkers, as well as extensive reviews on the ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological properties of various plant species.

His work not only enhances the understanding of biochemical processes but also aims to address critical health challenges, particularly in the context of disease prevention and management.

Prof Shai is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Michael Shatalov is Professor Extraordinaire in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

His research interests are vibration analysis, aerospace mechanisms design, nanotechnology and nano-design, dynamics of structures, numerical ecology and transducers (ultrasonic).

He is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Mxolisi Shongwe is a Metallurgical Engineer and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). The seasoned academic, researcher and manager previously served as FEBE’s assistant dean for postgraduate, research and innovation and as head of department and section at TUT.

His multi-disciplinary research interests, range from materials development, metallurgical processes, mineral processing and renewable energy to academic programme management.
Upon completing his Bachelor of Science Engineering Honours - as the best final-year student, he continued his studies, subsequently obtaining a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master of Business Administration and a postgraduate diploma in Vocational Teacher Education from the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

He has supervised over 32 Masters and nine PhD students to completion, published multiple book chapters and over 180 refereed papers and reviewed for more than 16 ISI journals while also serving as co-editor.

He has received multiple awards for four consecutive years, including the Youngest Institutional/Faculty Researcher of the Year and the Outstanding Young Presenter in Advanced Materials, and the SciVal Elsevier Top 500 African Researcher by scholarly output between 2015 and 2020. He has given keynote addresses in several local and international conferences. He is a Board Member of the Rail Manufacturing Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator.

Prof Shongwe is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Gerald Steyn is a Research Professor and architect. He joined the Department of Architecture in 1999. His areas of research are architectural and urban history, traditional and vernacular African architecture, and contemporary African settlement dynamics.

He worked at Frei Otto’s Institute for Lightweight Surface Structures in Stuttgart, Germany after graduation. After two years at the National Building Research Institute in Pretoria, he entered practice as an architect in 1980, specialising in low-cost housing and medium density residential projects.

He holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of the Free State and a PhD from the University of Pretoria. He travels frequently throughout east and southern Africa, observing and recording both urban and rural architecture.

Prof Steyn is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Barend van Wyk is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Technology. He has a passion for technology and the demystification and communication of complex technological, scientific, educational, and management concepts in a novel and fun way.

His research interests include computational intelligence, machine learning, image processing, pattern recognition, and engineering education. He has published more than 53 peer-reviewed journal papers, 88 conference papers and 24 book chapters, and has successfully supervised/co-supervised 14 Doctoral and 31 M aster theses/dissertations. The publications he authored/co-authored were cited more than 2 268 times.

He is also passionate about innovation and creating mutually beneficial links with industry, government, and other national and international partners. He is registered with Engineering Council of South Africa as a Professional Engineer, is a member of the he Academy of Science of South Africa, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a senior member of the Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Computer Engineering, and a fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering.

He has more than 12 years of industry experience in telecommunications and aerospace engineering and has been an academic for 21 years, 12 years of which he served as acting dean and dean.

He studied at various institutions, including the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he obtained his PhD.

Prof Van Wyk is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Ilze Vermaak is a Senior Lecturer in Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and member of the South African Medical Research Council Herbal Drugs Research Unit.

She has published more than 45 papers in accredited journals in the field of herbal medicine. She is a highly experienced researcher with a Scopus h-index of 22.

She is a co-editor of the book “The South African Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Monographs of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” and co-author of six chapters. She has presented her research at more than 30 international and national conferences.

She serves as Associate Editor for the South African Journal of Botany (Elsevier). She is a subject editor for Phytochemistry Letters (Elsevier), a sub-editor for the South African Pharmaceutical Journal (MedPharm) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biosystems Engineering (Springer).

She has served on the executive committee of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa for more than 10 years in various roles, including as chairperson, and at the same time as vice-president of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa.

Her Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences was awarded in 2011 and six papers emanated from her research. She was awarded the “Young Researcher of the Year Award in the Faculty of Science” in 2011 and 2012. In 2014, she received the “Merit Award for Woman Researcher of the Year” in the Faculty of Science and the “Woman Researcher of the Year Award” in 2015. She also received publication awards in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (2014) and Pharmacology (2018) from the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences South Africa. In 2023 she received the TAU (Teaching Advancement at Universities) fellowship.

Dr Vermaak is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Mulatu Zerihun is Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Economics and Finance. He has extensive teaching and research experience of more than two decades in tertiary institutions as well as five years of industry experience.

His research interest areas are macroeconomic policy analysis, applied econometrics analysis, development macroeconomics and finance, regional economic and monetary integrations, poverty and income inequality analysis, exchange-rate dynamics and economic growth, and socioeconomic and livelihood studies. He has published widely in areas related to macroeconomics, international trade and finance, development macroeconomics, and environmental economics.

He holds an MSc in Economics from Addis Abba University, Ethiopia, a Doctor of Business Administration from the Tshwane School of Business and Society, and PhD in Economics from the University of Pretoria. Since 2014 he has been recipient of academic excellence awards in different categories. He has been serving in various institutional academic committees including the Senate Committee.

He has authored, lead-authored and co-authored more than 135 publications. Among them 86 accredited journal articles, 17 working papers, 32 conference presentations, a book, and 20 chapters in refereed books. He has supervised three PhD and 13 Master’s students to the completion and many more in the pipeline.

In addition, he has been collaborating with various international research projects and academic institutions in Africa and abroad. His research metrics on Google Scholar and other platforms such as ResearchGate and Academia.edu are in double digits which exhibits his global contributions in his field of study.

Prof Zerihun is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Wilma Augustyn is an Associate Professor: Analytical Chemistry. She obtained her D Tech in the field of metabolomics, thereby gaining extensive knowledge of chromatography and multivariate data analysis.

Her research interests include plant-insect and plant-pathogen interactions in agricultural applications, using metabolomics to identify biomarkers in plants and fungi responsible for specific protection afforded to plants. She applies a variety of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods to separate and detect secondary metabolites and employs a multidisciplinary approach to determine the bioactivity of identified biomarkers.
She has supervised several Doctoral and Master’s students, published numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals and routinely reviewed research articles for a variety of recognised journals.

She serves as Associate Editor for the South African Journal of Botany (Elsevier). She is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions and the South African Chemical Institute.

Prof Augustyn is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Rudi de Lange is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Visual Communication. He has supervised postgraduate students in graphic design and photography. He serves on the Tshwane University of Technology’s committee that evaluates research output before submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training for subsidy purposes. He furthermore does some research output sleuthing and offers presentations on predatory journals and how to avoid falling into the predatory trap.

He holds a PhD in Didactics from the University of Stellenbosch (1999) and a Master’s, and Diploma in Technology (Graphic Design) from Technikon Free State now the Central University of Technology (1993).

Prof De Lange is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Chatradari Devroop is Research Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Design. He studied music performance at the University of Durban-Westville (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal) and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, Germany.

His academic teaching career commenced at the University of Fort Hare. He later moved to the University of South Africa, then to the University of Pretoria and later to his current position at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He performs regularly with leading South African musicians in the fields of Western art music, jazz, Indian music, commercial pop and African music. He can be heard on Space in Time (Applause Marketing) and Moments (LoneTree Records).

He holds a PhD in Music Technology/Music Education from the University of Pretoria. He co-edited the book “South African Jazz Musicians Under Apartheid”. Several bursaries and music competition prizes allowed him to further his studies in the Netherlands under the private tutelage of Walter van Hauwe (Sweelinck Conservatorium, Amsterdam) and in the US.

Prof Devroop is rated C3 by the NRF.
Dr Robert Hans is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of Department of Computer Science. He has more than 22 years of lecturing experience in various levels. He also has vast experience in research and academic management.

Before joining TUT, he worked for several organisations, which include the South African Reserve Bank, Telkom and Transnet. He also started and ran a printing company for more than 10 years.

His research interests are in software engineering, artificial intelligence in the software industry, data mining especially in software engineering and institutions of higher education.

He has published two book chapters, and more than 40 research articles in national and international conferences as well as more than 15 journal research papers.

He is involved in various community engagement initiatives, and these include SITA NDP2030 Hackathon Mentees project, Sekhukhune Outreach Project and Software Project Management Award for students.

He obtained his PhD (Computer Science) in 2021, an MBL in 2009, BSc Honours in 1993 and Diploma in Computer Science in 2001.

Dr Hans has served/serves as a reviewer for the following journals: International Journal of Managing Projects in Business (Emerald); Project Leadership and Society (Elsevier); IET Software; International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management (IJISPM); and Telecommunication, Computing, Electronics and Control (TELKOMNIKA). He has also served as a reviewer of various conferences, including IEEE LaTiCE and IEEE AFRICON conferences. He was a member of the technical programme committee for LaTiCE 2017. He is an editorial board member of the International Journal of Computer-Aided Technology (IJCAx).

He is a member of Project Management Institute, Association for Information Systems and Project Management South Africa.

Dr Hans is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof David Katerere is co-Director of the CSIR/TUT Cannabis Research Centre. He is a Full Professor of pharmaceutical science and holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. He has worked in pharmaceutical and biotech practice and research for the past 25 years in four countries on three continents.

He has published over 60 journal articles and is co-editor of four books: “Ethnoveterinary Botanical Medicines” (2010), “Systems Analysis Approach for Complex Global Challenges” (2018), Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern Era (2019) and African Herbal Pharmacopiea (2025).

He is a member of advisory committees of South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Global Health Supply Chain Consortium, co-founded by the University of Michigan and University of Southern California, in the US.

Prof Katerere teaches and researches across the pharmaceutical and biotech value chain, including product development from medicinal plants (for food, nutraceuticals and medicines), clinical testing, substandard and falsified medicines/vaccines, and medicine governance. He is a past Competent Toastmaster and President of Pretoria Capital Rotary Club.

He's an experienced trainer and advisor to the pharmaceutical industry in Africa with a demonstrated history of working in research, higher education and medicine regulation. He has vast international experience with strong collaborative links in research and training, innovation and creative entrepreneurship.

Prof Katerere is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Anish Kurien is a Full Professor and is responsible for postgraduate programmes, research and innovation in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He is the Node Director of the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) at TUT.

He also serves as the Acting Director of the TUT Hub of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute of South Africa. He was the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) Research Chair, which focused on the development of an agile and open transport industry.

He graduated with a joint degree in 2012 – a DTech in Electrical Engineering at TUT and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Paris-Est, Champs-sur-Marne, France. His research interests include feature extraction and pattern recognition, mobile and wireless networks, and application of AI and machine learning approaches to various sectors of industry.

He has been awarded over R20-million in industrial and international grants by industrial partners, including Telkom SA Ltd, Nokia South Africa, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the DSI-NRF, TETA, Erasmus+ Grants, the French Embassy in South Africa, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His professional membership includes the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the largest organisation in the world dedicated to advancing technology. He has supervised over 39 postgraduate students. He has published over 100 scientific articles in journals, books, book chapters, and conference proceedings.

Prof Kurien is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Amira Osman is the DSI-NRF Chair in Spatial Transformation (Positive Change in the Built Environment). She is a Professor of Architecture in the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design. She is the Joint Coordinator of the international group CIB W104 Open Building Implementation.

Her research interests are on housing, informal settlements, alternative approaches to housing as well as a particular area of interest referred to as Open Building, a theory that underpins her teaching, research and practice – and she believes it holds a lot of the solutions to the housing crisis in South Africa, in Africa and globally.

She practiced as an architect in the Sudan and has participated in projects in South Africa, including a hostel upgrade and designs for social housing in Pretoria.

She obtained a BSc in 1988 and an MSc in 1996 both from the University of Khartoum in Sudan. She graduated with a PhD in Architecture from the University of Pretoria (UP) in 2004. She also obtained a diploma from the Institute for Housing Studies in Rotterdam in 1992.

She has worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). She has maintained strong professional links with the communities close to the campuses where she has worked.

She has extensive experience curating international events. She is also skilled at coordinating complex programmes and exhibitions in terms of design, conceptualising content, and managing diverse teams. She hosted and convened the World Congress on Housing in 2005 at UP and the Sustainable Human(e) Settlements: The Urban Challenge in 2012 at UJ.

She served as the International Union of Architects (UIA) 2014 Durban General Reporter and head of the Scientific Committee for the UIA and the South African Institute of Architects.

She is setting up a platform and thinktank as a collaborative vehicle for promoting change in conversations and practice around architecture, space and cities. She is a registered Professional Architect and the Editor of The Built Environment in Emerging Economies Book Series as well as The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities conference and book series.

Prof Osman is rated C3 by the NRF.
Dr James Magidi is a Senior Lecturer in the Geomatics Department in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. He has over 15 years of lecturing experience across various universities. He has extensive expertise in geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing training, consultancy, and research.

His research focuses on the application of geospatial technologies, including GIS and remote sensing, across diverse fields such as water resources management, biodiversity monitoring, urban science, agricultural monitoring technology, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster management. He emphasises the advanced use of techniques such as cloud computing platforms (eg, Google Earth Engine), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and spatial machine learning and deep learning (GeoAI – Geospatial Artificial Intelligence) to investigate these critical areas.

He has experience lecturing the following modules: Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Cartography, Geodesy and Map Projection, Computer Skills, Computer Applications (Programming – Python, R, JavaScript for GEE), Geography.

He holds a PhD in Geography (GIS and Remote Sensing) from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MSc in Natural Science from the University of the Western Cape, a BSc Honours in Surveying from the University of Zimbabwe, and a Vocational Teacher Training Certificate from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

He has authored more than 35 peer reviewed research and conference papers. He is registered with the South African Geomatics Council as Professional Geographical Information Science Practitioner.

Dr Magidi is rated C3 by the NRF.
Professor Anne Mason is a Professor of Fashion and Textiles and Head of the Department of Design Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Design. She is a seasoned educator with over 24 years of experience in higher education, teaching across Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Her research delves into garment sizing and fit, the socio-environmental impact of the textile industry, and decolonising fashion and textile design curricula. With a strong record of supervising six PhD and 15 Master’s students, many of whom have become distinguished academics, Mason continues to shape the future of fashion research. She is currently guiding four PhD and one master’s students.

She serves in many fashion and textile-related professional bodies, including the International Textile and Apparel Association, the Design Educators Forum of South Africa, and the South African Association of Consumer Sciences. She has several research publications some of which have been delivered at national and international conferences.

With a strong record of supervising six PhD and 15 master’s students, many of whom have become distinguished academics, Prof Mason continues to shape the future of fashion research. She is currently guiding 4 PhD and 1 master’s student.

Prof Mason is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Khathutshelo Nephawe is Research Professor and Head of Department of Animal Science. He worked as Scientific Manager: Livestock Research at the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and as a Senior Researcher in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the Agricultural Research Council.

He has served on various boards including that of Onderstepoort Biological Products, the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), Madzivhandila College of Agriculture’s Advisory Board, Potchefstroom College of Agriculture’s Advisory Board, and the South African Society for Animal Sciences’ council.

He is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP. He is a member of the South African Society for Animal Sciences.

He obtained his PhD degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, in the US under the Fulbright Scholarship. In addition to an MSc in Agriculture in Animal Science from University of Free State (UFS), BSc in Agriculture (Hons) in Animal Science (cum laude) from UFS and a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Limpopo, he holds a Master’s in Business Leadership from UNISA’s Graduate School of Business Leadership.

Prof Nephawe is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Yvonne Paul is an Associate Professor and Acting Assistant Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Department of Sport, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences at the Faculty of Science. She has been a member of the faculty since 1999.

Her research interests are diabetes mellitus and in particular the efficacy of exercise as a modality of treatment for diabetes mellitus. She is a registered biokineticist and has served on the board of the Biokinetics Association of South Africa. She is the recipient of the “Woman Researcher of the Year” for her faculty at the 2019/2020 institutional Academic Excellence Awards.

She holds a PhD in Sport Science and Biokinetics and a Master’s in Sport Physiology from the University of Pretoria. She also graduated with an MBA from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Her undergraduate was completed at the University of Durban Westville (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal).

Prof Paul is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Olawale Popoola is the DSI-NRF Chair in Energy Solutions for Inclusive and Sustainable Societies. He is also the Director of the Centre for Energy and Electric Power.

He is a Full Professor in Power and Energy Systems in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Research and Innovation Professor at TUT. He is a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional and a member of the Association of Energy Engineers.

His research interests include energy management, energy and behaviour, renewable and sustainable energy, energy optimisation in process systems, the application of power electronics in power systems, and new materials development.

With a Scopus h-index of 27, Prof Popoola is author/co-author of more than 200 scientific publications, that is articles, chapters in books and author of a book.

He counts accolades and achievements locally and internationally, innovative product development in new materials and load management with the emphasis on proficient operation/utilisation, effective management, and cost savings as high points in his career.

These include a commendation letter from Weatherford Headquarters, Ravenna, Italy at the earliest stage of his career; various institutional awards; a certificate of recognition by the Department of Science and Innovation in the invention of South African Patent No 2016/04429 as well as grants/project funds.

Prof Popoola is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Patricia Popoola leads the research and development platform, Sustainable Energy: Energy Solutions for Sustainable Living. She is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

Her research interests are in advanced engineering materials and surface technologies. Her research is focussed on the creation of new processes, products or systems through the development of advanced multifunctional materials. She makes use of emerging state-of-the-art technologies to design and fabricate novel materials.

She has been listed among the few women who made it to the Top 500 Researchers in Africa by Scholarly Output between 2015 and 2020.

She is author/co-author of more than 400 journal articles in high-impact journals and conference proceedings, and of more than 30 book chapters. As a researcher, her publications have shown dedication to research and development in the engineering field.

She has made a lot of impact with her publications, which have been acknowledged both locally and internationally. Currently, she has produced 30 Masters’ and 20 Doctoral degree graduates. Her students are recipients of numerous academic excellence awards. Mentorship of students remains her prime objective.

She obtained her BSc (Honours) degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Metallurgical Engineering at the Tshwane University of Technology.

Prof Popoola is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Edward Rankhumise is a Professor and the Associate Dean of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

He is a scholar in the areas of entrepreneurship and human resource development. His research interests are entrepreneurship and business administration. He has published extensively in various journals and presented at numerous conferences.

He is currently supervising postgraduate students in the faculty. He also conducted entrepreneurship classes at Saxion University during international week in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Prof Rankhumise is rated C3 by the NRF.
Bryan Robinson is the Academic Section Head and Senior Lecturer in International Business and Leadership and Sustainability at the Tshwane School for Business and Society. He is also the President of the Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa).

He is currently active in research pertaining to corporate community engagement; the social license to operate; the “Just Transition” and values-driven leadership. He has led and co-edited the largest survey on business ethics entitled “The Global Survey of Business Ethics 2022-2024 (GSBE): Teaching, Research and Training”. He has published two books, several journal articles and conference papers, and presented papers at numerous international conferences on business ethics and international business-related topics.

He is also an ardent researcher of China’s significance in Africa and business and society within the development context of Africa. He has explored China’s investment in Africa from socio-economic development and corporate citizenship perspectives having co-authored a book on China’s engagement in Africa, published by Palgrave in 2018, entitled “China’s Impact on the African Renaissance – The Baobab Grows”; and in 2022 sole-authored a book entitled “African Special Economic Zones: Lessons and Investments from China” published by Palgrave Macmillan.

He previously lectured Business in Society and International Business at the Nelson Mandela University Business School. He obtained his DBA from the Nelson Mandela University Business School and MBL from the Unisa School of Business Leadership.

He has travelled extensively in Africa for research purposes and was awarded the 2018 APP/BRICS Mobility Grant to travel to Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia to conduct research on Chinese infrastructural projects and Chinese investments in African Special Economic Zones; and the 2020 NIHSS/BRICS Mobility Grant to travel to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti and China to investigate the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative in Africa.

Robinson is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Therese Roux is a Full Professor in the Department of Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Sport Management.

Her research interests are digital out-of-home media, alternative creative media, and sustainable marketing practices. She has a blend of academic expertise and hands-on industry experience garnered both locally and globally.

One of her core strengths lies in fostering invaluable relationships within industry, which she leverages to spearhead projects that not only advance academia but also make meaningful contributions to the community and the industry at large.

She has a PhD in Marketing and a Master of Commerce in Marketing from the University of Pretoria, and a BCom Honours in Marketing and a BCom in Law and Business Management from North-West University.

Prof Roux is rated C2 by the NRF.
Prof Owen Seda is Associate Professor in Department of Performing Arts where he has also served as head of department. His research interests are in African performance studies, postcolonial African drama and theatre and the construction of identities, cultural and creative industries of the Global South, drama theory, and literature and criticism.

He has published over 60 academic journal articles and book chapters, co-edited three books. He has also participated in numerous academic conferences and theatre festivals in Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. He serves on the editorial boards of five international academic journals and has also participated in numerous academic conferences and theatre festivals in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the US.

He has taught at the University of Zimbabwe, Africa University, the University of Botswana and the University of Pretoria. He has been a Commonwealth Scholar and a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence in the Department of Theatre and New Dance, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

He is also a Commonwealth Scholar and joint recipient of a Fulbright Alumni Initiatives Awards grant with the late Professor William H Morse II. He is the current President of the English Academy of Southern Africa.

Prof Seda is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Jacques Snyman is Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering. He has lecturing experience stretching 32 years with specialisation in the fields of water engineering (hydraulics, hydrology, water and wastewater treatment technology); water recourse planning and management; and environmental engineering (solid waste management and environmental impact assessment and management).

He held the Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA) Chair in Wastewater and Solid Waste Management. His research interests are water resource management and solid waste management. He has a DTech in Civil Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology.

Prof Snyman is rated C3 by the NRF.
Prof Clemence Tarirai is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and leads the Nanomedicine Manufacturing, Biopharmaceutics and Diagnostics Research Group.

His research focuses on applied nanotechnologies for drug, vaccine, and nutrient delivery, emphasising the design and characterization of multifunctional micro- and nanoparticle dosage forms using innovative bioenhancers and biomaterials.

He has presented his work at over 60 peer-reviewed conferences and published extensively across pharmaceutical sciences, nanomedicine, and public health. He chairs the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Research Ethics Committee (REC) and the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Science’s REC.

As a committed educator and mentor, he externally moderates and examines undergraduate and postgraduate work in pharmaceutics, nanomedicine, and public health at various institutions. He also serves as a reviewer for academic journals and funding bodies such as the National Research Foundation and South African Medical Research Council.

He holds a Doctor of Technology in Pharmaceutical Sciences, alongside two Master's degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Public Health, and a Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Prof Tarirai is rated C3 by the NRF.
Professor Zeleke Worku is a Professor of Statistics and Sociology. He is a career statistician and service delivery specialist. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of the Free State and a PhD in Sociology from Aalborg University in Denmark.

His key research interests include service delivery assessment, project management, social entrepreneurship, small, medium and micro enterprises, econometrics, monitoring and evaluation, statistical data mining, biostatistics, epidemiology and public health.

He has supervised postgraduate level students in various South African universities and has published extensively both nationally and internationally.

Prof Worku is rated C3 by the NRF.

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