Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology, Prof Topside Mathonsi, obtained the coveted TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher at the National Science and Technology Forum-South32 (NSTF-South32) Awards.
Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology, Prof Topside Mathonsi
The award recognises his work in growing clever applied sciences that leverage AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to guard essential assets, together with water, agriculture and important infrastructure.
Prof Mathonsi was additionally a finalist for the Management Award for his contributions to expertise and innovation-related actions other than analysis.
The awards had been held on 16 July 2026, below the theme “Healthy Ageing”, consistent with the United Nations’ proclamation of 2021-2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing.
Reflecting on the honour, Prof Mathonsi described the award as a shared achievement reasonably than a person accomplishment. “I’m deeply honoured and humbled to have obtained this prestigious recognition. Although the award bears my identify, I don’t regard it as a private achievement alone. It represents the collective effort, encouragement, collaboration and assist of many individuals who’ve walked this journey with me.
“Importantly, it jogs my memory of the accountability that comes with recognition: to stay dedicated to moral, related and impactful analysis that contributes to institutional improvement, nationwide priorities and the development of society,” he stated.
Congratulating Prof Mathonsi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, recommended his dedication and keenness. “This award demonstrates your exceptional contribution to your field. As a University of Technology, it is in our DNA to produce cutting-edge research and problem-solving innovation. This award affirms TUT’s unwavering commitment to research excellence,” she stated.
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) had a powerful exhibiting at the awards. Prof Alvaro Viljoen was a finalist for the Lifetime Award. Prof Viljoen, who’s the DSTI-NRF Chair in Phytomedicine below the auspices of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI), is recognised for his work in advancing secure and high quality natural medicines to strengthen SA’s bioeconomy.
Prof Raymond Jansen, Full Professor of Zoology and Ecology in the Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Science, was a finalist for the Communication Award. He is famend for remodeling cutting-edge pangolin analysis into highly effective public consciousness and anti-trafficking motion, serving to to guard pangolins, that are amongst the world’s most endangered and trafficked mammals.
Dr Papu-Zamxaka congratulated the finalists and nominees for his or her impactful contribution to science, engineering, expertise and innovation.
TUT earned a complete of seven nominations this yr. Dr Nangamso Nyangiwe, a Lecturer in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, was nominated for the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher. Full Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Director of the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), Prof Anish Kurien, was a nominee in two classes – the Science for Diplomacy Award and the Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation.
