The President presents the Order of Mapungubwe (Bronze) to Prof. Thokozani Majozi (left) and the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) to Prof. Ari Sitas (right).

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, has congratulated the scientists who received awards at the national orders event in Pretoria on 25 April.

President Cyril Ramaphosa bestowed the Order of Mapungubwe on Professors Thokozani Majozi, Malik MAaza and Ari Sitas for excellence in research that has helped to transform people’s lives. Mr William Smith received the Order of the Baobab (Silver) for his outstanding contribution to teaching and demystifying mathematics and science.

Kubayi-Ngubane said that Smith’s television sessions had helped her master science and maths at school, describing his catch-up sessions as “brilliant”.

Prof. Majozi, the Chairperson of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Board and a professor at the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, received the Order of Mapungubwe (Bronze) for his outstanding contribution to science, specifically the development of a novel mathematical technique for near-zero-effluent batch chemical facilities that enables the reuse of wastewater.

The chemicals industry is one of the world’s worst water polluters, and Majozi’s research has contributed to long-term water security through the development of sustainable water management techniques that have been taken up by industry.

Prof. MAaza, who works at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences, was recognised with the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) for his pioneering work in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Prof. Sitas of the University of the Western Cape’s Sociology Department received the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) for his exceptional contribution to social science scholarship and progressive policy making.

President Ramaphosa bestows the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) on Prof. Malik MAaza (left) and the Order of the Baobab (Silver) on Mr William Smith (right).

“It gives me great pride to see the calibre of leaders being honoured, particularly South Africans who have made immeasurable contributions within the national system of innovation. We applaud this well-deserved recognition of our scientists,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.

Source: Department: Science and Technology