by Phumla Mkize
Serial winners, high income generators, debutantes and headline hoggers were part of the glitz and drama at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Academic Excellence Awards.
The Awards, which recognise the outstanding achievements of academics, researchers, and Master’s and Doctoral students in the 2024-2025 period, were held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) International Convention Centre, in Pretoria on 5 November 2025.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Principal, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, also launched a bold, new vision for TUT – that of “An Entrepreneurial University of Technology, Shaping the Future”. This vision builds on the current one and ushers a new era for the institution for the next decade.
This year’s awards theme, “a celebration of the endless quest for academic excellence” was underscored by the calibre of winners, some of whom were no strangers to the ultimate annual recognition afforded to researchers, academics and students by the institution.
Prof Anish Kurien, the Director of the French South African Institute of Technology, (better known as F’SATI) and the Acting Director of the TUT AI Hub of the AI Institute of South Africa – whose institutes each won a gong last year – was back in the spotlight to accept two individual honours.
Prof Kurien was awarded “External Research Income Earner of the Year”, up against TUT’s highest ranked researcher Prof Alvaro Viljoen for the honour. Prof Kurien was also recognised for his National Research Foundation (NRF) re-rating in the year under review. He was one of 10 researchers who either received new ratings or were re-rated.
He was in good company among those ascending the stage more than once on the night. Freshly minted doctoral graduates Dr Abdul Maluleke was awarded the Faculty of Management Sciences “2024 Lecturer of the Year” and Dr Regan Dunne the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) “2024 Lecturer of the Year”. They squared off for the overall “2024 Lecturer of the Year”, which went to Dr Dunne.
Other winners of the “2024 Lecturer of the Year” (Faculties) are Caitlin Greenberg (Faculty of Arts and Design), Lindelani Mbamale-Mathobo (Faculty of Economics and Finance), Prof Dee Khosa (Faculty of Humanities), Dr Lisa Repsold (Faculty of Science), and Dr Annah Segooa (Faculty of ICT).
New additions to the professoriate also took centre stage at the awards. Sport Scientist Prof Alliance Kubayi – up against ICT expert Prof Topside Mathonsi for the honour – was awarded the “Emerging Researcher of the Year”.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke with
Amelia Vuyokazi Rorwana
who received the “Service
Beyond the Call of Duty” award.
Research Capacity Builder of the Year went to Dr Ernest Mashaba from the Department of Educational Foundation in the Faculty of Humanities who took on serial innovator from the Faculty of ICT, Prof Pius Owolawi. While the Innovator of the Year was received by Prof Anne Mastamet Mason of the Faculty of Arts and Design who was up against Dr Sadiq Abiola Raji from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
The award recognising TUT’s centres, institutes, technology stations and incubators (CITSIs) saw the Faculty of Management Science’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) giving FEBE – set on dominating this category – a run for their money. At last year’s awards, this category was a battle between FEBE’s CITSIs with F’SATI going home with the honour. Despite CED’s best efforts, the award went to the Centre for Energy and Electrical Power, remaining at FEBE.
Executive Dean of in the Faculty of ICT Dr Etienne van Wyk, External
Research Income Earner of the Year Prof Anish Kurien and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Technology Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka.
Last year’s winner of the Newsmaker of the Year award, the TUT AI Hub was again nominated in the same category – and last year’s nominee the Institute for the Future of Work (IFoW) also made the shortlist. However, it was the TUT-CSIR Cannabis and Hemp Research Hub that prevailed on the night for garnering TUT’s positive media coverage in the year under review. IFoW received the Merit Award in recognition of its hard work.
The Best Master’s Student accolade went to Makgwantsha Mashiachidi from FEBE, while now Dr Keletso Lebesana from the Faculty of Science, was recognised as Best Doctoral Student.
Dr Priscilla Tshisikhawe Nesamvuni was awarded Curriculum Development Practitioner of the Year, while Nico Basson received Instructional Designer of the Year.
Lynne Malan was bestowed the Student Development Support Practitioner of the Year, while Lorika Kruger took home the Employability Practitioner of the Year accolade.
Amelia Rorwana received the “Service Beyond the Call of Duty” for managing the TUT University Capacity Development Programme with dedication and tremendous impact since 2018.
TUT also paid homage to researchers, academics and staff who were recognised externally for their pursuit of excellence in the year under review. These awards, presented by Prof Maluleke, recognised five individuals four of whom are from the Faculty of Science and one from the Office of the VC and Principal.
Lecturer of the Year Dr Regan Dunne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for
Teaching, Learning and Technology Prof Barend van Wyk and
runner-up Dr Abdul Maluleke.
Employability Practitioner of the Year Lorika Kruger with Senior
Director for Higher Education Development and Support
Dr Mumthaz Banoobhai.
Dr Amanda-Lee Ezra Manicum of the Faculty of Science, who received the NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers. Dr Maxleene Sandasi who received the Bronze SAMRC [South African Medical Research Council] Scientific Merit Award. Prof David Katerere who received the Silver SAMRC Scientific Merit Award. David Dimpho Xaba who is one of Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans for 2024 and a winner in the agriculture category. Deputy VC for Teaching, Learning and Technology Prof Barend van Wyk was admitted as a Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering in 2024.
The following researchers were recognised for new or re-evaluated NRF rankings:
- Prof Petrus Francois Le Roux - New (Y2)
- Dr Yanga Majola – New (Y2)
- Prof Tebogo Rakgogo – New (Y2)
- Prof Zeleke Worku – New (C3)
- Dr Takalani Mpofu – New (Y2)
- Dr Khethiwe Mtshali – New(Y2)
- Prof Ilze Vermaak – New (C2)
- Dr Henry Mason – Upgraded rating (C2)
- Prof Jacob Mofokeng, who has left TUT, New (C3).
To read Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke’s speech at the Academic Excellence Awards 2024-2025 please click here.
Prof Mandla Msimanga with Best Doctoral Student Dr Keletso Lebesana.
Innovator of the Year Prof Anne Mastamet Mason.
Emerging Researcher of the Year Prof Alliance Kubayi.
Winners of the Academic Excellence Awards 2024-2025.