South Africa’s Leading Scholars Inducted into the Academy of Science of South Africa in its 30th Anniversary Year

2026 marks a significant milestone for the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), as it celebrates 30 years of advancing science and scholarship for the benefit of society. In this landmark year, the Academy welcomed a new cohort of distinguished scholars and scientists into its ranks, with 78 exceptional individuals formally inaugurated as Members at ASSAf’s Annual Awards Ceremony on 29 October 2026.

The ceremony brought together Mr Daan du Toit, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Dr Mlungisi Cele, Director-General of the DSTI, Prof Thokozani Majozi, President of ASSAf, Prof Himla Soodyall, Executive Officer of ASSAf and Dr Phil Mjwara, ASSAf Member, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of South Africa to UNESCO.

ASSAf, the official academy of science for South Africa, recognises and celebrates scholarly excellence across all fields of academic endeavour. Election to Membership represents one of the highest honours a South African scholar can achieve, acknowledging both outstanding research contributions and dedicated service to society.

Each year, new Members are elected through a rigorous peer-review process conducted by the full Academy Membership. Collectively, ASSAf Members embody South Africa’s intellectual leadership and play a vital role in advancing evidence-based knowledge for the public good.

The addition of the 2026 cohort brings the total number of ASSAf Members to 843.

The newly elected Members are:

Honorary Foreign Associate

In addition to welcoming its new Members, ASSAf is pleased to announce the election of Prof Tan Tieniu as an Honorary Foreign Associate Member of the Academy. This distinguished category recognises outstanding scientists and scholars based outside South Africa who have a significant connection to, or have made an important contribution to, the country’s scientific and scholarly landscape.

Prof Tan is an internationally distinguished scientist whose extraordinary academic achievements and sustained global impact are matched by a deep commitment to advancing science, higher education and technological development in South Africa.

Tamiru Abiye

Tamiru Abiye is Professor of Hydrogeology in the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Rasheed Adeleke

Rasheed Adeleke is Professor of Microbiology and DSI/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Phytomicrobiome and Circular Agriculture at North-West University.

James Allison

James Allison is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Statistics and the Centre for Augmented Intelligence and Data Science at the University of South Africa.

Kingsley Ayisi

Kingsley Ayisi holds the SARChI Research Chair in Agroecosystems, Innovation and Society Nexus at the University of Limpopo.

Justin Bradfield

Justin Bradfield is Associate Professor at the Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg.

Roelof Burger

Roelof Burger is Director of the Centre for Global Change and Professor in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at North-West University.

Felicity Burt

Felicity Burt is Professor and SARChI Research Chair in Emerging Viral Zoonoses in the Division of Virology at the University of the Free State and the National Health Laboratory Service.

Willie Chinyamurindi

Willie Chinyamurindi is Professor in the Department of Applied Management, Administration and Ethical Leadership at the University of Fort Hare.

Anil Chuturgoon

Anil Chuturgoon is Professor and Chair of Medical Biochemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.P

Daryl Codron

Daryl Codron is Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free State.

Nuraan Davids

Nuraan Davids is Professor of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University, where she currently serves as Chair of the department.

Sinead Delany‑Moretlwe

Sinead Delany‑Moretlwe is Professor of Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of the Witwatersrand and Director of Research at Wits RHI.

Langelihle Dlamini

Langelihle Dlamini is Head of the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Johannesburg and a specialist in materials chemistry.

Shengzhi Du

Shengzhi Du is SARChI Chair in Next‑Generation Telemanipulation and Teleoperation Platforms and Full Professor at Tshwane University of Technology.

Timothy Dube

Timothy Dube is Full Professor of Geospatial Science and Director of the Institute for Water Studies at the University of the Western Cape.

Blassan George

Blassan George is Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Johannesburg, specialising in phytochemistry, medicinal plants, and photodynamic therapy for cancer

Penny Govender

Penny Govender is Full Professor of Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg and Director of the Research Capacity Development Unit in the Postgraduate School.

Sudan Hansraj

Sudan Hansraj is Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal, specialising in general relativity and mathematical physics.

Joanne Hardman

Joanne Hardman is Professor in the School of Education at the University of Cape Town.

Trevor Hill

Trevor Hill is Professor of Geography and Academic Leader of Research in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Bettine Jansen van Vuuren

Bettine Jansen van Vuuren is Professor and Registrar at the University of Johannesburg.

Denis Kalumba

Denis Kalumba is Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town.

Jonathan Klaaren

Jonathan Klaaren is Professor in the School of Law and at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER), University of the Witwatersrand.

Tamara Kredo

Tamara Kredo is Director of the Health Systems Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council and Professor Extra‑ordinary at Stellenbosch University.

Sheena Kuttan Pillai

Sheena Kuttan Pillai is Full Professor and DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Wastewater Treatment and Reuse at the Durban University of Technology.

Elmien Lesch

Elmien Lesch is a Professor of Psychology at Stellenbosch University.

Zané Lombard

Zané Lombard is the Roche Research Chair in Precision Medicine & Genomics at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand.

Malik Maaza

Malik Maaza is a Professor at the University of South Africa and holds the UNESCO UNISA-iThemba LABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies.

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi is a Professor of Climate Change, Food Systems, and Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Executive Director of the UNU Hub on REACH-AFRICA at the University of Pretoria.

Nonhlangabezo Mabuba

Nonhlangabezo Mabuba is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Sciences and Acting Director of the Centre for Nanomaterial Science Research at the University of Johannesburg.

Niren Maharaj

Niren Ray Maharaj is Full Professor and Academic Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of the Free State.

Linda Malan

Linda Malan is a Professor in Nutrition at the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University.

Admire Mare

Admire Mare is Full Professor and Head of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

Phatu Mashela

Phatu Mashela is Research Chair in Regenerative Agricultural Remedies and Senior Professor at the University of Limpopo.

Sarah Meiring

Sarah Muriel Meiring is Full Professor and Principal Scientist in the Department of Haematology and Cell Biology at the University of the Free State and National Health Laboratory Service.

Aletta Millen

Aletta Millen is Professor in Physiology, Assistant Dean: Research, and Interim Director of the Wits BioHub at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Mathildah Mokgatle

Mathildah Mokgatle is Professor of Public Health, Vice Dean of the School of Health Care Sciences, and Head of Public Health at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.

Ara Monadjem

Ara Monadjem is Head of Department and full Professor of Zoology at the University of Pretoria.

Neo Morojele

Neo Morojele is Professor of Psychology and Head of Department at the University of Johannesburg.

Patience Mthunzi-Kufa

Patience Mthunzi-Kufa is Head/Lead of the Centre for Photonics at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Tricia Naicker

Tricia Naicker is Full Professor and Director of the Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Ryan Nefdt

Ryan Nefdt is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cape Town.

Fulufhelo Nemavhola

Fulufhelo Nemavhola is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Engagement at Durban University of Technology.

Eftychia Nikolaidou

Eftychia Nikolaidou is Professor and Head of the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town.

Patrick Njobeh

Patrick Njobeh is a Full Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg.

Nnamdi Nwulu

Nnamdi Nwulu is a Professor of Sustainable Cyber-Physical Engineering Systems at the University of Johannesburg.

Farai Nyabadza

Farai Nyabadza is a Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Johannesburg.

Martin Nyaga

Martin Nyaga is a Full Professor in the Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology at the University of the Free State.

Catherine Orrell

Catherine Orrell is the Unit Director of the HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council and a Full Professor at the University of Cape Town.

Michael Pillay

Michael Pillay is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Aletta Prinsloo

Aletta Elizabeth Prinsloo is a Professor of Physics at the University of Johannesburg.

Sam Ramaila

Sam Ramaila is Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg.

Jianwei Ren

Jianwei Ren is Full Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute for Applied Materials in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria.

Karen Renaud

Karen Renaud is a Reader at the University of Strathclyde and a Visiting Professor at Rhodes University.

Anthea Rhoda

Anthea Rhoda is Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of the Free State.

Benjamin Rosman

Benjamin Rosman is Professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and founding Director of the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Puleng Segalo

Puleng Segalo is the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair and Professor of Psychology at the University of South Africa.

Sa’diyya Shaikh

Sa’diyya Shaikh is Professor in the Department for the Study of Religions and Director of the Centre for Contemporary Islam at the University of Cape Town.

Tanusha Singh

Tanusha Singh is the Master of Public Health Coordinator at the University of Johannesburg.

Sudesh Sivarasu

Sudesh Sivarasu is the DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Biomedical Engineering Innovation at the University of Cape Town.

Benjamin Smart

Benjamin Smart is a Full Professor at the University of Johannesburg and Director of the Centre for Philosophy of Epidemiology, Medicine and Public Health.

Claire Spottiswoode

Claire Spottiswoode is the Pola Pasvolsky Chair in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town and Co-Director of the Max Planck–UCT Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution.

Renee Street

Renée Street is Director of the Environment & Health Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council and a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg.

Lagouge Tartibu

Lagouge Tartibu is Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Johannesburg.

Donrich Thaldar

Donrich Thaldar is Full Professor of Law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas is Professor in the Department of Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria.

Christi van der Westhuizen

Christi van der Westhuizen is Professor of Sociology at the University of the Western Cape.

Cornelis van Walbeek

Cornelis van Walbeek is Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town.

Anna-Mart van Wyk

Anna-Mart van Wyk is Professor of International Relations in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg.

Jo-Ansie van Wyk

Jo-Ansie van Wyk is Research Professor in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa.

Gert van Zyl

Gert van Zyl is Professor in the Division of Medical Virology at Stellenbosch University and Principal Pathologist at the National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg.

Mariza Vorster

Mariza Vorster is Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Nicola Wagner

Nicola Wagner is Professor of Geology and Director of the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Integrated Mineral and Energy Resource Analysis (CIMERA) at the University of Johannesburg.

Adam West

Adam West is Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town.

Quentin Williams

Quentin Williams is Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research at the University of the Western Cape.

Caradee Wright

Caradee Wright is Chief Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council and Professor at the University of Pretoria.

Abdullahi Yusuf

Abdullahi Yusuf is Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria.

Caliphs Zvinowanda

Caliphs Zvinowanda is Professor in the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Johannesburg.