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. |