NRF 25 years: Kamvelihle Masomelele Tabata

This year, the NRF is celebrating a major milestone in our history as we commemorate 25 years of Research, Innovation, Impact and Partnerships. It always gives us great joy to share the accomplishments and impact of the many students and researchers we have supported during various stages of their careers. We thank all participants for submitting their stories and hope you enjoy reading about their journey with the NRF.

Mr Kamvelihle Masomelele Tabata is a PhD student in Structural Glaciology at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town. He received funding from the NRF for his PhD studies.

How did your journey start?

My journey began back in the rural areas of Engcobo, where I attended Bashee JSS for my junior studies. I learned the importance of education, especially for the disadvantaged, and how it can liberate and change one’s material conditions as well as advance the needs of the society one belongs to.

By the time I arrived at the University of Cape Town as an undergraduate, these principles were already deeply instilled in me. I was born and raised in a village in the Eastern Cape where drug abuse and hopelessness are prevalent. These conditions motivated me to focus on education as a means to change my status quo. I have been involved in activism from a young age, and upon entering university, I continued this path by joining the Fees Must Fall movement and other campus activism activities to voice the inequalities in higher education.

I believe that given opportunities like the ones I received from the companies that funded my studies and the Eastern Cape Department of the Premier, many black South Africans can excel academically. Of course, this is not an easy journey due to factors such as culture shock and the transition from homogeneous Black communities to the diverse environments of higher education.

Despite these challenges, many of us strive to excel. I am grateful to the University of Cape Town’s Postgraduate Office and the National Research Foundation (NRF) for providing opportunities to Black students to engage in postgraduate studies. In the past, such participation was rare, but now we see an increasing number of local students continuing their education at this level. Despite the lack of mentorship and role models in the sector, many students are advancing the agenda of continuing their studies. We remain hopeful that the future will bring more opportunities and motivation for South Africans to pursue higher education, supported by initiatives like the NRF scholarships I was fortunate to receive.

To quote the revolutionary Prof. Mangaliso Sobukwe, “To us, education means service to Africa.” These words inspire us to encourage those who follow us to pursue their studies, particularly postgraduate studies, because education requires a collective effort to advance the interests of our country. Amandla!

How has your affiliation with the NRF impacted your studies/career?

This is my first time receiving NRF funding. In 2024, I received a full-cost scholarship to pursue a PhD in Structural Glaciology under the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) on the Structural Glaciological Analysis of North-Western Antarctic Ice Shelf (SANAS).

What is your area of expertise?

Currently, my research focuses on simulating the non-linear processes occurring within the Antarctic ice sheet and ice shelves. More specifically, I utilise the Autonomous phase-sensitive Radio Echo Sounding (ApRES) technique to analyse fluctuations in ice thickness across different locations within the Fimbulisen Ice Shelf, potentially attributed to basal melting.

Additionally, I contribute to the development of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tailored for monitoring velocity variations at various sites on the shelf.

Why is your work/studies important?

The principal impact of this research is the creation of the high-resolution small-scale computer model of the Jelbart Ice Shelf west of the Blaskimen Ice Rise where the next larger calving event is expected to take place. The latter will be used for highly accurate structural glaciological computer simulations to extract detailed information on the current state of the shelves and study the damage mechanisms leading to the progressive loss of structural integrity.

The data obtained will help to investigate (1) the propagation of major crevasses leading ultimately to regional ice shelf calving events and (2) the significance and the underlying process causing local ice edge instability and crumbling. Aspect (2) will feed into practical engineering applications of this research informing the South African Government Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment with regards to the risks attached to the continued annual use of the currently used ship mooring and supply offloading sites on the Fimbul Ice Shelf for the relief of the SANAE IV base.

Lastly, the research will add to the general – currently scarce – body of knowledge of the Antarctic ice shelves and increase the levels of awareness among policymakers about the effects of global warming in Antarctica. National governments and global warming environmentalists urgently need to have much more detailed information on the rate of melt and calving loss from the shelves to plan to mitigate the extreme risks and events associated with ocean warming and sea level rise.

What are some of your proudest academic achievements?

Achieving my Master’s degree with distinction.

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