NRF Youth Month 2025: Nomthandazo Precious Sibiya-Dlomo

The NRF supports the growth of the next generation of researchers and scholars to sustain South Africa’s knowledge enterprise. June is Youth Month, and this year the NRF is celebrating the youth who are shaping tomorrow through research today. We thank all participants for sharing their stories with us.

Ms Nomthandazo Precious Sibiya-Dlomo is a Doctoral student in Chemical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology. She has received funding from the NRF for her entire postgraduate journey. She is also a recipient of a 2023 NRF Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers.

How did your journey start?

I hail from the rural region of Umbumbulu in KwaZulu-Natal, where I was raised by my grandparents. I attended Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School. My community lacked infrastructure and access to clean water; hence, I recognised the importance of pursuing studies that would enable me to contribute solutions to our nation.

I completed my BTech in Chemical Engineering and my Master’s of Engineering at the Durban University of Technology, where I am also enrolled for my PhD.

Initially, the primary objective was to attain financial success, as we relied on my grandparents’ grant. Ultimately, I cultivated a passion for research during my BTech courses. I resolved that this is the moment to assist South Africa in addressing issues pertaining to my community’s scarcity of fresh water.

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

For B-Tech studies, I was awarded an NRF Honours and Final year B-Tech Bursary for 2018. For Master’s (2020-2022), I was awarded an NRF Postgraduate Scholarship.

The availability of these monies alleviated financial burdens for my spouse, Mr Khanyisani Dlomo, enabling me to attend to my own needs. I did not have to concern myself with transportation costs or meal options during my time on campus.

I successfully purchased an electronic gadget, obtained a learner’s permit, and subsequently paid for my driving lessons. I then successfully obtained my code 10 driving licence.  These monies also enabled me to donate to my grandmother’s burial and her unveiling ceremony.

I am presently awarded the NRF 2023: Thuthuka, which immediately qualifies me for the NRF’s yearly awards. Years elapsed without any steadiness in my life or employment: The NRF Thuthuka Scholarship helped in preparations for my wedding and enabled me to acquire land for constructing a home for my children.  As a full-time student, these monies also assisted me in covering aftercare expenses for my daughter, Ongeziwe.

I received the 2023 NRF Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers. 

What is your research focus/area of expertise?

From 2020 to date, I have acquired more than five years’ experience in research that focuses on material synthesis, characterisation, nanotechnology, wastewater treatment, remediation and polymer technology.  

I am working on the project entitled Reduction of Heavy Metals from Industrial Effluent Using Hybrid-Adsorbents, which aims at developing a novel absorbent with recoverability potential for removing heavy metals from wastewater.

The novel adsorbents are created by immobilising magnetised sugarcane bagasse, banana peels, or orange peels with microalgae for the removal of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) ions from industrial effluent. The crystal structure, surface morphology, elemental compositions, and size are investigated using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyser, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively.

The relevant prediction models are being developed using the hybrid bio-sorbents’ characteristics, adsorption capacities, isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson isotherms), and adsorption kinetics (pseudo-second order and pseudo-first order).

How is your research helping to shape a better future?

My PhD research centres on the treatment of water and wastewater via engineered biomaterials, situated within the domains of engineering and environmental sciences.

My research aims to identify solutions for reducing contaminants in discharging water bodies and aims to benefit the world by addressing Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 2: Zero Hunger, 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 14: Life Below Water.

Being a young researcher often means juggling numerous responsibilities and expectations. How do you stay motivated and/or balanced?

Parenting a six-month-old child and an eight-year-old girl has numerous problems. My children inspire me, as our household motto is to persist and endeavour until we attain our goals. It is time for us to serve as role models for our children, in contrast to our own experiences of admiring distant role models. Having a life partner like Mr Dlomo facilitates my circumstances, as he will care for our children in my absence. 

Having exceptional supervisors (Prof Rathilal and Dr Mahlangu-Monama) is one of the aspects I greatly appreciate; they are present at every milestone of my life. Whenever I encounter difficulties, their doors are always open, not only for work-related matters but also for personal concerns.

What has been your proudest achievement to date?

I earned a Bachelor of Technology degree with distinction (cum laude) in 2018, and a Master’s of Engineering (MEng) degree with cum laude and the Dean’s Commendation of Excellence in 2022.

I further received two prizes in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment for 2022: (1) Best Graduating; and (2) Master’s Student of the Year (Platinum category).

I am a recipient in the female category of the Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers at the 2023 National Research Foundation Awards. I also received the International Young Talents from Africa Prize at the 2024 Eni Award, and the 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Young Talents in South Africa.

I have written seven journal publications, all associated with DUT, and presented six conference papers at both local and international conferences, with Google citations totalling 226, an h-index of 6, and an i10-index of 5.

In 2021, I took part in the Erasmus student exchange program, where I spent five months at the University of Valladolid, Spain. I have collaborated with the Water Research Commission (WRC) while doing my Master’s research.

I am part of DUT’s academic mentorship program, Growing Our Own Timber (GOOT), where I am trained as a lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

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