The 2025 NRF Awards Celebrate South Africa's Science Stars

The 2025 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards honoured South Africa’s top researchers and scientists at a prestigious ceremony held on 07 August 2025 at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel (formerly Hilton Sandton Hotel) in Gauteng. This year’s event was held under the theme Innovating for a Sustainable Future, reflecting the NRF’s Vision 2030 of Research for a Better Society.

The annual NRF Awards recognise outstanding achievements made by individuals and teams whose excellence has significantly advanced science for the benefit of society. Their internationally competitive work is assessed for, among other things, the contribution to the field of study focusing on quality and impact. One of the objectives of the awards is to encourage the continued culture of advancing South Africa’s scientific knowledge and technological innovation by rewarding those who make use of research for the advancement and betterment of humanity.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, lauded the NRF and its awardees for their contribution to positioning South Africa as a leader in global research. “Our public science system has not only produced excellent researchers, but South Africa has also become a sought after global platform for conducting astronomy, nuclear physics, palaeontology, medicine, and social sciences research of international stature. All this has been made possible by the high calibre and impactful work that has been done over years, by one of our country’s premier public research institutions, the NRF.”

He added, “I also think it is highly commendable and visionary on your part as the NRF that you have awards that focus on Next Generation Researchers and Early Career/Emerging Researchers. This is critical for our human resource develop needs. I also wish to congratulate and commend the NRF Board, the NRF Executive and staff for working hard over the years to lay the basis and justification for today’s celebration.”

In his welcome remarks, Professor Mosa Moshabela, Chairperson of the NRF Board, highlighted the awards as a recognition of both individual excellence and the collective power of science to transform society. “We honour individuals whose contributions continue to put out country on a global map of research. These awards recognise not only personal achievements, but also the role that science, technology and innovation play in shaping a more just, inclusive and sustainable future in this country, on the continent and in the world. The individuals we celebrate exemplify academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Whether they are in the laboratory, in communities, or across global platforms, they are mentors, they are collaborators, they are trailblazers.”

“As the chairperson of the NRF board, I am deeply proud of the work that is done by the NRF to support and enable our vibrant and diverse research community. The mandate of the NRF is to promote and support research through funding, through human capital development and through the provision of research infrastructure. These remain critical in our collective pursuit of a knowledge-based economy and society,” added Professor Moshabela.

NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, emphasised the importance of aligning research with the global sustainability agenda. “Now more than ever, and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Goals, it is crucial that the research we conduct and support places sustainability at the centre. With only five years left to deliver on the commitments made in 2015 through the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, it is prudent that we accelerate efforts in this regard. The SDGs, of course, are the outcomes of ideas shared, and commitments made during earlier global engagements, including the World Summit of Sustainable Development that was held here in Johannesburg in 2002. The summit called for global attention and action to address complex challenges such as improving people’s lives and conserving resources in a world with a growing population and ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security. These challenges remain relevant today both globally and here at home.”

The awards were presented across two categories—NRF ratings-based awards and Special Awards.

The Special Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Professor Jill Farrant, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town
• Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers
  • Mr Avela Sogoni, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
  • Mr Mashite Tshidi, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Dr Riona Indhur, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology
  • Ms Caressa Munien, Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology
  • Mr Jonathan Oehley, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town
• Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers
  • Dr Thulani Andrew Chauke, Department of Adult, Community and Continuing Education, University of South Africa
  • Professor Kgaugelo Edward Lekota, School of Biological Sciences, North-West University
  • Dr Mbuzeleni Hlongwa, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Professor Lebo Gafane-Matemane, Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University
  • Dr Msizi Innocent Mhlongo, Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg
  • Dr Itumeleng Monageng, Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town
  • Dr Busiswa Ndaba-Vatsha, Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions, University of South Africa
  • Professor Musawenkosi Saurombe, Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg
  • Dr Bonginkosi Allen Thango, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg
  • Dr Azile Nqombolo, Department of Chemical & Earth Sciences, University of Fort Hare
• Focussed Research Advancement Award
  • University of Technology

Durban University of Technology

• Historically Disadvantaged University

University of the Western Cape

• Public Engagement with Research Award
  • Professor Leila Patel, Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg
• Champion of Research Capacity Development and Transformation Award
  • Professor Namrita Lall, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria

Ratings-based Awards

• P-Rated Researchers
  • Dr Jesse Heyninck, Department of Computer Science, University of Cape TownDr Simone Richardson, Antibody Immunity Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable DiseasesDr Mitchell Cox, School of Electrical & Information Engineering, University of the WitwatersrandDr Mubeen Goolam, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape TownDr Daniel Hart, Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria
  • Professor Laura Heathfield, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town
• A-Rated Researchers

A-Rated for the 6th time

• Professor Michael Wingfield, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria

A-Rated for the 5th Time

• Distinguished Professor Philippe-Joseph Salazar, Department of Private Law, University of Cape Town
  • Professor Igor Barashenkov, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town
  • Professor Douglas Butterworth, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town

A-Rated for the 4th Time

• Professor Thaddeus Metz, Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria
• Professor David Richardson, Department of Zoology and Botany, Stellenbosch University
• Professor Dan Stein, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town
• A-Rated for the 3rd Time
• Professor Don A Cowan, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria
• Professor Lewis Ashwal, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
• Professor Don Ross, School of Economics, University of Cape Town
• Professor Isabel Hofmeyr, Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of the Witwatersrand
• Professor Harold Kincaid, School of Economics, University of Cape Town

A-Rated for the 2nd Time

• Professor Kelly Chibale, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town
• Professor David McQuoid-Mason, School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Dr Curtis W Marean, Centre for Coastal Paleoscience, Nelson Mandela University
• Professor Josua Meyer, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
• Professor Philip Hallinger, Department of Education Leadership and Management, University of Johannesburg
• Professor Gary Maartens, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town
• Professor James Raftery, Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria

A-Rated for the 1st time

• Professor Andrew McKechnie, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria
• Professor Ralf Henkel, Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape
• Professor Susan Harrison, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town
• Professor Ernst Conradie, Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape
• Professor Matthias Bickelhaupt, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg
• Professor Bruce Biccard, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town
• Professor Jacek Banasiak, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria
• Professor Sally Archibald, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
• Distinguished Professor Umezuruike Linus Opara, Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University
• Professor Alexander (Zander) Myburg, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University
• Professor Ivan Vladislavić, Department of Creative Writing, University of the Witwatersrand
• Distinguished Professor Charlie Shackleton, Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University
• Professor Harald Winkler, PRISM, School of Economics, University of Cape Town