Youth Month 2026: NRF Celebrates Young South African Researchers Driving Innovation and Social Impact
From healthcare and water security to sustainable aquaculture and indigenous medicine, NRF-supported young researchers are advancing knowledge and shaping South Africa’s future.
As South Africa commemorates its 50th Youth Month, the National Research Foundation (NRF) is shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of young researchers who are advance knowledge, address societal challenges, and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future. Under the theme The youth whose work contributes to meaningful change in South Africa and beyond, the campaign highlights the journeys of young academics and researchers who, with support from NRF funding programmes as well as personal determination and academic excellence, make meaningful contributions to their fields and South Africa.
Among those featured is Dr Khathutshelo Cathrine Hlongwane, an NRF Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Aquaculture Research Unit of the University of Limpopo. Dr Hlongwane, who also received funding from the NRF for her Doctoral studies, is advancing sustainable aquaculture and climate adaptation research through innovative work on periphyton-based systems that can improve water quality, enhance food security, and reduce environmental impacts. Her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a Doctoral graduate and postdoctoral researcher demonstrates the transformative impact of access to education and research opportunities.
Lesley Malungane, a Doctoral student in Health Sciences at the University of Limpopo, uses research to address critical public health challenges, including HIV prevention, health systems strengthening, and community health promotion. He received funding from the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development for his Doctoral studies. He comments, “Through my work as both a researcher and a professional nurse, I have developed a strong passion for improving healthcare delivery and strengthening public health interventions within communities. My research also explores issues related to health education, access to healthcare services, disease prevention, and strategies that can improve the well-being of communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.”
Another featured researcher is Tokozani Mangesi-Nxitywa, a PhD candidate in Natural Science, a laboratory assistant, and a Junior Lecturer in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu. Her work exemplifies the role of young researchers in the generation of knowledge that responds to contemporary environmental challenges. “The purpose that drives my research is the desire to contribute towards improving water security in rural communities and protecting public health through access to safe water,” she says. “Having grown up in a setting where water access was a daily challenge, I understand the realities many communities still face and the importance of sustainable solutions.”
The campaign also profiles Dr Lindokuhle Malibongwe Ngema, whose academic and research work combine pharmaceutical sciences and indigenous knowledge systems to advance evidence-based African therapeutic innovations. An nGAP Lecturer in African Traditional Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Ngema received funding from the NRF for his Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral studies. His current research focuses on the integration of pharmaceutical sciences and African traditional medicine to develop innovative, evidence-based therapeutic solutions for communicable and non-communicable diseases. “I am particularly interested in advanced drug delivery systems and how they can be used to improve the efficacy, safety, stability, and targeted delivery of bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants and conventional therapeutics,” he says.
The NRF remains committed to growing South Africa’s next generation of researchers through strategic investments in postgraduate funding, research development, mentorship, and knowledge creation. By supporting young scholars across disciplines, the NRF contributes to building a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive national system of innovation.
More of these stories highlighting the achievements, experiences and impact of NRF-supported researchers and students, can be accessed on the NRF website: https://www.nrf.ac.za/category/science-matters/youth-month/.
©Higher Education Media Services.