CPUT and the South African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA) recently held the first SABIA-CPUT Agro-Industrial Biogas Training Seminar and Study Tour to strengthen capacity-building within South Africa’s growing biogas sector.

Associate Professor and Head of Research in the Department of Biotechnology, Vincent Okudoh, saw it fit to bring the training to CPUT to bridge the knowledge gap between theory, policy, and practical implementation by bringing together experts, practitioners, researchers, and industry stakeholders.

The core purpose of the three-day event, which was held at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre, was to provide a comprehensive introduction to agro-industrial biogas technology from sector development trends, digester biology and engineering to substrate management, operational monitoring, environmental legislation, and best practices within the South African context.

The workshop fostered a highly interactive learning environment during presentations, discussions, and the practical site visits. Reflecting on the event, Okudoh said: “What stood out most was the diversity of attendees, from academia and research institutions to industry players and emerging biogas practitioners. This mix created rich, insightful conversations and a strong spirit of collaboration. The facilitators delivered complex topics in an accessible manner, and participants were eager to ask questions, share experiences, and explore practical solutions relevant to their work.”

He also noted that the end goal was to equip participants with practical, evidence-based insights that will support the development, optimisation, and future scaling of biogas projects across the country. “Ultimately, the organisers hoped to cultivate a knowledgeable community of practitioners who can drive innovation, support national sustainability goals, and contribute to a more resilient renewable energy sector.”

The seminar featured presentations on the status quo of the biogas sector in South Africa and the way forward for sector development, “which were particularly powerful, as they contextualised the challenges and opportunities facing the industry”. There were also technical sessions, some focusing on digester biology, substrate suitability, process monitoring, and engineering parameters, which were highly informative and provided participants with practical tools applicable to real-world systems.

The event also featured a study tour to the Cape Town Biogas Plant in Athlone and the CPUT Winery Waste Biogas Unit at the Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch. “Seeing operational systems firsthand helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving participants invaluable exposure to real operational challenges and innovations. Networking moments throughout the seminar were also extremely meaningful, allowing participants to forge new professional connections that may support future collaborations and project development,” Okudoh remarked.

He added that the workshop demonstrated that biogas is more than a technical solution; “it is a strategic opportunity for sustainable development, waste management, energy security, and innovation in South Africa”. The insights gained highlight the importance of interfaculty programmes such as Applied Science and Engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous capacity-building as the sector evolves. He said this is in line with the Vision 2030 Framework for One Smart CPUT, Focus Area 6: Smart Engagement and strong links with quintuple helix partners.

Okudoh also urged the CPUT community to remain engaged with renewable energy research and industry developments, as platforms like this training seminar play a crucial role in shaping the future of the green economy. He also extended appreciation to the industry and institutional partners: SABIA, Bio2Watt, Cape Town Biogas, Global Energy, ARC, Vaal University of Technology, and Stellenbosch University for contributing to the success of the 2025 Biogas Training Workshop.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The faculty of Applied Sciences received extraordinary results in staff academic development and achievement whilst excelling in the field of research.

The faculty’s output for 2005 boasts 36 journal articles, 25 submitted articles, 25 national conference presentations and 15 international conferences which include a conference on anti-oxidants in red palm oil held in Washington in 2005, a conference on anti-oxidants and health in school children held in Malaysia in 2005 and a conference on the role of anti-oxidants in health and disease which took place in Beijing, China in 2005. Mr Spinney Bernade, head of the anti-oxidant research group, was asked to present papers at these conferences.

In addition, the faculty has also received academic excellence by being awarded five Masters Degrees within the faculty, three members of staff have received their Masters Degree and five members will obtain Doctorates in 2005/6. Currently, 30% of staff hold doctorates while no less than 60% of the staff have either a Masters or a Doctorate degree.

Last year the faculty had received funding for their research that was estimated at more than R4.5 m. Nine of their staff members had received National Research Foundation (NRF) funding. The NRF also approved full funding for 2005.

The faculty’s research area of expertise lies in the areas of Environmental Toxicity and Human Health. Anti-oxidant and Biotechnology research has taken off to a good start despite some minor setbacks.

They have also established an anti-oxidant research group and they have been funded with R1.2 million whilst advancing their work in the speciality areas of Biotechnology, Environmental Toxicity and Human Health. An anti-oxidant research group was established to research the occurrence and neutralisation of free radicals in the body. The research will establish why an accumulation of free radicals is linked to diseases such as cancer, heart failure and so forth. “Anti-oxidant research is a relatively new research with exciting possibilities,” said Mr Bernade.

The CPUT’s unit is the only unit in the country which was established to do anti-oxidant research. The lab is equipped with the latest, state of the art equipment to aid them in their research. CPUT provided starting capital that enabled the group to begin their investigations.

The achievements by the Applied Sciences faculty can be attributed to a research thrust to establish units for research centres of excellence. The challenges for 2006 are to achieve their objectives by starting research projects, training students, obtaining internal and external funding, make money to support research, alleviate disease conditions through dietary means and to earn money to act as a service provider to industry.

Challenges also include limited lab space and funding for students and projects and allowing supervisors time off to supervise students.

Written by CPUT News
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At CPUT lecturers are finding creative ways to infuse innovation in teaching and learning.

Associate Prof Lynne McMaster recently devised an innovative class project that would ensure Biotechnology students gain relevant knowledge of several complex processes, taught earlier this year in the molecular biology class.

The brief was to construct biological molecular DNA process models, which could be used as teaching aids. Students had to make use of materials that cost less than R100.

And the result – several innovative models, which not only showed students' understanding of the curriculum but their flair for art.

Several groups used wire art, while others made use of building blocks, rope, clay, cardboard and bottle-tops.

INNOVATIVE: A Biotechnology student shows-off his creative model that represents a DNA process

Student Mhlangebese Golela used his wire art skills to build a model that illustrated a transcription process.

“I grew up in Umtata and used to make wire cars. When we sat down to work out the structure, we thought of using different colour beads to represent the different processes,” he says.

Mhlangebese says the task was a challenge, but helped the class grasp the various science processes.

His classmate Gayaatoeniesah Terblanche and her group used colourful bottle tops and building blocks to represent HIV processes in the human body.

McMaster says she is impressed with the students and their innovative models.

McMaster says the models are of such a high standard that they will be used is future classes as teaching aids.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Research Focus Area (RFA) will host a symposium tomorrow (8 June) to commemorate World Environment Day and Oceans Day.

World Environment Day is marked on 5 June every year and is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach. This year’s theme is Only One Earth: The United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day on June 8 every year, and this year’s theme is: “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”.

The symposium will be held online (MS Teams) and is scheduled to start at 10 am.

Prof Beatrice Opeolu, Leader of the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Research Focus Area, said the symposium aims " to create awareness about the existential threat of climate change and our daily life choices to man and the environment”.

“We have only one earth, so it must be cherished and handled with care rather than abused. Oceans play an important role in ecosystem balance, so unhealthy practices against our oceans affect oceans economies and human and environmental health.”

She said attendees will be privileged to listen to environmental scientists within and outside CPUT discussing some of these issues.

“We also hope to use the event to foster collaborations for research and community engagement activities.”

Chioma Chikere, Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology in the Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, will deliver an invited speech.

Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies staff will also share their waste management initiatives with the CPUT community.

Click here to join the meeting.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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The Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute’s (AMHBI) Dr Thandekile Mthethwa has been awarded a Y2 -rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact, as international peer reviewers perceive. A Y-rating is awarded to promising young researchers.

“I am very pleased and grateful for the recognition; it is humbling when you realise your efforts are seen. It is merely the beginning. This recognition encourages me to continue to do my best work. I continually strive to improve my research and to provide mentorship to the next generation of young researchers.”

Mthethwa joined AMHBI as a researcher in 2015, and her research interests are in nanomaterials and photochemistry.

“My work is focused on the design of high-quality novel nanostructures, their interaction with light and their assembly into functional nanomaterials for applications such as wastewater treatment, as well as the development of fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships.”

The researcher, who grew up in Empangeni and Melmoth in KwaZulu-Natal, completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Zululand and her PhD at Rhodes University.

“My greatest research achievement has been my PhD. This is one of the most significant events of my professional career. My research has given me the necessary tools to contribute significantly to the scientific community.”

She said she appreciated the platform that CPUT provided her to establish her research niche within AMHBI, “and I am grateful to everyone who continues to help me in my professional growth”.

AMHBI Director, Prof Jeanine Marnewick, congratulated Mthethwa.

"Since joining the CPUT and AMHBI, Dr Mthethwa has produced a coherent body of work seeking to establish herself as a young researcher. Her recent NRF Y2 rating is in recognition of her hard work. I am extremely proud of Thandekile. She is one of our future science leaders, and I will continue supporting her in her scientific endeavours at AMHBI.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science lecturers Theloshni Govender and Enid Hinrichsen-Swart recently collaborated with Germany’s FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, Department of Food Nutrition Facilities.

This collaboration aims to create a global partnership and foster relationships with FH Münster University to attract international students. Govender and Hinrichsen-Swart, who is now retired, made their presentation during a five-day online seminar. The seminar was presented to 48 German students completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and Nutrition Science.

The topic presented was food science and nutritional perspective on functional foods like South African maize flour.

The seminar consisted of nine modules and four food practicals incorporating maize meals in South African/German cuisine, presented by Govender and Hinrichsen-Swart.

“This opportunity allowed us to share our expertise in Food Science and Nutrition with an international audience… Our end goal is to build a long-lasting relationship with FH Munster University, thus creating future social interactions and educational opportunities for CPUT staff and students,” Govender continues.

“This international collaboration allowed me to showcase my knowledge and passion for South African maize meal and its nutritional and culinary versatility… I was very impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment showed by the German students to learn about the South African maize meal and culture.”

Hinrichsen-Swart says: “This international collaboration allowed me to showcase my knowledge and experience with the process of recipe development, sensory evaluation principles and the application of a food safety management system… I was very impressed with the positive attitude the German students showed towards learning about something new to them, such as the adaptation of recipes to include South African maize meal with the addition of a functional ingredient.”

Govender also reveals that there will be a rotation between lectures within the Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science to participate in this project to ensure everyone has an opportunity to share their expertise. “Our students will also be able to learn from this international collaboration. These opportunities will allow the CPUT community to share their expertise and passion with a global audience,” Govender enthused.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

“Make your well-being a priority and feed your body healthy food as this is your first wealth.”

This is the message from Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science lecturer Theloshni Govender, who offers wellness tips, which serve as an educational tool to assist students in making informed and healthier food choices.  “There are many opportunities for students to make an informed healthier decision when it comes to food choices. The wellness tips provided is a start in the right direction,” Govender explains.

She offers the following tips:

• Make fruit and vegetables part of every meal.
• Try a new fruit and vegetable weekly.
• Focus on whole foods and reduce convenience foods
• Reduce portion sizes by using a smaller plate during mealtime.
• Drink at least six glasses of water daily.
• Have a vegan or vegetarian meal at least twice a week.
• Include more sustainable fish in your meal.
• Consume legumes and lentils at least three times a week.
• Have your favourite meals in moderation.
• Limit salt and sugary foods.
• Use herbs and spices to add flavour to your food.
• Plan your meals weekly, as this will eliminate your indulging in unhealthy foods.
• Prioritise sleep - at least eight hours a day.
• Exercise for 30 minutes a day.

Govender adds that obesity is a global pandemic and a public health problem in South Africa, which is illustrated by the national health survey results, which show an increase in obesity in young adults.  “The main drivers for the increase in obesity include poor eating habits, the marketing of processed foods which are high in fat, and sugar-rich beverages, insufficient physical activity and buying unhealthy food.”

She says according to the World Health Organisation, obesity greatly increases the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as type two diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. “Also, there are recent studies which showed that the obese COVID-19 patients get more complications and they take longer to recover.”

Her favourite quote is by Heather Morgan: “Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it” For more wellness tips, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce