Being elected President of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) is both an honour and a responsibility for Nikoletta Bathori, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, who says her recent election “represents the trust of my peers and the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of chemistry in South Africa and beyond”.

SACI, formally established in 1912, is the professional body that represents all chemists across South Africa, with a history of over a century of promoting chemistry education, research, and public understanding. The president serves a two-year term and is responsible for providing strategic direction, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the professional growth of members.

The dependable academic, who values integrity and lifelong learning, intends to advance SACI’s ongoing evolution in response to the opportunities and challenges of the digital era. “Our focus will be on renewal, sustainability, recognition, representation, and international collaboration, ensuring that SACI continues to serve as a strong and relevant voice for the chemistry community.”

Bathori, who likes to take initiative, stay organised, and follow through on commitments, notes that the institute has already embarked on a comprehensive rebranding initiative aimed at modernising the Institute’s image and strengthening its connection with members and the public. “A key priority of my term will be ensuring the long-term sustainability of the South African Journal of Chemistry, which has proudly served our scientific community since 1918. We are committed to maintaining our accessibility to members while enhancing our international competitiveness. Preserving this important journal is not only about tradition but about safeguarding a cornerstone of South African scientific excellence.”

The institute will introduce two new SACI awards to celebrate excellence within its community and to recognise the outstanding contributions of its members. She says they will continue to strengthen SACI’s international footprint across the African continent by extending memoranda of understanding with other chemical societies and fostering deeper partnerships that promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of chemistry in Africa.

“Through these initiatives, my goal is to ensure that SACI remains a vibrant, forward-looking organisation — one that honours its legacy while embracing innovation, partnership, and inclusivity in the service of chemistry and society.”

The Hungarian-born scholar, who moved to South Africa for a postdoctoral fellowship about 20 years ago, has advanced through various leadership positions within SACI, gaining a broad understanding of its structure and culture. “This role is a wonderful opportunity to practice and refine my leadership skills while applying my knowledge of business management in a scientific context. I see this as a rare gift — a chance to give back to a community that has given me so much and to help guide its future direction.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Talented chemistry students Kudzanai Nyamayaro and Kelly Shunje are flying the CPUT flag high.

The duo who are based in the Department of Chemistry have been awarded the Innovation and Priority Research Areas Masters Scholarship, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology that is facilitated through the National Research Foundation (NRF).The scholarship aims to increase South Africa’s cohort of masters and doctoral graduates.

Applicants face a competitive selection process, but Nyamayaro and Shunje’s excellent academic record helped them clinch the prestigious scholarship. Of the 821 awardees for 2017 nationwide, only 7 CPUT students made it to the list.

Both are currently working towards their MTech qualifications under the guidance of Dr Nikoletta Báthori. Their work is based on crystallography (determining the arrangement of molecules /ions in crystalline solids), with a focus on the improvement of the properties of pharmaceutical drugs.

Shunje is exploring anti-malaria and anti-tuberculosis drugs focusing on improving their physiochemical properties through formation of multicomponent crystals.

With her sights set on graduation in September, Shunje says she enjoys research and is looking forward to applying her skills in the pharmaceutical industry.

“I ventured into this specific area because I have a strong desire to discover solutions towards the alleviation of suffering and peril in the world. I would never be able to be a doctor and work directly with patients, but by working on pharmaceutical drugs I can still help people.”

Nyamayaro, who has already co-published three papers, is focusing his efforts on aspirin and how to increase its lifespan after it is exposed to water or air.

Also set to graduate this Spring, Nyamayaro, who has won several prizes for his outstanding academic records, says he is grateful for the scholarship and the funding it makes available to facilitate his academic and research activities.

Nyamayaro, who has his sights set on completing a doctorate, is one of the top performing students in the Faculty of Applied Science. He was recently awarded the James Moir Medal by the South African Chemical Institute, which recognizes the top chemistry students at each university and university of technology.

However, Nyamayaro says while a love of science prompted him to follow a career in chemistry, hard work has played a huge role in his success.

“I work and study really hard. I think this is a good combination for success. If you put effort into something it will eventually work out,” he says.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

An aggregate of 85% for four years has earned Kudzanai Nyamayaro, a postgraduate Chemistry student the coveted James Moir medal.

An initiative of the South African Chemical Institute, the medal is awarded annually to the top BTech or BSc (Hons) chemistry student at every South African university and university of technology.

It is named after James Moir, a pioneering chemist who, during the 1900s, played a significant role in the chemistry field in South Africa. He was renowned for developing new methods of analysis and improving others.

The medals add to Nyamayaro’s growing list of achievements.

He scooped the CPUT Dean’s medal, which recognizes the top achieving student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences as well as the CPUT Vice-Chancellor’s medal, which is awarded during graduation to the top achieving student at CPUT.

Currently working towards his MTech in Chemistry under the guidance of Dr Nikoletta Báthori, he was recently awarded the prestigious Department of Science and Technology Innovation and Priority Research Areas Masters Scholarship. His MTech work is based on crystallography (determining the arrangement of molecules /ions in crystalline solids), with a focus on the improvement of the properties of pharmaceutical drugs.

Only 24-years old, Nyamayaro has already co-published three papers and is currently working on several more.

Modest about his academic achievements, Nyamayaro says science is in his blood.

“Science runs in my family. Everyone is involved in science in some way or another,” he says.

However, Nyamayaro says while a love of science prompted him to follow a career in chemistry, hard work has played a huge role in his success.

“I work and study really hard. I think this is a good combination for success. If you put effort into something it will eventually work out,” he says.

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

PhD candidate, Akeem Akinfenwa recently received a prestigious Young Innovative Chemist Award from the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). 

The Nigerian-born Akinfenwa says this is in recognition of the innovation, independence, and enterprise of postgraduate students from the Chemistry Department of CPUT. The 41-year-old student states that the award is a tangible symbol signifying approval of excellence of the awardee.  “The South African Chemical Institute is a professional and the highest body that aims to advance science and practice of chemistry in South Africa by promoting and upholding the status of the chemistry profession. Hence, the body gives awards to members at different levels in recognition of their excellence,” he enthuses.

The title of his research is: Isolation of bioactive compounds from selected plants of South African flora (Helichrysum foetidum and Aspalathus linearis) for application in the preparation of biocompatible metal nanoparticles. The research focuses on drug discovery from natural products such as plant phytochemicals for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and skin disorders. Akinfenwa says these diseases are identified as common among people with an unstable climate such as South Africa.

Reflecting on this recognition, the second born of seven children says the award would complement his PhD degree for “unlimited achievements now and onwards”. “I feel happy and pleased by the award because it shows that I am making meaningful contributions to the science and chemistry space through CPUT,” he continues.

“An award from this body means a lot that I can’t quantify. I believe I am fulfilling the CPUT graduate attributes. For CPUT I believe it will further confirm the synergies from the management, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Chemistry Department, and my supervisor [Prof Ahmed Mohammed] to produce graduates of both local and international standards.”

Akinfenwa attributes his achievement to God who “crowned” his tireless efforts with this achievement, coupled with the guidance from Mohammed, who nominated him, and the motivation letters he received from Dr Shirley Le Roux from the department and his colleagues in the department.

Akinfenwa’s (family) upbringing made him to be confident to take big challenges. “In my father’s words, ‘take up challenges so you have a story to tell, and your story can only make sense when you weather the storm’. So, this has really shaped me to undertake different challenging opportunities such as pursuing my PhD outside my comfort.”

He says the mercy of God reached him: “This makes me believe in my ability to take up challenges and the good in people around me to leverage on. On top of this is that I have a supervisor who is research active and supportive for students. Through him, I attended conferences and got collaborations with researchers to write a book chapter, research articles and reviews. All these added up for me to reach this milestone”.

Back at home, Akinfenwa is a co-founder of Distress-calls Response Initiative and he has been part of the Nigerian Community in the Western Cape, which distributes neat used clothes, toiletries, and foodstuff to the destitute and the less privileged people.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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