Election to the Academy is one of the highest honours a South African scholar can receive in the country!
South Africa (11 November 2026) – The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has turned 30 this year, and it has welcomed 78 new Members to mark the occasion.
They were officially inducted at the academy’s annual awards ceremony on 29 October.
ASSAf is South Africa’s official academy of science. Being elected as a Member is one of the highest honours a South African scholar can receive. It recognises outstanding research as well as service to society. It covers every field of study, not just the sciences.
Members can’t apply to join. Existing Members review the candidates and vote on who gets in – every new Member has been backed by their peers.
The new group of 78 electees brings the academy to 843 Members in total.
The ceremony also handed out the ASSAf Science-for-Society Gold Medals, the academy’s top awards.
They go to up to two scientists each year whose scientific thinking benefits society. This year’s medals went to Prof Olubukola Babalola of North-West University, for her work in agricultural microbiology and soil health, and Prof Michèle Ramsay of the University of the Witwatersrand, for her leadership in African human genetics and genomic research.
ASSAf also elected Prof Tan Tieniu as an Honorary Foreign Associate Member. This title goes to leading scientists based outside South Africa who have made an important contribution to the country’s science and scholarship. The academy says Prof Tan has had a major global impact and is deeply committed to growing science, higher education and technology in South Africa.
Here are the new Members, by university!
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- Justin Bradfield, Associate Professor, Palaeo-Research Institute
- Langelihle Dlamini, Head of the Department of Chemical Sciences
- Blassan George, Professor of Biomedical Sciences
- Penny Govender, Full Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Research Capacity Development Unit
- Bettine Jansen van Vuuren, Professor and Registrar
- Nonhlangabezo Mabuba, Full Professor, Department of Chemical Sciences, and Acting Director of the Centre for Nanomaterial Science Research
- Admire Mare, Full Professor and Head of the Department of Communication and Media Studies
- Neo Morojele, Professor of Psychology and Head of Department
- Patrick Njobeh, Full Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology
- Nnamdi Nwulu, Professor of Sustainable Cyber-Physical Engineering Systems
- Farai Nyabadza, Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
- Aletta Elizabeth Prinsloo, Professor of Physics
- Sam Ramaila, Full Professor, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
- Tanusha Singh, Master of Public Health Coordinator
- Benjamin Smart, Full Professor and Director of the Centre for Philosophy of Epidemiology, Medicine and Public Health
- Lagouge Tartibu, Full Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Anna-Mart van Wyk, Professor of International Relations
- Nicola Wagner, Professor of Geology and Director of CIMERA
- Caliphs Zvinowanda, Professor, Department of Chemical Sciences
University of Cape Town
- Joanne Hardman, Professor, School of Education
- Denis Kalumba, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering
- Ryan Nefdt, Professor of Philosophy
- Eftychia Nikolaidou, Professor and Head of the School of Economics
- Catherine Orrell, Full Professor and Unit Director of the HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (SAMRC)
- Sa’diyya Shaikh, Professor and Director of the Centre for Contemporary Islam
- Sudesh Sivarasu, DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Biomedical Engineering Innovation
- Claire Spottiswoode, Pola Pasvolsky Chair in Conservation Biology and Co-Director of the Max Planck–UCT Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution
- Cornelis van Walbeek, Professor, School of Economics
- Adam West, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
University of the Witwatersrand
- Tamiru Abiye, Professor of Hydrogeology
- Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Professor of Global Health and Infectious Diseases and Director of Research, Wits RHI
- Jonathan Klaaren, Professor, School of Law and WiSER
- Zané Lombard, Roche Research Chair in Precision Medicine & Genomics
- Aletta Millen, Professor of Physiology, Assistant Dean: Research and Interim Director of the Wits BioHub
- Benjamin Rosman, Professor and Founding Director of the MIND Institute
University of the Free State
- Felicity Burt, Professor and SARChI Research Chair in Emerging Viral Zoonoses
- Daryl Codron, Professor, Department of Zoology and Entomology
- Niren Ray Maharaj, Full Professor and Academic Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Sarah Muriel Meiring, Full Professor and Principal Scientist
- Martin Nyaga, Full Professor, Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology
- Anthea Rhoda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic
University of South Africa
- James Allison, Distinguished Professor
- Malik Maaza, Professor and UNESCO UNISA-iThemba LABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
- Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, Head/Lead of the Centre for Photonics
- Michael Pillay, Distinguished Professor
- Puleng Segalo, Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair and Professor of Psychology
- Jo-Ansie van Wyk, Research Professor
University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Anil Chuturgoon, Professor and Chair of Medical Biochemistry
- Sudan Hansraj, Professor of Applied Mathematics
- Trevor Hill, Professor of Geography and Academic Leader of Research
- Tricia Naicker, Full Professor and Director of the Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit
- Donrich Thaldar, Full Professor of Law
- Mariza Vorster, Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine
University of Pretoria
- Ara Monadjem, Head of Department and Full Professor of Zoology
- Jianwei Ren, Full Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute for Applied Materials
- Kevin Thomas, Professor of Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities
- Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist (SAMRC) and Professor
- Abdullahi Yusuf, Professor, Department of Zoology and Entomology
- Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Professor of Climate Change, Food Systems, and Health, and Executive Director of the UNU Hub on REACH-AFRICA at the university.
Stellenbosch University
- Nuraan Davids, Professor of Education Policy Studies and Department Chair
- Elmien Lesch, Professor of Psychology
- Tamara Kredo, Professor Extraordinary and Director of the Health Systems Research Unit (SAMRC)
- Gert van Zyl, Professor of Medical Virology and Principal Pathologist (NHLS)
North-West University
- Rasheed Adeleke, Professor of Microbiology and DSI/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Phytomicrobiome and Circular Agriculture
- Roelof Burger, Director of the Centre for Global Change and Professor
- Linda Malan, Professor in Nutrition
University of the Western Cape
- Timothy Dube, Full Professor of Geospatial Science and Director of the Institute for Water Studies
- Christi van der Westhuizen, Professor of Sociology
- Quentin Williams, Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research
University of Limpopo
- Kingsley Ayisi, SARChI Research Chair in Agroecosystems, Innovation and Society Nexus
- Phatu Mashela, Research Chair in Regenerative Agricultural Remedies and Senior Professor
Durban University of Technology
- Sheena Kuttan Pillai, Full Professor and DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement
University of Fort Hare
- Willie Chinyamurindi, Professor
Tshwane University of Technology
- Shengzhi Du, SARChI Chair in Next-Generation Telemanipulation and Teleoperation Platforms and Full Professor
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
- Mathildah Mokgatle, Professor of Public Health, Vice Dean and Head of Public Health
Rhodes University and the University of Strathclyde
- Karen Renaud, Reader at the University of Strathclyde and Visiting Professor at Rhodes University
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