Meet the Nedbank Eyethu Community Trust
Fellows of 2017
The strategic intent of the Nedbank Eyethu Community Trust Postgraduate Fellows is to promote the development of the postgraduate students in the biodiversity sector, to create a pool of diverse environmental leaders for the future.
The Eyethu Community Trust came into existence in June 2005 with the specific aim of providing black South Africans, and charitable organisations established for their benefit,with the opportunity to receive dividends on scheme shares.
The Trust supplements existing community social initiatives on a co-ordinated and consistent basis. They are currently supporting a total of five Honours and five Masters' students in the biodiversity and environmental sciences across the country as part of the GreenMatter Fellowship programme. We are proud to present our fellows here.
The Eyethu Community Trust came into existence in June 2005 with the specific aim of providing black South Africans, and charitable organisations established for their benefit,with the opportunity to receive dividends on scheme shares.
The Trust supplements existing community social initiatives on a co-ordinated and consistent basis. They are currently supporting a total of five Honours and five Masters' students in the biodiversity and environmental sciences across the country as part of the GreenMatter Fellowship programme. We are proud to present our fellows here.
Our Honours Group
Thabang Teffo
BSc.Hons. Candidate Zoology (University of Limpopo) BSc. Zoology & Biochemsitry (University of Limpopo) In 2017 he enrolled for the postgraduate degree (Honours in Zoology) with the University of Limpopo, his research interest is based on ecology and wildlife management and conservation, thus his honours research project was titled: Investigation of Avian Mortalities on the roads in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. He is a member of The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and The Parasitological Society of South Africa (PARSA), as well as a volunteer at EWT and he is interested in Conservation Science. During his spare time he likes to visit and give guest lectures in rural communities’ high Schools, read and watch soccer. |
Abigail Ramudzuli
BSc.Hons. Candidate Zoology (University of Limpopo) BSc. Molecular & Life Sciences (University of Limpopo) She was born and raised in Agatha, just outside Tzaneen, and now lives in Louis Trichard (Makhado). Abigail is currently a zoology honours student at the University of Limpopo. Her research project is on birds, focusing mainly on mechanisms responsible for substrate colour matching of larks (Alaudidae). Before going to study at UL, Abigail took a six months course in Nature Guardianship (Field Ranging) and Environmental Education at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) in 2012. She has great passion for nature and very fond of birds. Frequently, she attends short courses for Wildlife Ambassadors with Dr. Carolyn Bocian where she learns a lot about different aspects of animals. |
Sicelo Ndlovu
Postgraduate Diploma Candidate - (Mangosuthu University of Technology) Sicelo works as an Assistant Project Manager (APM) at Ezemvelo KZNWildlife (Invasive Alien Species Program) based in South-Zululand Eshowe KZN. His studies focuses mainly on the Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Alien Plant Species at the Eshowe area. Sicelo enjoys helping other people, hence his study will go as far as empowering the community. |
Rethabile Molefi
BSc.Hons. Candidate Geography & Environmental Sciences (North West University - Mafikeng Campus) BSc. Biology - Geography She is currently doing her honours at North West University Mafikeng Campus, School of Environmental and Health Sciences, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences. Her research project includes combined GIS-based diverse datasets with a spatial decision support strategy to increase the effectiveness of planning and decision-making. Although still fairly new to the GIS world, she is very interested in exploring tools and systems that can be used in new ways to achieve ecological and environmental goals. She is passionate about non-government organisation innovative projects that support better health outcomes for the local communities. |
Aphiwe Moshani
BA. Hons. Candidate Geography (GIS & Remote Sensing) (University of Johannesburg) She as an enthusiastic young lady who is passionate about the environment. My research entails the application of GIS on spatial issues that involve the environment and human beings. More specifically, her research looks at taking a social approach to the use of GIS to assess household access to safe, sufficient, accessible drinking water through mapping a suitability map of potential water pipelines and water access points in a township in the north of Johannesburg. Her research also includes investigating the reasons and effects of a low supply and access of water in disadvantaged communities. She currently tutors undergraduates in Geography at the university of Johannesburg. |
Our Masters' Group
Jabulile Malindi
MSc. Candidate - Plant Systematics & Taxonomy BSc. Hons. Botany (University of Johannesburg) BSc. Biochemistry and Botany Jabulile is an aspiring Plant Taxonomist, born and raised in SOWETO (Johannesburg). She’s worked at RADMASTE, a teacher training and research centre for Maths and Science. Developing a learner’s kit for the International Year of Crystallography theme was her highlight in 2014. She furthered her studies in B.Sc. Hons. (Botany) thereafter did an internship under NRF, with The University of Western Cape (UWC) as a host institution. Currently doing a M.Sc. in Biodiversity and Conservation at UWC, the project focuses on revising species circumscriptions within the genus Alepidea (Apiaceae) by exploring broad phylogeny and chemical patterns of the genus for informative characters. |
Khutso Lenyanyabedi
BSc. Hons. Soil Science (University of Venda) MSc. Candidate - Soil Physics (University of Venda & Agricultural Research Council) He originates from Bolobedu Boqa Village in Limpopo Province, but now he is based at Pretoria in Agricultural Research Council-Institute of Soil, Climate and Water(ARC-ISCW). He is currently focusing on intensifying conservation agriculture for enhanced soil health and water conservation. Thereby, his project will connect research and people’s livelihood through conservation agriculture technology that will actual bring together soil fertility management and soil water conservation for enhanced soil health and soil. Therefore, the dissertation of this study will help in land resources management and better implementation of appropriate management practices. |
Refilwe Kolokoto
MSc. Candidate - Botany - Taxonomy (University of Western Cape) Refilwe is a Master’s Candidate at the University of the Western Cape. Her study focuses on plants by investigating, identifying, classifying, naming and documenting acquired information that builds into biodiversity knowledge and implementation of policies or actions. She completed an NRF internship in Biosystematics & Collections at South African National Biodiversity Institute. She volunteered for the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) which is a programme that creates awareness of threatened plant species by involving custodians to conserve and manage the habitats where these plants occur. Her research interests extend to conservation biology, impacts of climate change and biodiversity management. She is enthusiastic about environmental education, community development and science innovation. |
Siviwe Babane
MSc. Candidate Marine Biology (University of KwaZulu Natal) BSc Biological Sciences (Walter Sisulu University) BSc.Hons. Zoology (Walter Sisulu University) His present study is aimed at investigating the aspects of the physiology, genetics and metabolism of zooxanthellae in response to heat stress due to increasing temperatures and light intensities in the intertidal rocky pools of KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The current study is expected to contribute towards bridging the gap in the knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms underlying coral bleaching and different levels of heat tolerance and resistance among corals and zooxanthellae. Siviwe is passionate about exploring further and contributing in the Marine Biology and Science field. |
Zwannda Nethavhani
MSc Candidate - Zoology (University of Venda) BSc. Hons. Zoology (University of Venda) BSc. Zoology & Botany (University of Venda) After Honours she took an internship with SANBI on pollination and ecosystem services division where I was very motivated to pursue with my studies. She is currently a Masters' candidate at the department of Zoology at the University of Venda. Her studies focus mainly on the development of minimum intervention techniques to reduce variability in Mopane worm supply for harvesting which adds to the body of food security. She has a broad interest in ecology, which started from curiosity on how animals operate at a specific habitat since she grew up in home of different natural heritage sites, nature reserves and parks (Limpopo Province). |