17th CROSS-FACULTY POSTGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM 8-11 September 2026 | Wartenweiler OLA Braamfontein East Campus
PROGRAMME 2026
Postgraduate Research and Development Office Tuesday, 8 September 2026 08h00 – 09h00
REGISTRATION & TEA
09h00 – 09h30
Welcome & Opening Chair: Prof Jennifer Fitchett
Prof Jennifer Fitchett (PGRDO) Shadrack Mothadi, PGA Chair
09h30 – 10h00
Keynote Address Partly Cloudy, Fully Committed: A Researcher’s Journey Through Academia
Dr Ogone Motlogeloa, Lecturer Demography and Population Studies, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities
10h00 – 10h10
BREAK
10h10 – 11h00
Masters Oral Presentations Session 1 Chair: Joshua Jandrell (EBE)
Aurielle Louw (HS) Avi-Nash Sukuram (EBE) Bongani Khanyi (HS)
11h05 – 11h55
Masters Oral Presentations Session 2 Chair: Joshua Jandrell (EBE)
Caitlin De Winnaar (HS) Dudu Mpokela (CLM) Gabriella Jack, Grace Chota (SC)
12h00 – 12h55
Masters Oral Presentations Session 3 Chair: Gerhard Petrick (HUM)
Lesedi Forane (SC) Muhammad Dindar (EBE) Phumudzo Matsila (HUM) Sinovuyo Halana (HS)
13h00 – 13h55
LUNCH BREAK
14h00 – 14h45
Masters Gradflash Batya Slotow (SC) Boithuso Phale (SC) Presentations Mihle Sopam (HUM) Session 1 Chair: Tlakuso Makhuva (HUM) Moyahabo Masenya (SC)
14h50 – 15h00
BREAK
15h05 – 15h45
Masters Gradflash Mpoetse Motloung (CLM) Presentations Nthonifheni Nemaduvhetshewe (CLM) Session 2 Chair: Tlakuso Makhuva (HUM) Safeera Sabjee (HS) JUDGING PANEL Brigitta Stone-Johnson (EBE) Christopher Ealand (HS) Dannielle Cerbone (CLM) Pierre Mubiayi (SC) Sylvia Fanucchi (SC) Thobeka Nkomo (HUM) Tšepang Leuta (EBE)
15h50 – 16h00
Thanks & Closing Day One
Moderator: Dr Pierre Mubiayi
Wednesday, 9 September 2026 08h00 – 09h00
REGISTRATION & TEA
09h00 – 09h10
Welcome
Prof Tania van der Merwe (WDA)
09h10 – 10h00
PhD Oral Presentations Session 1 Chair: Khanya Jaceni (SC)
Adetola Oyenubi (HUM) Courtney Jeffery (HS) Gorata Chengeta (HUM)
10h00 – 10h10
BREAK
10h15 – 11h00
PhD Oral Presentations Session 2 Chair: Khanya Jaceni (SC)
11h00 – 11h30
TEA BREAK
11h30 – 12h30
PhD Oral Presentations Session 3 Chair: Cleopatra Ndhlovu (HS)
12h30 – 13h30
LUNCH BREAK
13h30 – 14h00
PhD Gradflash Presentations Session 1 Chair: Prumohdya Reddy (SC)
14h00 – 14h30
TEA BREAK
14h30 – 15h00
PhD Gradflash Presentations Session 2 Chair: Prumohdya Reddy (SC)
Rosy Sbrana-Dichi (HUM) Shiven Naidoo (SC) Tracy Reddy (HS) Victor Akpan (EBE)
15h00 – 15h10
Thanks & Closing Day 2
DVC Prof Lynn Morris: Research & Innovation
Julia du Plessis (CLM) Lesego Masenya (CLM) Matthew Estment (SC) Mukhtaar Waja (SC) Saleha Mahomed-Kola (HUM)
Chanel Blignaut (SC) Simisola Ayodele (HS) Moyahabo Rampya (HS) Nhlamulo Khoza (HS) Olebogeng Mosoane (CLM)
Poster Presenters 8-10 September 2026
Masters Poster Presentations Wartenweiler Library Ground Floor Tut Room 2
Anesu Pisira (SC) Ayesha Davids (HS) Bukisa Boniswa (SC) Cole Naamdhew (SC) Dikgang Maila (CLM) Ebenezer Hammond (HS) Eric Chauke (HUM) Glodi Kabobya (HS) Gugulethu Mkhize (HUM) Gugulethu Vuma (HS) Jessica Blair (SC) Jonathan Bekker (HS) Keba ilwe Kotsedi (HUM) Krys Cielenou (SC) Lusizo Nqasha (SC) Lut iyya Dean (CLM) Mandlenkosi Zulu (HS) Mantsiri Moshoeu (HS) Mary Chirwa (EBE) Megan Smith (EBE) Mulweli Mainganya (SC) Nikhiel Budhai (EBE) Nishal Dullabh (HS) Obakeng Mogale (SC) Olwethu Shezi (HUM) Phemelo Tshoke (SC) Sean Terespolsky (SC) Shoky Thoka (EBE) Sibongakonke Zondo (SC) Siyabonga Dubazana (HS) Siyabonga Mkhuma (CLM) Thembani Tshiteme (HS) Vanessa Visser (HS) Vusumuzi Mabasa (HS) Warwick Brown (EBE) Werner Kroukamp (SC) Yolanda Musi (EBE)
09h00 – 15h00
PhD Poster Presentations Wartenweiler Library Ground Floor Tut Room 1
Abebaw Azene (HS) Claire Naidoo (CLM) Dhruti Dheda (EBE) Dylan Kairuz (HS) Ernst Hechter (SC) Godwin Kalu (HS) Itumeleng Tshwane (HUM) Keiran Mcinnes (SC) Maromo Maredi (CLM) Musawenkosi Buthelezi (SC) Neave Geoghegan (SC) Tholwana Koaho (EBE) Yonatan Wolberg (HS)
Awards Ceremony
Friday, 11 September 2026 Postgraduate Research Hub 2nd Floor, Solomon Mahlangu House Braamfontein East Campus 09h00 – 09h10
Welcome & Thanks
09h15 – 09h45
Prize Awards
DVC Research & Innovation
09h50 – 11h00
Celebrations
PG Students
PG Symposium Judges
2026 PG Symposium Judging Panel Brigitta Stone-Johnson – EBE, School of Architecture and Planning Christopher Ealand – Health Sciences, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research Dannielle Cerbone – CLM, School of Accountancy Pierre Mubiayi – Science, School of Chemistry Sylvia Fanucchi – Science, School of Molecular and Cell Biology Thobeka Nkomo – Humanities, School of Human and Community Development Tšepang Leuta – EBE, School of Architecture and Planning)