Professor Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, a researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) made the science profession proud when President Jacob Zuma awarded him the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for his excellent contribution to the field of science, particularly electrical engineering.

The award was bestowed to Nelwamondo on Friday, 28 April 2017 at an event held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

The Order of Mapungubwe is the highest honour in South Africa. It is granted by the President and recognises those who have done exceptionally well in international research areas that have benefitted the country.

“I am extremely honoured to receive this award. It is the highest honour that one can receive in one’s country. My work in science is for the development of South Africa and the world at large, therefore, to get this recognition at the highest level motivates me to keep pursuing research in the field of electrical engineering,” says a jubilant Nelwamondo.

Nelwamondo holds a PhD in electrical engineering, with a focus on applied computational intelligence from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a registered professional engineer and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Nelwamondo remains the youngest recipient of the Harvard-South Africa Fellowship Programme, which was awarded to him in 2008 and saw him completing a post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard University. He is a visiting professor of electrical engineering at the University of Johannesburg and has supervised and co-supervised several electrical engineering Masters and Doctoral students.

Nelwamondo has been an editor and reviewer for a number of international journals and has served in programme committees of several international conferences. He has also published well over 100 research papers in international reviewed journals, conferences and book chapters. Furthermore, Nelwamondo is a founding member of the South African Young Academy of Science and currently serves on the Department of Home Affairs ministerial advisory committee on modernisation.

He is currently the Executive Director at the CSIR Modelling and Digital Science business unit.  

The CSIR Chief Executive Officer, Dr Thulani Dlamini, says that the organisation is excited by this achievement by one of its staff.

“We congratulate Fulufhelo for this excellent achievement. Fulufhelo distinguished himself very early on in his career at the CSIR and he continues to be an excellent role model for many aspiring young researchers and leaders. He is indeed one of our rising stars. This prestigious honour also means a lot for the CSIR and we are fortunate to share it with him,” says Dr Dlamini.

ENDS

For more details, please contact Tendani Tsedu, CSIR Group Manager: Communications and Stakeholder Relations on 012 841 3417/082 945 1980 or email mtsedu@csir.co.za

About the CSIR

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is a world-class African research and development organisation established through an Act of Parliament in 1945. The CSIR undertakes directed, multidisciplinary research and technological innovation that contributes to the improved quality of life of South Africans.

For more information, please visit www.csir.co.za.