Mukhodeni Blessing Malamatsho, a Grade 11 learner at Prestige College in Hammanskraal, has won a Gold Medal at the prestigious Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, showcasing innovation, dedication, and a commitment to addressing environmental challenges—values strongly shared by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
The Eskom Expo is a premier competition that requires learners to design and implement original research projects in fully equipped laboratories under qualified supervision. For her project, Malamatsho gained access to SMU’s Chemistry Department, working closely with experts who provided mentorship and technical guidance. Supervisors included Florence Christicia Seseng from the School of Science and Technology Mobile Science Bus and Professor Liziwe Lizbeth Mugivhisa from SMU’s Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences.
Her project, titled “The Use of Cyanobacteria-Based Biodiesel as a Sustainable Replacement for Coal: An Energy Yield, Cost and Emission Comparison”, investigated whether biodiesel derived from cyanobacteria (Spirulina) could be a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to coal. South Africa generates over 80% of its electricity from coal, which, despite its energy efficiency, produces harmful emissions contributing to air pollution, climate change, and negative health outcomes.
“I wanted to explore a renewable energy source that could reduce environmental harm while being practical for South Africa,” said Malamatsho. “Working in SMU’s labs gave me the tools and guidance I needed to turn my idea into a real project.”
The research focused on Spirulina because it is fast-growing, lipid-rich, and does not compete with crops, making it a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production. Malamatsho compared energy yield, emissions, and production costs between Spirulina-based biodiesel and coal, aiming to determine whether cyanobacteria-based biofuels could support South Africa’s transition to cleaner energy.
Professor Mugivhisa commented, “This project demonstrates the incredible potential of young scientists to address real-world problems. Malamatsho’s work embodies SMU’s values of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility.”
Seseng added, “It was inspiring to guide Malamatsho. Her curiosity, dedication, and scientific rigour set a great example for other students aspiring to make a difference.”
The study highlighted the potential of cyanobacteria-based biodiesel as a cleaner energy alternative, with promising implications for energy policy and environmental sustainability. Beyond the scientific findings, Malamatsho’s achievement illustrates the importance of mentorship, access to resources, and collaboration between educational institutions. SMU’s support provided a professional environment for high-quality experimental research, reflecting the university’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering social responsibility.
Malamatsho’s success exemplifies how young innovators can transform ideas into impactful scientific solutions, inspiring peers, educators, and future scientists to pursue research addressing local and global challenges.
By celebrating this achievement, SMU reaffirms its commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, emphasising its mission to shape leaders, advance science, and promote sustainable development. Malamatsho’s acquisition of a gold medal at the Eskom Expo is a shining example of what can be achieved when talent meets opportunity, mentorship, and institutional support.
By Dimakatso Modise
