On Tuesday, 4 March 2025, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) celebrated the professorial inauguration of Professor Mamookho Elizabeth Makhatha, a distinguished scholar in Extraction Metallurgy within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). The prestigious event took place at UJ’s Ubuntu Chambers, Madibeng Building, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus.
In her inaugural address, titled “Shaping a Sustainable Future with Advanced Composite Materials,” Professor Makhatha explored the transformative potential of composite materials in engineering and sustainability.
The event was attended by esteemed guests, including Professor Bongani Ngqulunga, Senior Executive Director: University Relations, Student Affairs and UJ Sport, and Professor Peter Madindwa Mashinini, Acting Executive Dean: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE).
A response to the address was delivered by Professor Antoine Mulaba, Professor of Hydrometallurgy and Director of UJ’s Mineral Processing and Technology Research Centre.
Advancing sustainability through composite materials
Professor Makhatha’s address highlighted the growing significance of composite materials in modern engineering, particularly their ability to enhance polymer performance and expand application possibilities. She discussed how natural fibres, carbon nanotubes, and graphene have emerged as key reinforcements in composite production due to their unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties.
While these materials share advantages in structure and functionality, they also present distinct challenges in terms of synthesis, structural control, and molecular interactions with polymers. Natural fibres, in particular, offer a cost-effective and sustainable alternative due to their availability and ease of manufacturing.
Professor Makhatha emphasised that chemically treated natural fibres demonstrate improved properties, such as enhanced interfacial adhesion and greater impact toughness and fatigue strength in reinforced polymer composites.
Her research underscores the role of composite materials in advancing global sustainability efforts, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The address provided an in-depth overview of the preparation, structure, properties, and applications of these materials, offering insights into their broader contributions to industrial and structural advancements.
A pioneering career in materials science
Professor Makhatha joined UJ in 2010 as a Senior Lecturer, managing analytical and wet laboratories, while also teaching, supervising, and conducting independent research. Over the years, she transitioned into a leadership role, excelling in research, innovation, and postgraduate supervision. To date, she has successfully supervised 24 Master’s and five doctoral students.
Her research contributions are extensive, with 112 published documents and a Scopus h-index of 17. She has presented her work at national and international conferences, further cementing her reputation in the field. Notably, she has registered two patents, one in collaboration with the National University of Lesotho.
Professor Makhatha’s research interests span multiple areas, including the chemistry of composite materials, degradation and thermal stability, microstructure, phase transformation, crystallinity, and solidification of materials. She actively contributes to academic excellence as an external examiner, journal reviewer, and panel member for the National Research Foundation (NRF) grant reviews.
Watch the Full Address
Watch Professor Makhatha’s insightful inaugural address, below:
