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Unpacking women empowerment with Dr. Xaba
By Thato Phalole – 27 August 2021
Born and bred in KwaZulu-Natal, Kwa-Mashu where she completed her matric at Zakhe High school. Dr Thokozani Xaba later attained her Bachelor in Science (BSc), BSc (Hons) and MSc degree in Chemistry from the University of Zululand, Empangeni, where she later worked as a Laboratory Technician and a part-time Lecturer. She currently works as a Senior Lecturer in the Biotechnology and Chemistry Department. In the previous year, she served as the Head of the Chemistry Department until May 2021. Her approachable, caring and supportive personality led to her journey at the Vaal University of Technology. In 2009, she began working as a full-time Lecturer in the Chemistry Department. She enrolled and obtained her Advanced Diploma in Higher Education (ADHE) in 2012, a qualification offered in cooperation with VUT by the University of the Free State. She then began her Doctoral Degree in Chemistry at VUT in 2013 in the Nanotechnology/Adsorption department, which she finished and graduated in 2017.
Dr Xaba had always wanted to be a scientist since there were so few women with this kind of background, especially in Africa. Like most people, she encountered challenges. The shortage of instruments for characterization was the biggest challenge as a researcher at VUT during the course of her study. In 2015, she got an opportunity to spend five months at the University of Manchester in England. This specific university had all of the resources for her research project, she was able to complete several sections of it during that period. She was also practicing her teaching and research experiences by conducting chemistry research lessons to some of the postgraduate students at Manchester University. This also served as a proof that South Africans can play an important role in the world of research using the knowledge that is internally acquired. However she managed to overcome the bad encounters by incorporating positivity throughout the journey.
Her personal achievements entailed receiving several awards which include three first prizes from three different international conferences for being the best oral presenter in the 5th Nano Africa conference; the best poster presenter in the 5th Green Chemistry Conference in Durban in 2014 and in the 8th Green Chemistry Conference in Russia, in 2018. She also received a PhD track, Thuthuka funding grant for her research project from 2014 to 2017; the sabbatical grant from NRF in 2015 to complete her studies and the post-PhD track Thuthuka funding grant that she is holding till to date since 2018. During her teaching years, she won the Merit Award in 2014 and the first prize under the category “Highest Recognition Award” in 2017 in VUT Rector’s Award for Teaching and Excellence (RATE). The year 2018 became a milestone for her as she was amongst the eight best University Lecturers from different Universities in South Africa that were chosen as the best Lecturers for 2018 by the Department of Higher Education.
She is actively involved in her department’s research efforts, serving on the Faculty Research and Innovation Committee (FRIC). Dr. Xaba has supervised and graduated numerous postgraduate students pursuing B-tech, Masters, and PhD degrees in the midst of publishing a number of research articles in accredited journals. “STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs and its subjects are very important in our livelihoods. Future scientists who can help to discover new technologies and the cures for the unhealable diseases, can be discovered from the learners who are pursuing these types of subjects.” she says.
Her position as the Primary President and teacher at her local church for the past five years has influenced her approached when dealing with students, as she acquired a lot of patience during that time. Dr. Xaba took on the role of being a Sunday school teacher for the youth class at her church.
“To the colleagues and students who are still studying, I would like to say to them: dedication, patience and endurance to everything that you do, can elevate you to the top of the chart one day and empower yourself to become something that you have always wished to be. You must remember that there is success at the end of the tunnel. Doing my Doctorate has opened so many doors for me, it enabled me to visit countries like France, Germany, Russia and Thailand; to name a few.’’ Advises Dr Xaba.
As a proud South African woman celebrating both her birthday and women’s day in the same month. She believes that women have been gifted with a wide range of skills and abilities. She greatly emphasizes that women hold the key to the world’s future. “If we work together and support each other in everything we do, we can accomplish a lot.’’ She says boldly.