Dr Vathi Papu-Zamxaka

Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Engagement

Dr. Vathi Papu-Zamxaka is a research and innovation leader currently serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement at Tshwane University of Technology. She holds a PhD degree in Public Health from London South Bank University in the United Kingdom and a Master of Science degree in Public Health from the University of Umeå in Sweden. She has recently been awarded a certificate of completion for the Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy Program at Harvard University in the United States of America. She worked at the Medical Research Council as a Senior Scientist, and as a Project Director for Microbicide Trials Network at Perinatal HIV Research Unit. She later joined the National Research Foundation as a Director for Applied Research & Innovation Grants and subsequently took a position of Director for Reviews & Evaluation. She then moved to a multinational research company, Synexus Clinical Research, where she served as the Country Director, overseeing South Africa, Uganda & Tanzania.

Whilst in private sector, she served as the Board member for the National Research Foundation and for Sci-Bono Discovery Centre. She is currently serving as a Board member for Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a Pharmaceutical company, based in Cape Town. As a passionate Scientist, she has been featured on a number of magazines and has been interviewed by a number of radio & TV stations on Science matters. She conceptualised and produced a TV show, profiling Scientists in the country, which she hosted on DSTV, channel 265.
She joined TUT as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Engagement in November 2020.

Professor Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science

Professor Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann holds a Doctor of Technology in Chemistry and an MBA in Education Management. She possesses more than 25 years’ experience in higher education, in different capacities including university senior management. She is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at Tshwane University of Technology. Prior to that she was the Director of Mamelodi Campus at the University of Pretoria and the inaugural Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda. She is a Full Professor and a C-2 National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. Prof Mokgalaka-Fleischmann has served on numerous boards and advisory committees including the South Africa-Swedish University Forum (SASUF) Academic Advisory Committee for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Sustainability, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) National Doctoral Review panel, the NRF advisory committee of the South Africa-Netherlands Research Cooperation, amongst others. Prof Mokgalaka-Fleischmann is currently a council member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), where she chairs the Qualifications Assessment Committee. She also serves in the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector Committee and has been involved in several women in STEM as well as science awareness and advocacy initiatives nationally and internationally.

Ms Hildah Ramorulana

Senior Administrator

Ms Hildah Ramorulana recently completed her Master’s in Business administration (MBA) from TUT/TSB, B. Com Honours Degree in Business Management from UNISA, B. Com Degree in Financial Management from UNISA, and Advance Diploma in Project Management from TUT. Hildah Ramorulana joined Tshwane University of Technology in 2008 and the Centre for Tissue Engineering at the beginning of 2016 as Senior Administrator. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she also acquired a certificate of service design intensive course organised by Laurea University in Finland. She has over 15 years of experience in financial management with her scope of work including, overall supervision of the designated Administration Department, managing of finances including preparation of budgets, and creation of financial statements to determine profit and/ or loss. She also manages all purchase invoices, payments, sales invoices, and accounts receivable as well as ensuring the protection and security of confidential files and records.

Hildah Ramorulana is a visionary leader who excels in strategic planning, team development, process improvement, effective communication, and stakeholder management. Her holistic approach to leadership ensures the organization thrives in a dynamic and challenging environment. Her foresight and planning capabilities enable her to anticipate challenges and seize opportunities, maintaining a balance between ambition and pragmatism. Hildah Ramorulana is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment. She advocates for continuous improvement, consistently seeking ways to enhance processes and workflows.

Dr DJM Frantzen

Medical DirectorDr Frantzen qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon in 2001 at the University of Pretoria. After this he completed a 2-year fellowship in tumour and infection surgery in the same department, this being his main interest in the field of orthopaedics. From 2003-2006 he was head of the tumour and sepsis unit at the Pretoria Academic hospital orthopaedic department. He joined full time private practice in 2006, specialised in tumour, infection and joint arthroplasty work. Dr Frantzen is still involved in the academic training of pre-and post-graduate students at the University of Pretoria. He has also actively been involved in the outreach and teaching of Orthopaedic trauma in the East, Central and Southern African countries since 2003 in collaboration with the AO Foundation.

He is registered at the HPCSA and is a member of the SAOA, (South African Orthopaedic Association) as well as a fellow of COSECSA (College of surgeons of Eastern Africa).

Mr Marais Steyn

Tissue Procurement Supervisor

During his previous 10 years of tissue banking experience, Marais obtained a Graduate diploma in Tissue banking from the National University of Singapore as well as a Tissue banking and advanced tissue and cell banking diploma from TPM at the University of Barcelona (2009). He joined the CTE in 2012 and recently completed an Eye banking, Cornea procurement and Laminar processing of cornea for transplantation course by International Sight Restoration, USA. As Procurement Technologist his strong ethical conviction, integrity, loyalty and a firm belief that organ and tissue donation is a matter of the heart, keeps him grounded.

Ms Tshego Nkontlha

Quality & Compliance PractitionerMs Tshego Nkontlha joined the Centre for Tissue Engineering in 2014. She holds a B-Tech qualification in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a National Diploma in Biotechnology from TUT. In addition to her academic achievements, she has also acquired certificates in Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 & 13485), Risk Management for ISO 9001, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). With over 10 years in Quality Assurance, she has gained extensive industry experience in sectors as varied as osteogenic biomaterials, radiopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics. Her strong quality background in the healthcare field ensures that the Centre provides a consistently high standard of safe, quality human tissue allografts.

Prof Prince Ngobeni

Acting Campus Rector of Pretoria Campuses

After obtaining his National Diploma Analytical Chemistry in 1989 from Technikon North West he was employed at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for nine years. Whilst in the employ of the CSIR he obtained his National Higher Diploma in Chemistry at Technikon Pretoria in 1992. In 1995 he was employed by Technikon North West (TNW) as a chemistry lecturer and completed his MTech degree at Technikon Pretoria in 1998. In 2015, Professor Ngobeni was appointed as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a position he still holds. As the Executive Dean of Faculty of Science, he is also accountable for the Centre for Tissue Engineering. Currently he is the Acting Campus Rector of all Pretoria Campuses.

Ms Rhyleen Chauke

Operations Technologist

Rhyleen obtained a National Diploma and B-Tech Degree in Biotechnology at TUT and is currently studying towards obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Total Quality Management at UNISA. She joined the CTE in 2009 as Quality Control assistant and from there proceeded to gain valuable experience in all quality related matters. Her current duties as Quality Management Representative (QMR) includes ensuring that the Quality Management System is maintained and continually improves its effectiveness in accordance with ISO 13485 and 9001 standards.