Another achievement that Professor Sibiya asked permission from staff to shoehorn, was that of Nokukhanya Thembane, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, who won the 2024 Dr Esther Mahlangu Award for Indigenous Knowledge Systems from the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA). “I am speechless. It is a humbling honour. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as a scientist in our country. Thank you for the support of the MUT community,” said a teary Thembane who was taken by surprise when the Vice-Chancellor honored her in front of her MUT colleagues