Titel of Study:
Combining SWAT hydrological modelling with UAV technology for optimal placement of control measures in large gully networks

Level of study:
PHD

Department:
Geography

Supervisor:
Prof. JJ le Roux

Fun fact:
I have had the privilege of staying on a remote sub-Antarctic Island for over a year and have also ventured into the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) close to Antarctica.

Title of study:
Student Teachers’ experiences of using Translanguaging to facilitate learning at a Community Centre

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Language

Supervisor:
Dr M Mojaki
Co-supervisor: Dr N Mpalami

Fun fact:
An interesting fact about me is that I am a good gospel singer 😊

Title of study:
Linking Supply Chain Enablers with SMEs’ Performance.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Business Management 

Supervisor: 
Dr WV Loury Okoumba
Co-supervisor: Dr A van Noordwyk

Fun fact:
I am running an entire farm without an agricultural qualification, demonstrating that anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it. 

Title of study:
The mediating role of business sustainability in the relationship between youth entrepreneurship and job creation in Thabo Mofutsanyane.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Business Management

Supervisor:
Dr T Zhowa

Fun fact:
One thing I discovered about myself while on my research journey is that I am industrious and always strive to deliver high quality work.

Title of study:
Identification and characterisation of endophytic microorganisms as biological agents for mitigating drought stress in soybean (Glycine max L.)
Level of study: Masters

Department: 
Plant Science 

Supervisor: 
Dr MJ.Moloi,
Co-supervisor: Dr A Gokul and Dr N Muzhinji

Fun fact:
Interestingly, Botany chose me before I chose it, and it quickly became a passion, as reflected in many of my distinctions. My fascination with plants grew even more after learning about the Venus flytrap, my favourite plant, which continues to inspire my curiosity.

Title of study:
Service Delivery Protests in the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality, Free State: Exploring Municipal Service Delivery and Community Responses.

Level of study:
Masters 

Department:
Sociology 

Supervisor:
Dr D Nzima
Co-supervisor: Dr Platzky-Miller

Fun fact:
During data collection, I was briefing a lady about my research, and she happily agreed to participate and assured me that they had no service delivery challenges and that everything was perfectly fine. And then, as if the universe was listening, the electricity cut right there and then! We just froze, looking at each other like, “Did that really just happen?” A moment later, she suddenly felt sick and didn’t want to continue. So, I had to stop the recording, leave her house, and tear up the consent form. Moral of the story: in service delivery research, sometimes the data speaks louder than the participants.

Title of study:
Helminth infections in ruminants and snail diversity in QwaQwa, Eastern Free State province of South Africa

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoology and Entomology

Supervisor:
Dr N Nyembe
Co-supervisor: Dr L Mofokeng

Fun fact:
An interesting twist in my research is that the very helminth infections I am studying now once affected me personally. As a young boy, about 8-10 years ago, I was infected with urinary schistosomiasis (bilharzia). What was once a personal health experience has now become part of the driving force behind my passion for this research.

Title of study:
Spatial Modelling of Groundwater Potential Zones Using Remote Sensing Data, GIS and Machine Learning Algorithm in Mountainous Regions: A Case Study of Qwaqwa.

Level of study: 
Masters

Department:
Department of Geography

Supervisor:
Dr K Mashiane

Fun fact:
Mountains don’t just block roads; they block data too! Steep slopes and shadows often hide parts of the landscape from satellites, so I had to piece together missing data like solving a puzzle.

Title of study:
Exploring the Intersection Between Water, Electricity and Quality Health Access: The Case of Qwaqwa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr K Moyo
Co-supervisor: Dr D Nzima

Fun fact:
My research is about water and electricity, but ironically, both often ghosted me throughout the thesis. In the end, it took 1000 cups of coffee, 100s of breakdowns, and 18 dramatic ‘I’m quitting’ speeches—basically, I survived!

Title of study:
Characterising and resistant profiles of enteropathogens isolated from water bodies and domestic animals in Qwaqwa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoology and Entomology

Supervisor:
Dr N Nyembe
Co-supervisor: Dr Lehlohonolo Mofokeng

Fun fact:
Believe it or not, I work on a project about parasites in cattle and other livestock, but I keep my distance — the animals scare me more than the parasites do. Most people think the parasites I study are scary. For me, the real fear is the cows I collect samples from!

Title of study:
Genetic diversity and social impacts of commensal rodent pests in the eastern Free State, South Africa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoology and Entomology 

Supervisor:
Prof P Taylor

Fun fact:
Rodents have ever-growing incisors with open roots, which is why they continuously gnaw on hard objects to prevent their teeth from overgrowing.

Title of study:
Analysing the Resilience and Adaptation Strategies of QwaQwa Residents in the Midst of the Water crisis

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr S Sele 
Co-supervisor: Dr M Phadi

Fun fact:
I’m not afraid to try something different, but once I sink into the comfort of sleep, I forget that anything else exists.

Title of study:
Community perspectives of attacks on migrant-owned shops   during service delivery protests in Phutjaditjhaba

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Sociology 

Supervisor:
Dr K Moyo 
Co-supervisor: Dr M Phadi

Fun fact:
During fieldwork, some migrant shop owners thought I was a government official- which led to them offering me a cold drink, something that in South Africa doesn’t just mean Coke, but also a polite little bribe. I just stood there holding a Coke, wondering why I suddenly felt like a politician on campaign.

Title of study:
Impact of Temperature Fluctuations on the Efficacy of Pesticides and the Development of Innate Resistance in Mosquito Populations

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoology and Entomology

Supervisor:
N Ngitheni
Co-supervisor: Dr M Kamdem, Prof P Voua Otomo

Fun fact:
I get to observe firsthand the fascinating ways mosquitoes adapt to their environment. The behavioural and enzyme activities changes makes this research a unique window into the intricate dance between climate and insect biology

Title of study:
Let’s talk human-bat interactions and social vocalization of two commensal bat species in the foothills of the Maloti-Drakensberg region.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoology and Entomology

Supervisor:
Prof PJ Taylor

Fun fact:
I like to say I study bat linguistics.

Title of study: 
Students’ perceptions of risky sexual behaviours: An explorative study of undergraduate students in a selected university.

Level of study:
Masters 

Department:
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr D Ndzima 

Fun fact:
I talk to myself when I’m figuring things out and I don’t mind having a full conversation with me!

Title of study:
Exploring the Role of Women in Addressing Water Scarcity in Qwaqwa: Challenges, Resilience and Community-Based Solutions

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr S Sello
Co-supervisor: Dr K Moyo

Fun fact:
An interesting fact about me is that I often get completely lost in my thoughts while working on something important, like my research proposal. Sometimes I’ll spend hours thinking through ideas or reading about a topic without even realizing how much time has passed. It’s a little weird, but it helps me notice small details and come up with creative solutions.

Title of study:
Social Capital Factors Influencing Entrepreneurship Success in the Informal Sector in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State Province.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Development Studies

Supervisor:
Dr C Mudzingiri

Fun fact:
The nature in which studies on marginalized/disadvantaged communities are treated in order to obtain ethical approval is counterproductive. In my submission I propose that the board of ethics considers having direct personnels to oversee studies on marginalized/disadvantaged groups or communities. Personnels must be at least someone with close knit relations with marginalized/disadvantaged groups or communities, someone who thoroughly assess the area of the study and provide comprehensive analysis of whether the study can be conducted or not with scientific evidence 

Title of study:
Spatial distribution of the dominant invasive alien species in the Namahadi catchment area and their importance to rural livelihoods of communities of Phuthaditjhaba.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Zoologyark

Supervisor:
Prof VR Clark

Title of study: 
Exploring the water-energy nexus on the livelihood portfolios of the Phuthaditjhaba community. 

Level of study: 
Masters

Department:  
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor: 
Dr G Magaiza

Fun fact: 
When I am not researching serious issues like water and electricity access, I enjoy experimenting with hairstyles and creative looks. I believe creativity in daily life also inspires creativity in research.

Title of study:
Investigating opportunities and challenges for Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development in Qwaqwa

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Geography 

Supervisor:
Dr Melissa Hansen, Ntebohiseng Sekhele, and Solomon Zondo

Title of study:
Phytochemical profiling and in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of Hermannia geniculata Eckl. & Zeyh. leaves extracts.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Plant Science 

Supervisor:
Dr PJ Mojou

Fun fact: 
I work with plants used for healing for generations, using scientific tests to validate their efficacy and potential for health.

Title of study:
Understanding Public Awareness and Response to Zero Waste
Strategies in Rural and Urban Qwaqwa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr S Sele
Co-supervisor: Dr K Moyo

Fun fact:
I like to think I’m tough… but I have arachnophobia, acrophobia, and cherophobia

Title of study:
Exploring transportation challenges experienced by non-resident students at University of the Free State, Qwaqwa campus

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies 

Supervisor:
N Dlamini

Title of study:
Assessing the effectiveness of household solid waste management practices and their impacts on the environment and public: The case of Phuthaditjhaba and Makwane in the Free State
Province, South Africa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Geology

Supervisor:
Dr M Hansen
Co-supervisor: Prof G Mukwada

Fun fact:
I always considered myself a social science researcher all about society research; however, I realised that I have the skills to incorporate the science methods, such as GIS and Remote Sensing techniques, to better validate the qualitative methods in data collection and analyses.

Title of study:
Sustainability of agroecological practices in small-scale farming systems: a case study of Tsheseng Qwaqwa.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Geology 

Supervisor:
Dr M Sanele
Co-supervisor: S Zondo and Dr M Katleho

Fun fact:
My research journey has been fascinating. I went to the field thinking I’d study how farmers use agroecology, but I came back with more interesting knowledge from them than I could ever fit into my dissertation. It showed me that research is just as much about people and their stories as it is about data.

Title of study:
Exploring the role of social entrepreneurship in youth development: A case of Maluti-A-Phofung municipality

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor:
Dr G Magaiza

Title of study:
Exploring indigenous water conservation strategies to address water scarcity in Tsheseng, South Africa

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor:
Dr G Magaiza

Title of study: 
Invertebrate assemblages and vegetation dynamics in high elevation wetlands of the eastern escarpment, South Africa.

Level of study: 
Masters

Department: 
Plantation Science

Supervisor: 
Sandy-Lynn Steenhuisen
Co-supervisor: Mark Robertso and Kyle Lloyd

Fun fact: 
I have a twin brother, yes – we have switched classes, and no one noticed.

Title of study:
The development of porphyrin–schiff base sensors for colorimetric detection of multiple heavy metals.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Chemistry

Supervisor: 
Dr P Makolokolo

Fun fact:
My experiments are more like working with magic, instead of pulling out flowers or birds out of the magical hat I’m pulling out colours out of water samples.

Title of study:
Exploring Social Entrepreneurship as a climate change adaptation strategy for small scale farmers in Qwaqwa. 

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor:
Dr G Magiaza

Title of study:
Exploring puppetry’s Influence on Grade 8 learners’ Natural Science engagement in rural QwaQwa Schools.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology

Supervisor:
Dr Okwara

Title of study:
Understanding Spiritual Diversity (ubungoma) in Higher Education

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor:
Dr N Shenge

Title of study:
Exploring Principal’s experiences with implementing Standards for Principalship to enhance school professionalism: Thabo Mofutsanyane District

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Education

Supervisor:
Dr L Zide

Title of study:
Exploring community-based strategies to address water scarcity in Tsheseng.

Level of study:
Masters

Department:
Centre for Gender and Africa Studies

Supervisor:
Dr G Magiaza

Title of study:
Advancement of Sodium-ion energy storage and characterisation instruments

Level of study:
PHD

Department:
Physics 

Supervisor:
Prof R Ocaya

Title of Study: 
The use of technology in teaching Map skills in Thabo Mofutsanyane primary schools: An explorative study

Level Study: 
Masters

Department: 
Department of Education 

Supervisor: 
Dr K Molapo

Title of Study: 
Perceptions of access to digital and in-person mental health services among university students: A study og UFS Qwaqwa.

Level Study: 
Masters

Department: 
Pyscology

Supervisor:
Dr M Ramarumo

Title of study:
Role and Sustainability of Traditional Water Resources in Rural Livelihoods of South Africa: A Case Study of Qwaqwa Makwane Village.

Level of study:
Honours

Department:
Geography

Supervisor:
S Zondo

Fun fact:
In some rural areas, traditional water resources are more reliable than modern municipal water supply systems.

Title of study:
Recurring Water Outages in Ntshehele Village: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Community Members

Level of study:
Honours

Department: 
Sociology

Supervisor:
Dr M Khangelani

Fun fact:
I can write a whole essay in one night, but it can take me three days to choose a movie on Netflix.

Title of study:
Identification, Risk-Associated Factors, and the Social Impact of Hard Ticks Infesting Livestock in Qwaqwa

Level of study:
Honours

Department:
Zoology and Entomology

Supervisor:
Dr N Nyembe
Co-supervisor: Dr Lehlohonolo Mofokeng

Fun fact:
I am lactose intolerant, but I continuously refuse to stay away from dairy 

Title of study:
Examining the impact of Service Delivery on Sustainable Local Economic Development in the Maluti-A-phofung local Municipality

Level of study:
Honours

Department:
Public Administration and Management

Supervisor:
TD Modirapula

Fun fact:
I fear heights. However, l love hiking

Title of study:
Examining the impact of Service Delivery on Sustainable Local Economic Development in the Maluti-A-Phofung local Municipality

Level of study:
Honours

Department:
Public Administration and Management

Supervisor:
TD Modirapula

Fun fact:
An interesting fact about me is that, at first, I didn’t know what my course entailed but as time went by I fell in love it and eventually graduated with a distinction.