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14 April 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
Jeremiah Hlahla
Jeremiah Hlahla, 27, proudly graduates with a PhD in Botany.

At just 27 years old, Dr Jeremiah Hlahla has achieved a remarkable milestone: earning his PhD in Botany, conferred on Thursday 10 April. His journey is one of perseverance, academic curiosity, and the determination to rise above significant personal and financial challenges.  

 

Resilience rooted in early hardship 

Growing up in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga, Dr Hlahla’s early life was marked by profound loss. His mother passed away when he was still young, and in Grade 11, he lost his father. Left without the support of his immediate family, he was placed in an orphanage alongside his sister. Despite these immense challenges, Dr Hlahla remained focused on his education.  

“From Grade 10, I stayed behind at school to do my homework and study,” he recalls. “By Grade 12, I asked the pastor if I could use the church office to study. He allowed me, and throughout matric, I would go straight from school to the church office.” 

 

A passion for science and a decisive pivot 

Dr Hlahla’s fascination with science began in Grade 4 when he first encountered the topic of Matter and Materials. “It was a fascinating subject for me,” he says. By Grade 9, he had decided to become a scientist, though he was still unsure of the specific field. 

After matric, he negotiated with an Anglo-American bursary manager to study biology instead of electrical engineering. “I later applied for biochemistry and botany at the University of Johannesburg because I enjoyed biology - but over the years, I found plant science especially interesting.” 

The pivotal moment in his life came when he was awarded an Anglo-American scholarship. “That was a huge turning point in my life,” he says. “After matric, I didn’t know what I would do next. But after one psychometric exam and two rounds of interviews, I received the scholarship, and my life improved.” 

With renewed motivation, he continued his studies and pursued a Master's degree, despite having no financial resources at the time. “When I arrived at the University of the Free State (UFS), I had just left Pretoria with my bags and no money,” he recalls. His supervisor, Dr Makoena Moloi, recommended him for a National Research Foundation (NRF) grant to cover his expenses. He was later awarded a bursary from Carl Zeiss. 

“Dr Moloi wanted a hardworking person,” Dr Hlahla says. “She also helped me improve my academic writing.”

 

Perseverance through a pandemic 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected setbacks, derailing his MSc research. “After the lockdown, I returned to find my plants had died. I had to start from scratch,” he says. Despite this, he completed his experiments by August 2021 and submitted his MSc with distinction. 

“It is incredibly rewarding to see years of hard work culminate in a PhD,” he reflects. 

 

Looking ahead: Researching for a food-secure future 

Now a postdoctoral researcher in plant breeding, Dr Hlahla is working on developing drought-tolerant edamame cultivars – research inspired by his PhD work. 

 “What excites me the most is breeding drought-tolerant edamame cultivars based on my previous research,” he says. “I am also thrilled to be working with Prof Maryke Labuschagne and Prof Rouxlene van der Merwe.” 

Dr Hlahla’s journey has given him insight into what it takes to succeed against the odds. His message to students navigating hardship is clear: 

“Stay focused on your goals. How you respond to what happens to you will determine your future. Someone is always willing to help - so find support and use it. Hard work, willingness, and determination will take you far.”

News Archive

Art on Disasters to heal communities
2014-05-27

 
Fadzai Nyamusamba showing interest in the work: "Working on fire". This artwork was painted and donated by Mariette Pretorius, a professional artist from Bloemfontein. This art piece will be displayed at the South African National Disaster Management Centre in Pretoria.
Photo: Supplied
The Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) at our university, recently launched its Art on Disasters initiative at the Gallery on Leviseur in Bloemfontein. 

Disasters have a devastating effect on societies and are accompanied by fear, uncertainties and often post-traumatic stress disorders. The creative arts have the ability to comfort survivors and those affected by tragedy. Amid disaster, art serves as a memorial, aids in the healing process and helps these communities to interpret their emotions. 

This is precisely the main focus of the Art on Disasters project. It aims to develop paintings, sculptures, dramas, theatre productions, poetry and music in collaboration with artists. These productions will then be presented to communities at risk of, or affected by, disasters, to create awareness and foster healing. 

Furthermore, the initiative will conduct research on art as a form of therapy and co-ordinate rehabilitation experts to assist the relevant communities. The artworks collected by the project, will be sold or auctioned to help raise funds. The proceeds will then be donated to a worthy cause as part of DiMTEC’s commitment to community service. 

The project will help console and heal communities and aspire to generate greater resilience to trauma. It will also give humanitarian workers the opportunity to advocate for disaster risk reduction and offer them an opportunity for psychological debriefing after attending to affected communities. 

“We will collect different categories of art related to all forms of disasters. These include paintings, photography, sculptures, poetry, music, theatre productions and short stories,” said Dr Andries Jordaan, Director of DiMTEC. “Stephanie Peters, Thomas Hart Benton, Tania Kovats and Medhi Naimi are just a few of the many artists that paint on man-made and natural disasters. They are artists that believe in art therapy as a form of self-expression, well-being and recovery,” he added. 

For more information about this initiative, or to possibly contribute as an artist, please contact Olivia Kunguma from DiMTEC on +27(0)51 401 9699 or kungumao@ufs.ac.za .

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