Young innovators at the CSIR are making impactful changes. Afika Singano, Shothodzo Mukwena and Bonke Nomlala have developed sustainable solutions to improve mobility in the transport sector. This Youth Month and beyond, we recognise Afika, Shothodzo and Bonke Nomlala as phenomenal members of #TeamCSIR who are strengthening their roles as young trailblazers accelerating transport innovation.
Through their work at the CSIR Smart Mobility cluster, the three have implemented innovative ideas addressing current transport challenges, which will contribute to more efficient systems, highlight how youth is shaping the future of South Africa and enhance sustainable development.
Afika Singano
31-year-old Afika Singano is a researcher in the Passenger Transport Group who specialises in high-impact mobility projects. His work spans key provincial initiatives including the Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Public Transport Master Plans, Logistics Observatory, and urban network planning initiatives, which support improved mobility and efficient transport systems, including complex environments such as minibus taxi networks.
“I have spearheaded research utilising remote sensing and machine learning to analyse South African road quality conditions and improve emergency response tracking,” he explains.
His innovative contribution recently earned him areceived the National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) award as part of the BioSCape Airborne Remote Sensing Observation team. Afika has an academic foundation in Geology, Geography, and Geoinformatics. Afika holds a Master of Science in Geoinformatics from the University of Pretoria.
His dedication to research and planning excellence positions him as a promising young leader, driving innovation and sustainable development in South Africa’s transport sector.
Shothodzo Mukwena
Shothodzo (22) is part of the CSIR team which has deployed technical support leading to 8 of the 10 IGR workstreams - collaboration and engagement between CSIR and COGTA IGR workstreams. His technical skills have added real value to the team, providing oversight on the turnaround of local government strategy that enhances governance in Gauteng.
Since joining the Transport Infrastructure Management team in August 2025 as an MICTSETA work-integrated learner, Shothodzo has modernised the visualised taxi routes using legacy datasets, transforming an outdated interface into a sleek, modern tool that improves the group's analysis and interpretation of transport data.
“The province is using technology and coordinated governance to strengthen oversight, improve decision-making and accelerate service delivery. My duties involve developing a digital dashboard, known as the Gauteng Smart City Performance Monitor, which measures the performance of 11 municipalities in Gauteng, as set out in the turnaround strategy,” he explains.
Shothodzo recently obtained a Diploma in Computer Science from the Tshwane University of Technology and is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis with MANCOSA.
His career highlights include being featured on the SABC 4IR show, where he showcased his incredible work of digitising and visualising future taxi routes. His contribution reflects the innovation and potential of young professionals.
Bonke Nomlala
At the Advanced Materials Testing Lab (AMTL), Bonke Nomlala serves as a senior technician in the Pavement Design and Construction research group, where he contributes to testing and analysing innovative and sustainable road materials.
His work includes exploring the use of waste materials such as coal fly ash in road construction, supporting environmentally friendly approaches to infrastructure development.
Through his technical expertise and problem-solving approach, Bonke applies scientific principles to real-world engineering challenges, contributing to cutting-edge research that strengthens infrastructure.
The 35-year-old describes, “My work focuses on applying both established and advanced testing methods to develop practical, sustainable solutions for the built environment, ensuring that infrastructure is both durable and forward-looking.”
He holds a Bachelor of Science Honours in Geology from the University of the Western Cape and an Accelerated Managerial Leadership Development certificate from Wits Business School.
His educational background and skills position Bonke as a promising young professional in science and engineering.
Collectively, these three young CSIR professionals demonstrate skills driven by innovation that make impactful approaches in transport and shape a more sustainable future for South Africa.
Published 19 June 2026