A 26-year-old Department of Chemistry lecturer within the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Dr Senzekile Majola could not hold back her tears when she was awarded her Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at the 2025 Spring Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Friday, 19 September 2025.

Dr Senzekile Majola excited after obtaining her PhD.

Dr Majola, hails from an informal area near Folweni Township, called Nsimbini, in Durban. Despite recalling all the challenges she had faced in her life, her biggest wish was for her late mother to witness her victory.

One of the most difficult seasons she had experienced in her study journey had happened in September 2017, with the loss of her mother.

“In 2018, I returned to do DUT to my BTech whilst still deep in grief. I was attending counselling, taking antidepressants, and coping with their side effects, all while trying to keep up with my studies. It was not easy, but my determination to finish what I had started kept me going. Resilience, therapy, careful planning, and protecting my ‘me time’ became my survival tools. I knew if I didn’t take care of my mental health, I could lose my love for my studies. Even now, I remain committed to therapy as part of taking care of my mental health,” reflected Dr Majola.

She described herself as a determined and curious individual who loves learning and believes in continuously challenging herself by breaking barriers through education.

She first stepped onto the DUT Steve Biko Campus in 2015, to study for her National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry.  At that time, she had no funding, no bursaries, and no real knowledge about what opportunities existed. It was also far from easy for her as she was a self-payer. However, through hard work and a strong academic performance, she was selected in 2016, for the CHIETA bursary, by her lecturer at that time, Dr Pinkie Ntola, and who now holds the position of Interim Director of Technology, Transfer and Innovation at DUT. This was life-changing experience for her as she completed her diploma without the continual worry over the debt she owed.

“Looking back, my journey from being  a self-funded diploma student to a PhD candidate has been full of challenges, persistence, and moments of joy. In 2017, during my in-service training, I was inspired to pursue further studies whilst observing a colleague with a Master’s degree. Unlike other students with only a Diploma or BTech, her work was less routine-based and more research-focused, and she had greater opportunities. This motivated me to aim higher and commit to continuing my studies,” shared Dr Majola.

In 2018, she returned to DUT for her Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Chemistry. Financial challenges persisted, but by mid-year she received an NRF bursary, which cleared her fees and renewed her hope. In 2019, she registered for her Master of Applied Sciences in Chemistry under Dr Sabela, who generously supported her from his own funding until she again secured NRF funding in 2020. She completed her Master’s qualification in 2021, and immediately started her PhD journey in Chemistry, which was also funded by NRF.

In 2023, she was employed on contract to lecturer Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry,  in the Department of Chemistry, a role she still holds today. Further to the lecturing position, she also mentors and supervises Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) students, and assists Advanced Diploma students with their mini research projects, helping them to grow their skills and confidence in chemistry.

Speaking about her research, Majola said the title of her dissertation was: Development of electrochemical immunosensors for detection of insulin antibodies using indole-pyrazole nanoparticles. Her research is aimed at developing accessible and affordable drugs and diagnostic tools, blending her passion for chemistry with a desire to make a real impact in people’s lives.

Later in her academic journey, one of the biggest challenges she faced was a major research setback in 2023, during her PhD studies.

“My project blends organic synthesis and electrochemical sensing. My co-supervisors, Dr Makhanya and Prof Gengan, focused on the organic side, and my main supervisor,  Dr Sabela, focused on the electrochemistry side of the research. That year, both my organic synthesis supervisors were on extended medical leave, which left me in a predicament. My main supervisor supported me as much as possible, but without the necessary collaborations in organic synthesis, progress was slow. By the end of the year, I had no results to show and it felt like I had lost an entire year,” added Dr Majola.

In terms of her career, she noted that research and lecturing are a central part of her experience and will continue to be a permanent part of her journey. She envisions pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship either in South Africa, or overseas, in Europe or the United Kingdom. This will allow her to expand her experience to learn advanced techniques, especially in field of computational chemistry, which will complement her work in drug synthesis and electrochemical sensing. She believes too that this will enable her to better predict how molecules interact with sensors to optimise her approaches.

Ms Majola recounted: “I am actively engaged in community outreach through science programmes organised by the Department of Chemistry, bringing practical science experiences to learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, who might not otherwise have access. I am also the founder of Thokazi Helps, an initiative supporting Grade 12 learners in navigating university and funding applications, helping them see the available opportunities and guiding them toward achieving their dreams.”

As well as publishing a book chapter, Dr Majola has also published one paper in a DHET accredited journal and has a further paper in press. She was recently appointed to serve as a Quality Assurer for WorldSkills South Africa for Skill #52 (Chemical Laboratory Technician) in preparation for the WorldSkills Competitions 2026, to be held in Shanghai, China, in September 2026.

Pictured: Dr Senzekile Majola emotional on the graduation stage.

Simangele Zuma