Researcher perseveres, succeeds against all odds

Growing up in a community characterised by a lack of resources to stimulate learning, poverty, substance abuse and high numbers of child-headed families is a dream killer for most youngsters.
However, Charles Maphanga, researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), did not allow similar conditions in Ga-Mampuru village, Sekhukhune to stop him from dreaming big.
His journey to become a scientist has proven that everyone is indeed the master of his or her own destiny.
The 31 year-old, the first in his family to attend university, not only graduated cum laude with a Masters (MSc) degree in Physics from the University of South Africa, but now aspires to pursue his doctorate.
A statement released by the CSIR indicated that Maphanga joined the Biophotonics group at the council under the National Laser Centre (NLC) unit in 2015. In the two years that Charles has been at the centre he has participated by contributing both oral as well as poster presentations locally and internationally, leading to the publication of four peer reviewed conference proceedings. Currently, he has one accepted peer reviewed journal publication and has submitted another for internal review. In addition, Charles successfully attracted international funding from the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers in the form of a travel grant to the value of $3200 ± R45 000, a commendable achievement for an MSc. student. He has also held a number of leadership roles in the CSIR’s Optics Student Chapter. In 2015/16 he was secretary general, in 2016/17 he was outreach coordinator and currently, he holds the role of being President of the chapter, the statement informed.
“While doing his MSc, Charles focused his research on the use of laser technology as an alternative technique for administering medicines into the human body in a targeted manner other than using the conventional enteral and parenteral routes of drug administration.”
Maphanga lauded his MSc supervisor and research group leader, Patience Mthunzi-Kufa for the role she played in shaping his career. “As a leader she has given me the platform to grow, voice my opinions and ideas while drawing on from my past academic experience as a source of inspiration. This in my view was a refreshing experience which motivated me to want to do better because she inspired me to be better,” continues the statement.
As a product of mentorship himself, Maphanga is also transferring knowledge and his life experience to scholars from his village. Additionally, he has been actively involved in a job-shadowing project this year where he mentored two scholars for science projects. One of the scholars he mentored during this period was selected to proceed to the Eskom National Expo for Young Scientists.
“I am passionate about developing young people in science, it gives me a sense of fulfilment and indirectly, it makes me feel like I am giving another young person an opportunity I never had growing up. “
Inspired by his love for science and young people, Maphanga is currently looking into establishing an organisation that will assist young people between grades 9 to 12 mainly from rural areas, to understand and realise the full potential of doing Mathematics and science. His vision is to establish low cost laboratories in rural areas.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com