For more than 25 years, Donita Africander’s life has been about science and academics. It was in 2024 that the little girl from Hawston Primary reached the pinnacle of her profession by being appointed as and given the title of Professor.
Prof Africander’s job mainly focuses on leading a team that studies medical issues affecting women and creating medicines that help solve those issues. She is one of the most prominent and respected academics in this area of biochemistry and the fact that she is a professor, is testament to this. The road to professorship, especially a science professor, takes a very long time and a lot of hard work.
Prof Africander first completed her biochemistry degree at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) before moving on to Stellenbosch University to complete her honours, masters and PhD It was also at Stellenbosch in 1998, that she started her academic career as a Lab Manager before being appointed as a lecturer in 2003. She continued on her journey towards professorship by lecturing, supervising masters and PhD students, scientific research and publishing several academic papers in international journals.
It was only in 2018 that she became an associate professor and then it took another 6 years to become a full professor.
During this time, she became a highly sought after speaker at scientific and women’s conferences, both nationally and internationally as well as being the treasurer of the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She currently serves as a Senior Editor for the Journal of Molecular Endocrinology and Journal of Endocrinology, a guest editor for a special issue of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and serves on UCT’s Appointment and Academic Promotions Committee of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty Committee, and the Faculty of Science Transformation Advisory Committee.
When asked what advice she would give young girls who want to follow in her footsteps, Professor Africander says that you have to work hard and believe in your abilities and potential. It was most certainly the case that the little girl from Hawston Primary believed in herself and became a celebrated scientist.
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