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Maggie
Momba
Professor, Department of Environmental, Water, and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology |
Professor Maggy NB Momba is currently a Research Professor in the Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences at Tshwane University of Technology. She was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and educated at the Lycée de Bikoro for her primary school and high school and at the University of Kisangani for her BSc Honours and Master degrees in Biology. In 1987, she was employed by the ‘Depot Central Medico-Pharmaceutic de Kinshasa’ as a senior laboratory scientist. In 1989, she was offered a research position at the former Zairian Institute for the Conservation of the Nature (IZCN). In 1991, she proceeded to study the Management of Natural Resource and Protection of the Environment at Clark Atlanta University, in Georgia, USA.
During her early academic sojourn in South Africa, she worked closely at the University of Pretoria with Professor Thomas Eugene Cloete, her Master (1993-1995) and PhD (1995-1997) supervisor, on the optimization of wastewater and drinking water treatment, foremost research endeavor in the subject area worldwide.
At the completion of her PhD, she immediately secured an appointment at the University of Fort Hare, where she distinguished herself as a high profile microbiology educator, researcher and prolific writer, with international persuasion. She conducted research activities on various aspects of water and wastewater use with emphasis on health-related water microbiology, drinking water treatment and on-site training of the small rural water supply operators, and on the use of microorganisms to inhibit water pollution. These research achievements let to a National Women in Water Award in the research over 35 Category in 2005. A part from this award, Prof Momba also received the Vice- Chancellor’s senior research medal at the University of Fort Hare in the same year. In 2004, Maggy won an award for ‘Outstanding Community Support” organized by the Second International Conference on Safe Water, held in Johannesburg. These awards elevated her status as a force to reckon with, in terms of water research in South Africa and beyond. Professor Momba is a warrior, not only for water, but also for the eradication of poverty.
In addition to the above, she has supervised several undergraduate & postgraduate students and has over 80 publications to her credits. She is a member of several professional associations, including Water SA editorial Board, Water Institute of South Africa, Water Research Commission Steering Committee, National Research Foundation panel for research funding, International Water Association (IWA) and reviewer of refereed journals (Water Research, Water SA, Applied Microbiology, South African Journal of Science, Water and Health, Water Science and Technology, Journal of Environmental Management). Professor Momba has attended and presented several papers at international conferences in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, United State of America and locally. For the past 10 years, she has been external examiner at postgraduate level at University of Pretoria, University of Venda, Durban Institute of Technology, University of KwaZulu Natal, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and University of Johannesburg.