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"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," by Isaac Newton.
"Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success."
Dr. Peace Mkhonto
Group Leader
Associate Professor: Materials Modelling Centre, UL
NRF Y1-Rated Researcher
Cluster Coordinator: Minerals Cluster, MMC
Future Professor Program (FPP) Candidate
Affiliate: South African Intitute of Physics (SAIP)
Affiliate: National Intitute of Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS)
Contact: Tel: (+27) 15 268 4773| Email: peace.mkhonto@ul.ac.za|
Postdoctoral and Postgraduate Researchers
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email: bradleynemu@gmail.com
Dr. Bradley Nemutudi
Bradley Nemutudi obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physical Sciences, majoring in Geology and Physics, an Honours degree in Physics, a Master of Science in Physics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from the University of Limpopo. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Materials Modelling Centre at the University of Limpopo. His research is centred on computational simulations of flotation reagents for various mineral systems, with a particular focus on surface properties and interactions of complex minerals such as sperrylite, platarsite and palladoarsenide. He has presented his work at several national and international conferences.
Awards/Scholarship
NRF Postdoctoral Fellow Funding holder (2025-2026)
Joint Research Centre (JRC) PhD Scholarship holder (2021-2023)
NRF PhD Scholarship holder (2023-2024)
Doctoral (PhD) Research Students
PhD Student
Email: thatosammuel50@gmail.com
Mr. Thato S. Manyama
Mr. Thato S. Manyama
Thato Sammuel Manyama obtained his BSc (Physics and Chemistry), BSc Hons and MSc in Physics from the University of Limpopo. H is currently a PhD cndidate in Physics (Materials Science) at the same University of Limpopo (Materials Modelling Centre). His research focuses on the separation of sulphide minerals using depressants, adopting computational techniques such as density functional theory (DFT) and ab-initio molecular dynamics with machine learned force fields (AIMD-MLFF).
Awards/Scholarship
1st Place Honours Poster Presentation – Faculty of Science and Agriculture (FSA), University of Limpopo (2019).
3rd Place PhD Poster Presentation – Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) National Annual Conference (2024).
Joint Research Centre (JRC) PhD Scholarship holder (2025-2027)
PhD Student
Email: nonzavala@gmail.com
Ms. Nontobeko N. Zavala
Ms. Nontobeko N. Zavala
Nontobeko received her BSc in Physics, BSc Honours in Physics and MSc Physics at the University of Limpopo. She joined the Materials Modelling centre at the University of Limpopo in 2021, and is currently pursuing her PhD research at the University of Limpopo specialising in the improvement of pentlandite and violarite minerals recovery adopting DFT and AIMD computational methods.
Awards/Scholarships
1st Place Honours Poster Preseneter - Condensed Matter Physics and/or Material Science (DPCMM) award from the 66th annual conference of the SA Institute of Physics in 2022.
NRF MSc Scholarship holder (2022-2023)
Masters (MSc) Research Students
MSc Student
Email: ivyn8012@gmail.com
Mr. Ivyn Ndhlovu
Mr. Ivyn Ndhlovu
Ivyn Ndhlovu obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences and his Honours degree in Physics from the University of Limpopo. He joined the MMC in January 2022. His current MSc research at the University of Limpopo focuses on interfacial materials science, particularly on the design and development of efficient novel collectors for the enhanced recovery of Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs).
MSc Student
Email: tsheporonaldo9@gmail.com
Mr. Tshepo R. Maaka
Mr. Tshepo R. Maaka
Tshepo Maaka received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Sciences and his Honours degree in Physics from the University of Limpopo. He joined the Materials Modelling Centre (MMC) in 2022. His current MSc research at the University of Limpopo (MMC) focuses on the materials science, particularly on the design and development of efficient novel collectors for the enhanced recovery of Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs).
Awards/ scholarship
SAMMRI MSc Scholarship holder (2023-2024).
MSc Student
Email: victormatlabjane@gmail.com
Mr. Lesetja V. Matlabjane
Mr. Lesetja V. Matlabjane
Lesetja Matlabjane holds BSc (Physical Science) and a BSc Honours (Physics) from the University of Limpopo. He joined Material Modelling Centre (MMC) in 2023. His MSc project focus on investigating lithium mineral surface using DFT and AIMD computational methods to develop a novel collector that will be effective in improving the flotation recoveries for beneficiation of lithium.
Masters Student
Email: 202225270@myturf.ul.ac.za
Ms. Carol M. Tlhaboloa
Ms. Carol M. Tlhaboloa
Carol Tlhaboloa received her BSc and BSc Honours in Geology from the University of Limpopo. Currently she is pursuing her masters using computational modlelling and experiemntal mineral processing techniques at the Materials Modelling Centre (MMC) at the University of Limpopo. Her research is focused on investigating the separtion of pyrite and chalcopyrite mineral exploring their surface interaction with collectors.
Masters Student
Email: 202202008@myturf.ul.ac.za
Mr. Cannimhambho Chewe
Mr. Cannimhambho Chewe
Cannimhambho Chewe received his BSc and BSc Honours in Geology from the University of Limpopo. Currently she is pursuing his masters using computational modlelling and experiemntal mineral processing techniques at the Materials Modelling Centre (MMC) at the University of Limpopo. His research is focused on investigating the separtion of galena and chalcopyrite mineral exploring their surface interaction with collectors.
Awards/ scholarship
3rd Place Honours Poster Presentation – Faculty of Science and Agriculture (FSA), University of Limpopo (2025).
Honours Research Students
Previous Supervised Students
Completed Postgraduate Supervised Students
Completed Masters Students
Bradley Nemutudi, M.Sc. Physics, Title: Computational Modelling Studies of PtAs2, PtAsS and Pd2As Mineral Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated: April 2021 (Co-Supervisor).
Barnard Molala, M.Sc. Physics, Title: Computational Modelling Studies of M9S8 (M = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt), (Ru,Pd)9S8 and (Os,Pt)9S8 Pentlandite-like Systems, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated: April 2021 (Co-Supervisor).
Thato S. Manyama, M.Sc. Physics, Computational Modelling Studies on Adsorption of Triazine and Xanthates in Water on Sperrylite and Cooperite Mineral Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, Graduated: April 2022 (Supervisor).
Segoarihle T. Ntobeng, M.Sc. Physics, Title: Computational modelling studies of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) and sperrylite (PtAs2) minerals, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, Graduated: April 2024 (Co-Supervisor).
Nontobeko N. Zavala, M.Sc. Physics, Title: Computational Study on Interaction of Heterocyclic, Triazine and Thionocarbamate Collectors with Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 Mineral Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, Graduated April 2025 (Supervisor).
Completed Doctoral Students
Samuel S. Mangoejane, Ph.D. Physics, Title: Density Functional Theory Studies of O2, H2O, OH– and Xanthates Adsorption on Platinum Antimonide (PtSb2) Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated: April 2021 (Co-Supervisor).
Barnard Molala, Ph.D. Physics, Title: Atomistic Simulation Studies of Pentlandite and Pentlandite-like Systems and Density Functional Theory Surface Studies of Pentlandite Doped with Platinum Group Elements (Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt), University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, Graduated: April 2025 (Co-Supervisor).
Bradley Nemutudi, Ph.D. Physics, Title: Modification and Adsorption of Triazine Collector on Sperrylite (PtAs2), Platarsite (PtAsS) and Palladoarsenide (Pd2As) Mineral Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, Graduated: September 2025 (Supervisor).
Completed Honours Students (Research Projects)
Prettier M. Maleka, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational Modelling Studies of O2/Pt Surface for Fuel-cell Application, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2016 (Female).
Bradley Nemutudi, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational Modelling of NiS2 and NiAs2 Systems and Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2019 (Male).
Thato S. Manyama, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational Modelling Studies of PdAs2 Surfaces, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2020 (Male).
Segoarihle T. Ntobeng, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational Modelling Studies of Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 (111) surface: Oxidation and hydration, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2021 (Male).
Nontobeko N. Zavala, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational study of cobalt pentlandite (Co9S8) surface stabilities, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2022 (Female).
Tshepo R. Maaka, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational study of PtTe, PtTe2, Pt2Te3 and Pt3Te4 structural stability, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2023 (Male).
Lesetja V. Matlabjane, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: The computational study on recovery of spodumene lithium mineral using collectors, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, Graduated 2024 (Male)
Mariah M. Madie, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Investigation of hematite bulk and surface properties using density functional theory, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, to Graduated 2026 (Female)
Baloyi Suggest, BSc Honours (Physics), Project Title: Computational modelling of Petalite (LiAlSi4O10) mineral surface, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, to Graduated 2026 (Male)
Chewe Channimhambho, BSc Honours (Geology: Minerals Processing and Metallurgy), Project Title: Investigating the interactions of galena mineral surface with xanthate and dithicarbamate collectors, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, to Graduated 2026 (Male)
Tlhaboloa C. Mokgadi, BSc Honours (Geology: Minerals Processing and Metallurgy), Project Title: Investigation of the interaction of pyrite mineral surface with xanthate and dithiocarbamate collectors, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, to Graduated 2026 (Female)
Current Postgraduate Students Under Supervision
Current Masters Students
Tshepo R. Maaka, M.Sc. Physics, Project Title: Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics Machine Learning Force Field Study of (Pt,Pd)Te2 and (Pt,Pd)BiTe Mineral Surface Interaction with Novel Collectors, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, (2023-present) (Supervisor).
Ivyn Ndhlovu, M.Sc. Physics, Project Title: Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics Machine Learning Force Field Study of PtAs2, PtSb2 and PtBi2 Mineral Surface Interaction with As, Sb and Bi Bearing Novel Collectors, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South Africa, (2023-present) (Supervisor).
Lesetja V. Matlabjane, M.Sc. Physics, Project Title: Computational study of Spodumene and Feldspar Minerals Surfaces Interaction with Collectors: An AIMD-MLFF Technique, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African (2024-present) (Supervisor).
Kagiso L. Mashishi, M.Sc. Physics, Project Title: Computational Modelling Studies of Haycockite (Cu4Fe5S8) and Mooihoekite (Cu9Fe9S16) Minerals, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African (2024-present) (Co-Supervisor).
Current Doctoral Students
Thato S. Manyama, Ph.D. Physics, Project Title: Utilisation of Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics with Machine Learned Force Field Technique for Designing Novel Depressant for Separation of Sphalerite, Pyrite and Galena Minerals, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, (2023-present) (Supervisor).
Segoarihle T. Ntobeng, Ph.D. Physics, Project Title: Atomistic and ab-initio molecular dynamics study of xanthate, dithiocarbamate and trithiocarbonate collectors adsorption on cobaltite (CoAsS), irarsite (IrAsS) and hollingworthite (RhAsS) mineral surfaces, (2024-present) University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African (2024-present) (Co-Supervisor).
Nontobeko N. Zavala, Ph.D. Physics, Title: Design of collectors for recovery of pentlandite and violarite minerals containing Pd, Mg and Si impurities, University of Limpopo, Nationality: South African, (2025-present) (Supervisor).
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