As an ATSP Fellow in the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Ms Mamabolo has taken on responsibilities in teaching, supervision, research, mentorship and leadership.
Before becoming an Associate Lecturer, she served as a mentor and tutor. She is also involved in the First-Year Experience Programme and serves on the School Research and Engagement committees.
Her appointment is another milestone in an academic journey that began at UMP, where she distinguished herself as an outstanding Environmental Science and Geography student.
She graduated cum laude, obtaining 12 distinctions out of 19 modules, and received the Best Initial Degree Award at UMP's 2022 Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony. In October 2024, she became the first ATSP Fellow and Associate Lecturer in the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences.
For Ms Mamabolo, academic achievement is not an end in itself, but a platform from which she can contribute to the development of others.
Creating Opportunities Through Mentorship
Her commitment to creating opportunities for young people was strengthened by her participation in Seamester VII, South Africa's Class Afloat programme aboard the SA Agulhas II in June 2024.
The programme exposed her to oceanographic sampling, laboratory operations and multidisciplinary scientific collaboration involving South African and international students.
“The experience broadened my understanding of scientific research and strengthened my belief in the importance of creating opportunities for young people, particularly young women, to gain exposure to fields where they may not always see themselves represented,” she explains.
The experience later translated into action when she encouraged a young Black female Honours student, Ms Lungisile Zulu, to apply for the programme. Zulu was successfully accepted into the 2026 cohort.
For Ms Mamabolo, mentorship is therefore not simply about giving advice. It is about opening doors and helping others recognise opportunities they may not have considered possible.
Her interest in developing future researchers has also led to research supervision. In 2025, she co-supervised an Honours research project investigating pollutants in surface waters in a coal mining region in Emalahleni.
Research With a Purpose
Ms Mamabolo's commitment to environmental science extends into her research. In 2026, she presented her study, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Response to Wastewater Effluent in the White River, South Africa, at the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) conference in Cape Town.
“These platforms have allowed me to share my work with academics and professionals in the water management sector while gaining valuable exposure to different perspectives and approaches to environmental challenges,” she says.
Ms Mamabolo believes that academic achievement is a platform from which she can contribute to the development of others.
“For me, research is not confined to laboratories, classrooms or academic publications. It is also about creating opportunities to exchange knowledge and engage with researchers and professionals from different disciplines.”
She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Science under the supervision of Dr A. N. Shabalala from UMP and Professor J. N. Edokpayi from the University of Venda.
Her research focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent emerging contaminants, and explores methods for their sequestration in water bodies.
Through the research, she aims to contribute to the limited body of knowledge on PFAS in South Africa, particularly in Mpumalanga, while supporting improved water resource management and informed decision-making.
Taking Learning Beyond University
Ms Mamabolo's belief in the value of exposure also extends beyond academia.
Her passion for travel began at the age of 17 when she participated in the Freundeskreis für Südafrika Youth Exchange Programme between Germany and South Africa in 2017.
The experience inspired her to establish Solo Frengy, a travel brand that seeks to create meaningful travel and adventure experiences for young people.
The brand recently completed its first international trip to Mozambique, where participants explored the country's food and culture and connected with local communities.
“My vision is to grow Solo Frengy into a platform that brings travel, education and mentorship together,” she says.
She hopes to create opportunities for South African young people to explore the world while welcoming international young people to experience South Africa's diverse cultures, food and communities.
From an award-winning UMP student to an emerging academic, researcher, mentor and entrepreneur, Mamabolo's journey demonstrates how opportunities can extend beyond the individual.
As she continues her PhD and develops her academic career, she remains committed to using science, education and mentorship to create opportunities for others.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied. Copyright © UMP.