Yonela Aziwe Mgwebi

Yonela Mgwebi obtained a BSc honours in metallurgy and materials engineering from Wits in 2014, where she is enrolled for an MSc in the same subject, specialising in high temperature corrosion.

Mgwebi is fascinated by the materials used in energy generation in petrochemical, steel production and chemical industries, particularly their high temperature applications; the corrosion of these materials results in large economic losses and may result in unhealthy working environments. Her research project addresses a serious need in South Africa and internationally for materials that may be used in energy generation. It looks at the development of cost-effective materials coating to improve the lifespan of these materials.

Her study will present an important application of South Africanmined minerals such as ruthenium and copper in high temperature corrosion coatings, with the ultimate aim of reducing the cost of producing energy, steel and other products to improve access and affordability.

Mgwebi has published one journal paper and made presentations at three conferences, including the European Corrosion Congress in 2016. She was the best student presenter at the 2016 African Corrosion Congress in July, third best speaker in the Faculty of Engineering at the 7th Wits Postgraduate CrossFaculty Symposium, and third in South Africa in the 2016 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining’s Young Person’s Lecture Competition. She was the recipient of the 2015/16 Corrosion Institute of South Africa’s Ivan Ogilvie Research Scholarship.

Mgwebi has been the acting chairperson, treasurer and secretary-general of the Wits Postgraduate Association, and is a founding member and director of the all-woman engineering start-up Cinga Forensic Engineering.