Adrian Wyngaard was surprised to hear he graduates his MEng Electrical Engineering summa cum laude at this year’s autumn graduation.

The 26-year-old had never even considered working towards this kind of accolade, concentrating instead on the work that interested him.

He is one of the first two students to ever achieve this particular distinction at CPUT – it means both of his examiners for his Masters gave him more than 75% in their final assessment.

Wyngaard’s thesis was overseen by Dr Kessie Govender, a physicist in the Electrical Engineering department.

Govender started the Quantum Physics Research Group in 2014 and Wyngaard joined a year later. He says the other lecturer who also helped get him started on this particular path was Prof Christine Steenkamp from Stellenbosch University.

Growing up Wyngaard was the child who took things apart and he always knew he wanted to study computer engineering. Originally he wanted to get into designing the circuitry that makes up the computer but he soon realised he was interested in both programming and circuit design after his first year at CPUT.

He did his in-service training at the South African Astronomical Observatory and connected to the research environment, which spurred him to return to CPUT.

His Masters topic was Saturated absorption spectroscopy of rubidium and feedback control of Laster frequency for Doppler cooling, which meant investigating how to use a laser to cool atoms.

“We knew it could be done, but could we do it in our lab,” asked Wyngaard.

“Dr Kessie is an experimental physicist and has been working on quantum technologies previously at UKZN. When he joined CPUT he started a new research group in this field."

“We are one of three academic groups in South Africa doing this kind of research.”

He thinks the summa cum laude pass mark will help on his CV when applying for funding. He points out that applying for grants and attending conferences is still slow going because CPUT does not have a physics department dealing with fundamental research so they have to continually justify what the research group is doing. 

“It shows the calibre of students coming through the group. We are learning about quantum physics that is not taught on our engineering curriculum."

“It shows students can learn on their own, and yes, I know that is expected on a Masters level. But, it took two or three years to cover the work required and I did this while also working on my thesis.”

Next, he wants to work on a doctorate as the group continues and see where research and development take them.

Written by Theresa Smith
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Provides coverage for the Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculties and the Wellington Campus.

Four MEng Electrical Engineering graduates working in the Centre for Substation Automation and Energy Management Systems (CSAEMS) will graduate summa cum laude tonight.

This means both their examiners awarded them more than 75% in their final assessment.

The four are part of a cohort of 29 Electrical Engineering postgraduate students studying under the supervision of the CSAEMS Centre, a state of the art substation automation laboratory under the directorship of Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva. Created in 2011 the Centre came about because the International Electrical Commission (IEC) put in place the IEC 61850 standards which governs the building, implementation and operations of Substation Automation Systems.

Supervised by Dr Senthil Krishnamurthy, Bwandakassy Cedrick Elenga Baningobera’s thesis “Implementation of an IEC 61850 standard-based harmonic blocking scheme for a power transformer” won him second best presentation at CPUT’s 2018 Postgraduate Conference. The 30-year-old from Brazzaville, Congo wants to continue with his DEng studies to develop a novel protection scheme in the Power Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation environment.

Dr Krishnamurthy also supervised Franck Noudjiep Djiepkop’s thesis: “A feeder reconfiguration scheme with integration of renewable energy sources using a particle swarm optimisation method”. This research focused on the development of solutions for feeder reconfiguration problem to increase the flexibility, reliability and efficiency of electrical distribution systems. Optimising the feeder reconfiguration and distributed energy resources in a distribution network could provide addition power to a grid and improve the operation of the distribution system. Djiepkop is looking for opportunities to pursue further research on a doctoral level.

Supervised by Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva, Ncedo Mguzulwa worked part-time over four years to complete an “Investigation of interoperability of IEC 61850 protection functions”. Mguzulwa, 33, currently works for the City of Cape Town in the Electricity Generation and Distribution Department. He investigated the IEC61850 protocol that allows for communication between protection relays. “Procurement is a big part of engineering, and utilities and municipalities have to be careful and not be locked into one vendor or service provider in order to ensure bids are fair and competitive. Therefore this research evaluated how different vendors and manufacturers of protection relays can be interoperable as the communication protocol has already been standardised,” explained Mguzulwa.

Mukovhe Ratshitanga was also supervised by Tzoneva for his thesis: “Investigation and design of an integrated monitoring, protection and control system of a power reticulation network” which he developed part-time over three years under the CPUT Khula project. Ratshitanga, 35 is currently lecturing at CPUT, assisting with research and development within the CSAEMS and intending to study further. His research showed a reduction in cost on installation, operation and maintenance in substations, if his suggested integration of systems will be implemented on the CPUT reticulation network.

“All four postgraduates implemented the developed in their theses solutions in real-time test beds achieving excellent operation and performance. The high quality and novelty in their theses will be presented by publications in leading recognised journals in the field,” said Tzoneva.

Written by Theresa Smith
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Léon Njouakoua Tchonko’s first question when he got the news was “but what does getting a summa cum laude mean?”

The 32-year-old is currently overseas and had received a message from his supervisor about his graduation status.

Once he heard the explanation that both supervisors gave him a more than a 75% pass mark he gave a little laugh.

Njouakoua Tchonko graduates with a MEng summa cum laude today with a thesis entitled Reconfigurable Photovoltaic Modules for robust nanosatellite power systems.

Explaining his study path the Cameroonian explains how difficult it was as a student to navigate the rules and regulations of CPUT while the Fees Must Fall campaign was disrupting the campus.

He registered for the MEng programme in 2016 but living off-campus made it difficult to complete his proposal by the end of that year because he had no access to the internet or a computer at home.

“Completing my MEng degree in less than two years was my goal even when strikes, shutdowns and holidays were part of that allotted time. Thus, I did what I had to do to graduate in April 2018.”

He says a big deal of the credit for him not only turning in a Masters thesis but passing so well should go to his supervisor Dr Atanda Raji, senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Engineering, who was more like a father to him than just a teacher.

“He would encourage me to keep my head up. Sometimes he would go the extra mile and use his own resources for my benefit. For instance, his house was my study area during the university shut down.

He assisted me with bills related to my proofreading and other components of my research programme. Even though I was a University Research Fund Beneficiary the processing delays meant there was no mercy, even when I had submitted all my paperwork on time or in advance. This is not the work of a supervisor.

“He has an open door policy and always listens to his students. He attends to their matters with fast and effective responses, no matter the situation,” Njouakoua Tchonko explains.
The testing of his prototype involved various trials with a high rate of failure but constant communication with Raji kept him searching for a solution and he eventually got the project working at 4 am one morning.

“Moral support, good communication with the supervisor, frequent meetings with progress reports and feedback, those are the keys to success,” he said.

Njouakoua Tchonko calls Acting Dean of Engineering, Prof Mellet Moll, his advocate and also gave a shout-out to F’SATI director Prof Robert van Zyl. 

While his thesis research was about how a package of solar cells can be configured for a nano-satellite, the theory is applicable to other uses and he is currently working with a computer programmer to reconfigure a unit for use in farming

Written by Theresa Smith
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Provides coverage for the Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculties and the Wellington Campus.

Being awarded the coveted Vice-Chancellor’s (VC) medal brings a sense of pride and accomplishment, and recognition for hard work and dedication.

Joshua Overmeyer, who graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation during the CPUT Autumn Graduation last night, says being the VC medal recipient brings “me a feeling of honour and responsibility, not only to continue to strive for excellence, but to promote and uphold the values associated with the VC medal”.

Joshua completed the Diploma in 2021, scoring distinctions in all 25 subjects offered, and achieving the qualification Summa Cum Laude. He then enrolled for the Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation and again scored distinctions in all nine subjects offered – graduating Summa Cum Laude again. His average mark across all years of study is 85.3%.

The Capetonian is currently registered for the Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation Science, with a research project supervised by Prof Frans Radloff. Radloff described Joshua as a humble and quiet person who gets the work done without boasting about it in any way. “He cares deeply about others and the environment and is very passionate about conservation. He is obviously gifted, but it is not just a great mind that got him where he is. He also outworks everyone else, and it is the combination of his intellect and work ethic that make him excel.”

The 30-year-old student has a close-knit family who has been incredibly supportive throughout his academic journey. Initially, Joshua studied towards an LLB degree after he finished his Matric, but he shifted his career path to Nature Conservation after rediscovering his passion. Through networking with the experts in the field, Joshua discovered the nature conservation course offered at CPUT. Recognising the University’s reputation for quality education and its practical approach to conservation studies, he decided to pursue his academic journey here.

“At CPUT, I immersed myself in a rich learning environment that combined theoretical knowledge with hands-on experiences. My time at CPUT not only equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge but also instilled in me a sense of purpose and responsibility toward environmental stewardship.”

It was a transformative period that solidified his commitment to making a meaningful difference in conservation efforts. “My journey leading up to this achievement has been one of growth, perseverance, and self-discovery. It involved exploring different paths, facing challenges, and embracing opportunities to learn and develop. Along the way, I received support from mentors, educators, and family, whose guidance and encouragement fuelled my determination. This journey has not only shaped my skills and knowledge but has also deepened my passion and commitment to making a meaningful impact in my chosen field.”

The support from his lecturers and faculty members has always been “invaluable”. Their guidance, encouragement, and expertise have significantly contributed to his academic growth and success. Joshua attributes a significant part of his achievements to the unwavering support from his family. Their encouragement, belief in his abilities, and sacrifices have been the “bedrock of my journey, providing me with the support needed to pursue my goals”.

Equally important, has been his passion and curiosity for his chosen career path. “This intrinsic motivation has been a driving force, keeping me engaged, enthusiastic, and constantly seeking to deepen my knowledge and skills. It's this passion that has fuelled long hours of hard work, pushing me to consistently strive for excellence.

“I have also been fortunate to have mentors and teachers who have guided and inspired me along the way. Their mentorship, wisdom, and guidance have helped shape my perspectives, refine my goals, and navigate challenges effectively.”

Joshua completed his Work Integrated Working year at Karoo Ridge Conservancy.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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