I was born in Bizana, a small rural town of Eastern Cape province, South Africa. I started working on bryophytes in 2005 as an intern under the mentorship and leadership of Dr Jacques van Rooy (South African National Biodiversity Institute) until I was a full scientist. He allowed me to take off right away by involving me in bryophyte anatomy, taxonomy, field work, herbarium curation and scientific writing. He and the late Dr Sarie Perold have been very instrumental in shaping me into being one of the few active bryologists working on the Flora of southern Africa. Generally, bryophytes are not well-known here like vascular plants. I love bryology because it gives me a rare opportunity to promote the knowledge of this group of plants as well as to represent my country and continent in this field. At present I am a PhD candidate studying the endemic element of the bryophytes of southern Africa with the University of Witwatersrand. In my current occupation as a lecturer, I am fortunate to not only continue with bryology research but to also establish and preserve the relationship between the academic circles and the National Herbarium (PRE) which houses the largest bryophyte collection in Africa, and recruit the students to study these plants.
Ndazalelwa kwidolophana yase Bizana kwiphondo laseMpuma Koloni, eMzantsi Afrika. Ndaqala ukusebenza ngezityalo ezibizwa ngee ‘Bryophytes’ ngonyaka ka-2005, ndifundiswa ngu Dr Jacques van Rooy (South African National Biodiversity Institute) nongasekhoyo uDr Sarie Perold ndade ndaba sisazinzulu kwezi zityalo kule ngingqi yamazantsi e-Afrika. Ezi zityalo zincinci, ziluhlaza, zithanda ukukhula endaweni emanzi nenomthunzi. Azidumanga kwaye azazihoywanga njengezinye iintlobo zezityalo ezimbejembeje ngemibala. Ndiyakuthanda ukufunda ngazo kuba zindinike ithuba elinqabileyo lokwandisa ulwazi ngazo ebantwini, ndiphinde ndimele ilizwe lam kweli candelo. Okwangoku ndiyaqhubeka nezifundo zam neDyunivesithi yaseWits apho ndifundela isidanga sobugqirha kwezi zityalo. Ndikwaxelenga njengomhlohli apho ndikwaziyo ukuqhubeka nophando ngazo ii ‘Bryophytes’, ndiqinise nobudlelwane phakathi kwezemfundo neziko lophando ngezityalo iNational Herbarium (PRE).
List of publications:
Ndazalelwa kwidolophana yase Bizana kwiphondo laseMpuma Koloni, eMzantsi Afrika. Ndaqala ukusebenza ngezityalo ezibizwa ngee ‘Bryophytes’ ngonyaka ka-2005, ndifundiswa ngu Dr Jacques van Rooy (South African National Biodiversity Institute) nongasekhoyo uDr Sarie Perold ndade ndaba sisazinzulu kwezi zityalo kule ngingqi yamazantsi e-Afrika. Ezi zityalo zincinci, ziluhlaza, zithanda ukukhula endaweni emanzi nenomthunzi. Azidumanga kwaye azazihoywanga njengezinye iintlobo zezityalo ezimbejembeje ngemibala. Ndiyakuthanda ukufunda ngazo kuba zindinike ithuba elinqabileyo lokwandisa ulwazi ngazo ebantwini, ndiphinde ndimele ilizwe lam kweli candelo. Okwangoku ndiyaqhubeka nezifundo zam neDyunivesithi yaseWits apho ndifundela isidanga sobugqirha kwezi zityalo. Ndikwaxelenga njengomhlohli apho ndikwaziyo ukuqhubeka nophando ngazo ii ‘Bryophytes’, ndiqinise nobudlelwane phakathi kwezemfundo neziko lophando ngezityalo iNational Herbarium (PRE).
