The afternoon graduation session on Friday, 15 May 2026, featured a spectacular moment of double celebration as twins, Aphiwe and Minenhle Zikalala, walked across the stage to receive their Honours degrees in Microbiology.
Bound not just by blood but by a shared, fierce passion for microscopic science, the Zikalala twins are proving that groundbreaking research can run in the family.
While their academic journeys have mirrored one another up to this point, their postgraduate paths are beginning to branch out into unique, cutting-edge territories. For their honours degrees, though tackling the same modules, the twins worked under different supervisors to pioneer completely different research landscapes.
Diving into Different Micro-Worlds
Aphiwe’s research steps into the vital realm of green technology and environmental sustainability. Her project, titled “Green Synthesis and Characterisation of Iron Nanoparticles Using Polysaccharide Extracted from Spinacia oleracea and Their Application on Wastewater Treatment and Dye Removal”, explores how everyday spinach can be used to create eco-friendly nanoparticles capable of cleaning industrial waste and purifying water. Aphiwe’s academic excellence has already opened doors; she has successfully secured a prestigious internship with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Minenhle, on the other hand, turned her focus toward agricultural biotechnology and biochemistry. Her research, “GC-MS Profiling, In Vitro and In Silico Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Crude Secondary Metabolites of Lactic Acid Bacteria Associated with Pig Feces from Fermented Brachiaria brizantha”, dives into the microscopic power of gut bacteria to find natural antibacterial and antioxidant alternatives.
Strategy on the Board, Science in the Lab
How do two high-achieving scientists handle the intense pressure of honours-level research? For Aphiwe and Minenhle, the answer lies on the chessboard.
The twins are avid chess players, frequently traveling for tournaments. Far from just a hobby, chess serves as their ultimate escape. The strategic thinking, patience, and foresight required to master the chessboard are the exact skills they bring into the microbiology laboratory. Whenever the weight of heavy academic modules becomes too much, the game allows them to reset, decompress, and clear their minds.
A Foundation Built on Family Love
Behind every great success story is a fortress of support, and the Zikalala twins credit their achievements to a powerful matriarchy. Aphiwe proudly emphasises that their journey would not have been possible without the unwavering love and encouragement of their mother, aunts, grandmother, and sisters. This tightly knit, incredibly supportive family has been the wind beneath their wings, celebrating every late-night study session and cheering the loudest as the duo stepped into their graduate gowns.
Looking Ahead: The Future Doctors
This honours graduation is just the beginning for the dynamic duo. With their sights firmly set on the future, Aphiwe and Minenhle share the goal of obtaining their PhDs and becoming doctors of microbiology.
With their brilliant minds, dedication to solving real-world problems, and the strategic edge of chess masters, there is no doubt that the Zikalala twins are a force to be reckoned with.
Congratulations to Aphiwe and Minenhle – the future of science looks brighter with you in it.
– Precious Shamase
Picture: Xolani Ncube
