From Geology to Rock Engineering: Unisa alumnus graduates cum laude while championing safer mining

Grace Molomo’s master’s degree in engineering, earned cum laude from Unisa, represents far more than an academic achievement.

For the geologist-turned-rock engineer, it is the culmination of years of perseverance, discipline and determination to build a better future for herself, her family and the engineering profession.

Molomo’s career did not begin in engineering. After completing her Bachelor of Science and Honours degrees in Geology at the University of Limpopo, she secured an internship at a mine that would ultimately change the direction of her professional life.

Her exposure to rock mechanics revealed the important role geology plays in the safety and efficiency of mining operations. It was an experience that sparked her interest in rock engineering and motivated her to pursue postgraduate studies in the field.

Choosing Unisa for her master’s degree allowed Molomo to continue working while undertaking advanced research through the university’s distance learning model. The experience also challenged her to become a more independent researcher and disciplined scholar.

“Being a Unisa student meant being part of a community of driven individuals,” she says. “It inspired me to push beyond my limits.”

Graduating cum laude was not, however, what initially drove her. Her primary goal was to conduct research that could make a meaningful contribution to mine safety while living up to the confidence her supervisors placed in her.

Her principal supervisor, Dr Vhutali Carol Madanda, took Molomo on as the first master’s student she supervised at Unisa. Although the two had never met in person before beginning the journey, Madanda believed in Molomo’s potential from the outset.

“I wanted to prove that her faith in me was well placed,” Molomo says.

She also credits her co-supervisor, Prof Fhatuwani Sengani of the University of Limpopo, whose guidance and expertise played an important role in bringing the research to completion.

The journey was demanding. Alongside her studies, Molomo was working as a lecturer, pursuing research for publication and raising her family.

There were days when each responsibility required her full attention, leaving little time for rest.

“I had to learn to prioritise without feeling guilty,” she reflects. “I realised that resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about learning to navigate them with grace and determination.”

Careful planning, consistency and the support of her family and supervisors helped her maintain the balance and keep moving towards her goal.

At the heart of her master’s degree was her dissertation, titled Estimating Brittleness Indexes from Mechanical and Petrographic Characteristics of Norite, research focused on improving safety in South Africa’s mining industry.

In simple terms, the research examines how easily norite, a common rock found in the roofs of many platinum mines, fractures under pressure.

By developing predictive models based on laboratory testing and analysis of the rock’s mineral composition, Molomo’s research provides practical tools that could help mining engineers better understand rock behaviour and design safer underground support systems.

The potential impact is significant, particularly in an industry where rockfalls remain a serious safety concern.

One of the most memorable milestones of her master’s journey came when she published her first peer-reviewed article in the journal Applied Sciences. The achievement gave her confidence that her research could contribute meaningfully to scientific knowledge.

But nothing compared with the moment she learned she had completed her master’s degree with distinction.

“Learning that I had graduated cum laude was overwhelming,” she says. “It reflected every long hour in the laboratory, every challenge I overcame, and every sacrifice made along the way.”

Now a proud Unisa alumna, Molomo is already looking ahead.

She plans to continue working in rock engineering and geotechnics while pursuing a PhD at Unisa. Through further research, she hopes to contribute to work that strengthens mine safety and advances engineering practice.

For women considering postgraduate studies while balancing careers and family responsibilities, Molomo has a simple message.

“Believe in yourself. A master’s degree is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency, discipline and perseverance matter more than perfection. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance, learn from setbacks and trust the process.”

Through her journey, Molomo has demonstrated that academic excellence can be pursued alongside professional responsibilities and motherhood.

As an engineer, researcher, lecturer, mother, and now an accomplished Unisa alumna, she is building a research career that could help make South African mining safer for generations to come.

At the recent Unisa graduations, Grace Molomo received her master’s degree in engineering cum laude.

* By Cilla Boucher, Alumni Relations Office, DIA