Love for the great outdoors weaved Lungelo’s ecological tale

Lungelo Thwala, environmental officer

Raised amidst the rich landscape of rural Fernie in Mpumalanga, environmentalist Lungelo Thwala, discovered a deep connection with nature in his formative years. Fond memories of herding cattle, swimming, fishing in the nearby river, and hunting during school holidays shaped his appreciation for the environment. “Environmental management is vast and captivating. If you love nature, it is worth pursuing, with myriad fields of specialties to explore,” he says.

He attended Chief TD Nkosi High School in Empuluzi Village near Fernie, where he matriculated in 2008. He then attended the University of the Free State's Bloemfontein campus in 2010, where he enrolled in a BSc in biochemistry. However, a pivotal moment in 2011 prompted a shift towards a BSc in Geology, a decision that would profoundly shape Lungelo’s career trajectory.

“I never planned to be an Environmentalist," Lungelo confesses. "It was by luck that I stumbled into the field." Chance struck when Kangra advertised an Environmental Internship in 2016, presenting Lungelo with an opportunity to explore a different career path. Armed with a foundation in Environmental Science modules from his geology degree, Lungelo embraced the opportunities that lay ahead.

In 2018, whilst employed at Kangra, he registered for part-time studies towards an honours degree in Geohydrology. Central to Lungelo's journey at Kangra was the company's rehabilitation programme, aimed at restoring mined areas. "These projects are vital for the ecology of the surrounding areas," Lungelo emphasises. He looks forward to contributing toward innovative solutions to groundwater challenges within the mining sector.