Khabonina Masango
Masters of Urban Studies (Sustainable Energy Efficient Cities), 2019
How are you related to Wits-TUB-UniLag Urban Lab?
I received a scholarship in 2019 to complete a Master’s in Urban Studies specialising in Sustainable Energy and Efficient Cities at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The scholarship also gave me my first opportunity to travel abroad to Berlin and attend a summer school at TUB as part of my master’s program. The summer school was focused mainly on site visits in different neighbourhoods in Berlin to review different housing conditions and their relationship with the city's urban planning structure as well as how other communities are building their own energy electricity mini-grids with alternative renewable energy to achieve their energy security.
Where and in which field do you currently work? What has been your career path so far?
I currently work in the sustainable energy and climate change field, particularly focused on campaigning on halting the funding of fossil fuel related projects and advocating for channelling of climate finance to be used efficiently to implement the South African government’s Just Energy Transition Pathway and Investment Plan (JETP - IP). My career path and objective is mainly focused on expanding South Africa’s transmission and distribution electricity network to efficiently integrate more renewable energy technology and resources within the grid network to alleviate energy poverty and mitigate accelerating climate change to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 to achieve universal energy access within South Africa and within the African continent whilst also achieving social and economic justice to bring an end to extreme forms of poverty.
How did the fellowship contribute to your career development?
The scholarship contributed immensely in advancing my educational knowledge in energy efficiency within buildings and cities and the importance of understanding urban politics and planning in integrating climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to achieve climate resilience within cities such as introducing solar mini grids and stand-alone renewable energy generation plants within municipalities to feed into municipal distribution networks which has assisted me in contributing effectively professionally in any project I am working on.
I also learnt valuable technical skills in retrofitting buildings to become energy efficient in my energy efficiency in buildings module course taught by the late Dr Chungu which helped me learn that Green-House-Gas (GHG) emissions, even though energy systems that rely heavily from generating electricity from fossil fuels emit the most GHG emissions, various factors within an urban centres such as buildings can also contribute to accelerating global warming.
Do you have any recommendations for graduates of the MUS starting their career?
Yes. urban centre’s within countries host local municipalities that have the implementation mandate of all policies formed by national governments. Urban development is necessary especially to achieve sustainable environmental and economic development in that local municipalities can implement projects within policy conditions for long term benefits to achieve social, energy and climate justice. Starting a career in urban development will help new graduates do that and make South Africa a better place for all who live in it.
Thesis: The incorporation of renewable energy in the manufacturing of paper packaging within the city of Ekurhuleni
