Tebatso Gorgina Moape, a PhD student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, will be conferred with a PhD in Information Technology on the 19 September 2024. The degree will be conferred at the DUT Spring Graduation ceremony at the Durban Exhibition Centre.

 Moape is the eldest daughter of  Mrs Patricia Moape and the late Mr Moses Moape. She hails from Mathibestad in the North-West province and was raised in a family with two younger siblings. Her journey into academia and research has been remarkable, starting with her enrolment at DUT in 2018 to pursue a PhD.

Moape’s path at DUT was not without its challenges. She juggled both her studies part-time while balancing her work commitments. The nature of her research centred on developing a Setswana Word Sense Disambiguation model for Setswana-English Machine Translation, which proved to be technically demanding and abstract. Progress was slow, and she said, “I didn’t fully grasp the technical and abstract nature of my research area.” However, in 2021, a shift occurred when she was allowed to study full-time. Moape relocated to Durban, where she dedicated herself completely to her research, gaining the needed understanding and momentum.

One of the main challenges she encountered during her research was the lack of available datasets for South African languages. Moape’s research required Setswana-English bilingual datasets, which were hard to find. She took the initiative to purchase physical bilingual dictionaries and convert them into datasets for her study. This effort significantly contributed to her research and highlighted the broader need for data resources in South African languages. “We need more data for South African languages to ensure their representation in the digital and AI space, similar to English,” she emphasised, highlighting a critical issue in the landscape of South African linguistic and AI research.

During her journey, Moape relied heavily on her faith, family, and academic mentors. Her daily phone calls with her mother provided emotional support, while her supervisors, Professor Sunday Ojo and Professor Oludayo Olugbara, played an instrumental role in guiding her intellectually. She mentioned that prayer was crucial in keeping her grounded during her most challenging moments. She shared, “The journey was filled with emotional and psychological challenges, but the support system I had helped me overcome every obstacle I faced.”

Today, Moape has resumed lecturing and supervising students. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she is an active member of the Women in Research (WIR) group. The research collective is currently studying the potential of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in STEM education, focusing on improving programming skills, computational thinking, and innovation through virtual environments. The team aims to explore how VR can be used in Higher Education Institutions to enhance teaching and learning.

Moape is a member of the Centre for Augmented Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS), which is a newly established research hub focusing on advancing AI and data science in South Africa. The centre’s work covers various critical areas, including language processing, machine learning, and AI-driven solutions for societal challenges. Through CAIDS, Moape and her colleagues are applying AI tools and technologies to sectors such as education, healthcare, and governance, tailored to the unique South African context.

In the future, Moape plans to pursue a Postdoctoral fellowship to further her passion for full-time research. Her next project is ambitious and exciting: she aims to teach the Pepper robot at the MICTSETA Centre of Excellence (DUT) to speak South African native languages. She will work at DUT’s AI Lab to develop the necessary datasets for this groundbreaking project. This initiative not only reinforces her commitment to promoting the use of South African languages in the digital age but also has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of AI.

Moape is dedicated to her research and is actively involved with the Women in Research (WIR) group and collaborative efforts at CAIDS. Despite her commitment to her work, she is looking forward to a well-deserved holiday. During her break, she plans to relax, take a break from the screen, and enjoy a cocktail by the beach.

“On a side note, I’m also looking forward to a much-needed holiday to rest my eyes, neck, and back from all the time spent at the computer, and of course, to enjoy a nice cocktail on the beach,” she said.

Pictured: Tebatso Gorgina Moape

Siphokazi Dlamini