Ms Bolelang Tsolo matriculated from Brebner High School in Bloemfontein, but with marks not sufficient to gain university entrance for her course choice.

Tsolo then enrolled at the University of the Free State (UFS) through an access programme, a turning point that allowed her to build confidence.

“I hope students currently in similar access or augmented programmes can see that their starting point does not define their potential, and that with perseverance, it is possible to achieve far beyond initial expectations,” she said.

Tsolo then completed a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Sciences degree at UFS. She then went on to pursue her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

She has now graduated with her Master of Science degree from UKZN, hoping to deepen her exploration in flood risk and spatial analysis, a stepping stone on her way to fulfilling her goal of a career in academia.

Tsolo’s academic journey started off roughly with her disappointing matric results. “The underachievement became an important turning point as it challenged me to rethink my abilities and motivated me to work harder in my academic journey,” she said.

Tsolo achieved several milestones at university: she was invited to join the top 15% of the Golden Key International Honour Society and also received certificates of merit for her Geographic Information Systems (GIS) module and Honours research project.

These achievements earned her sponsorship from her supervisor, Professor Michael Gebreslasie, to attend an R training course. She was also selected to participate in Denmark’s Next Generation Digital Action competition in 2024, which challenged her to develop innovative environmental solutions. These experiences reflected her academic growth and resilience.

Tsolo’s master’s study focused on flood mapping. “The aim of the study was to identify and map flood-risk areas within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality using geoinformation technology. In my study, I identified five levels of risk areas – very low, low, moderate, high and very high – using simulated rainfall scenarios,” she said.

“Tsolo demonstrated exceptional dedication, combining disciplined, hands-on field research with strong intellectual curiosity to identify flood-prone areas,” said Gebreslasie. “Her work is characterised by a proactive approach to mapping vulnerability and a determined effort to analyse complex data to provide actionable flood risk. It was a pleasure to mentor a student as dedicated as Bolelang, whose project demonstrated great potential for impact.”

Tsolo said: “When I began my Honours research, my goal was to integrate GIS into whatever topic I selected. In 2022, the year I pursued my Honours degree, floods in KwaZulu-Natal had a significant impact on the region. This provided a timely and relevant research opportunity, so in my honours project I focused on analysing the extent of the floods, using GIS supervised by Prof Gebreslasie.”

“This type of spatial information is valuable for disaster risk reduction and urban planning. It can assist local authorities and decision-makers in identifying high-risk zones, improving infrastructure planning and guiding future development away from vulnerable areas – ultimately helping to reduce the impact of flooding on communities,” she added.

Tsolo is currently working at the UKZN Science and Technology Education Centre (STEC@UKZN), where she interacts with primary and high school learners through science and technology outreach programmes. Her goal for a career in academia led her to get involved in tutoring and demonstrating opportunities during her Master’s studies. “These experiences have shown me how rewarding it is to support learning and inspire curiosity and have motivated me to build a career in higher education,” she explained.

She plans to read for a PhD, following in her mother’s footsteps.

In her spare time, Tsolo enjoys reading, spending quality time with family and hiking. She acknowledged her supervisor and a friend, Ms Mpumi Zulu, for their support during her postgraduate journey. She also expressed her gratitude to her mother, Prof Juliet Ramohai, and her sister, Boitumelo Tsolo, noting that they have been her strongest support system throughout her entire academic journey.

Words: Nqobile Mthuli

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini