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After her BCom Law and LLB at the University of the Western Cape, Yonela set her sights on doing her Master's. Yonela's LLM research explores the Applicability of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 to cybercrimes occurring and affecting activities and infrastructure at sea. Her doctoral research will build on this foundation, shifting focus from specific domestic legislation to a broader examination of whether current international and domestic regulations sufficiently address cybercrimes in the maritime context, particularly considering the increasing digitalization of ports. The aim is to assess whether automated and technology-dependent port operations introduce new safety concerns, including vulnerabilities to cybercrime. In addition to her studies, she has been lecturing Law of the Sea, Marine Law and Policy, Marine Law and recently assisted with the Enforcement of Marine and Coastal Legislation course. Yonela is a member of the South African Maritime Law Association and a trustee of the Marine Biology Association (UK).
Innocentia is a teacher educator and researcher, specialising in early childhood, language, and mathematics education. During her Master's training, she received the prestigious Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) scholarship from the DHET. Through this scholarship, she interned as a lecturer at Nelson Mandela University in 2023, gaining invaluable experience in research, teaching and academic development. Innocentia also got the opportunity to present her research on the teaching of Mathematics using an African language in the Foundation Phase at both local and international conferences, an experience that broadened her academic network and gave me a global perspective on education. Currently, Innocentia works as a lecturer at IIE Rosebank College, where I continue to nurture pre-service educators and pursue research focused on inclusive and innovative teaching practices. In 2025, she will be pursuing a PhD in education, focusing on developing an inclusive bilingual framework for mathematics instruction in isiXhosa in the Foundation Phase.
Sabelo enrolled in a BEngTech in Marine Engineering in 2019, developing a strong passion for Naval Architecture and Marine Automation. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Nelson Mandela University, focusing on marine automation, naval architecture and control systems. Sabelo's research involves developing practical solutions for maritime stability and control, such as a Stewart platform for stable drone landings on moving vessels. His career goal is to conduct impactful research and contribute to the body of knowledge by publishing scholarly papers and addressing industry challenges through innovative solutions. They also aspire to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications. The NESP program has been pivotal in his academic journey, providing him with the opportunity to embark on a career in academia at Nelson Mandela University.