Prof Monde Ntwasa

Prof Monde Ntwasa

Distinguished Professor at CAES

Monde Ntwasa graduated with a BSc in Microbiology and BSc (Clinical Science and Immunology) at the University of Cape Town (1986). Later, he graduated with an MPhil and Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Cambridge University (1996). Prof Ntwasa returned to the University of Cape Town as a Research Fellow and later accepted a position as a Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. After 17 years at Wits, where he served as a lecturer and rose to the rank of Associate Professor in Biochemistry, he accepted a position as a Full Professor in Biochemistry at the University of South Africa in 2016.

Professor Ntwasa has a long history of studying developmental biology and oncology. His current research interests are in Drug Discovery and Development, with a focus on small-molecule anticancer drugs. Currently, Prof Ntwasa’s laboratory is working on a pipeline of anticancer drug leads. Two drug candidates have been patented internationally, and one of them is currently undergoing preclinical studies.

Prof. Ntwasa has played several leadership roles in the academic arena. Until 2020, Prof Ntwasa was also a member of the Advisory Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Since 2022, Prof Ntwasa has promoted innovation and youth empowerment as the Acting Executive Dean of the UNISA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) until 2025. Currently, Prof Ntwasa conducts Biomedical Research as a Distinguished Professor at CAES.