Power systems fundi to share energy expertise during Unisa's CNA Research Symposium

Popi Njapha, Chief Engineer at the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), will share her expertise on energy matters at Unisa’s Catalytic Niche Area (CNA) Research Symposium, held from 30 to 31 July 2025, at the university’s Muckleneuk Campus.

Aligned with Unisa’s catalytic niche area on energy studies, Njapha will speak on the subtheme “Energy Innovations for the Future – Strategic Partnerships with Government and Industry in Research”, sharing her experiences in the development of long-term expansion plans to resolve network constraints and solve the country’s major energy challenges.

The symposium, themed “Innovating for the Future: Integrating Technology, Sustainability, and Humanity”, brings together academics, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss practical, research-driven solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The symposium’s delegates, postgraduate students and early-career researchers are also invited to join two virtual CNA Round Tables on Friday, 1 August 2025, to engage in critical research themes discussed during the symposium.

To find out more information about Unisa’s CNA Symposium, please click here.

Click here to register.

CNA 4

Energy

Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Time: 12:55 - 14:10

Venue: Senate Hall, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

Panellist

Popi Njapha

Popi Njapha is a Chief Engineer at the National Transmission Company of South Africa, where her main role is to develop long-term expansion plans to resolve network constraints.

Backed by 20 years of experience in power systems, she has established herself as a dynamic and results-driven professional. Over the years, she has served in various technical positions within Eskom and NTCSA. She works closely with energy market services, Eskom’s Grid Access Unit, system operations, generation, distribution, land and rights, transmission grid planning, and lines and substation engineering. Spanning the electricity value chain, these responsibilities align with the Sustainable Development Goal 7 in addressing the country’s energy challenges by 2030 and beyond.

Njapha successfully delivered the transmission project that connected the Medupi Power Station to the national transmission grid, and enabled connection of IPPS. She has also represented NTCSA at the Transmission Development Plan public forums, the Department of Energy, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, and the Independent Power Producers engagements.  

In 2017, she won the South African Standard Bank Rising Star Award in the Energy, Chemical and Environment category. In 2024, she was nominated to be an adjudicator in the Mining and Minerals category at the TransUnion South African Rising Star Awards. She is a member of the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) Southern Africa, and a member of CIGRE Women in Oil and Energy South Africa. She is also part of the G20 South Africa 2025: Priority 1: Energy Security and Affordable, Reliable Access, Infrastructure Resilience Framework.

Njapha holds a Master of Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree (cum laude), specialising in power systems from the University of Johannesburg, a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Central University of Technology, and a Certificate in the Management Development Programme from the University of the Free State.

She has co-authored papers and presented her research at peer reviewed international symposiums, such as in Romania (Cluj-Napoca), India (Delhi), Britain (UK), and Portugal.

Submitted by Ms Mpho Moloele, PR and Communication, Directorate of Research Support