Keletso Monareng receives recognition for her groundbreaking research on sodium-ion batteries. (Photo supplied)
By: Boitumelo Makhapheetja
The sun was setting over the lush green hills of Ga-Sekororo Village, near Tzaneen, casting a warm glow over the small community.
Among the village’s bright young minds was Keletso Monareng, a PhD candidate in Physics at the University of Limpopo. Her journey to this moment was one of determination and curiosity.
Growing up in a rural village, Keletso witnessed firsthand the impact of limited access to reliable energy. She saw families struggling to power their homes, schools, and communities. This sparked her fascination with science and its potential to provide sustainable solutions to everyday problems.
Keletso’s research focused on developing clean, affordable energy technologies, specifically sodium-ion batteries. These batteries were a safer, cheaper, and greener alternative to lithium-ion batteries. By using salt instead of toxic lithium, her work aimed to make energy storage more sustainable and accessible.
Years of hard work and dedication paid off when Keletso was recognized at the 2025 L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards. The awards celebrated exceptional female scientists whose innovative research addressed Africa’s most pressing challenges. Keletso’s research fit perfectly into this mission, and she was thrilled to be among the eight remarkable awardees.
The program had honored a total of 50 female scientists, marking a significant milestone that reflected an investment of approximately R5 million. Serge Sacre, Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal South Africa, emphasized the importance of investing in women in STEM. “When women scientists are empowered, their innovations resonate throughout communities, economies, and ecosystems,” he said.
For Keletso, this recognition was not just a personal achievement but a true reflection to the power of science to transform lives. Her research aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while offering reliable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. As she looked to the future, Keletso knew that her work would make a difference, one battery at a time.
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