Ziyanda is a nurturer of nature

Ziyanda Mnguni, Gugulethu environmental intern

When it comes to her career, Ziyanda Mnguni has two missions in mind: to heal the environment and alleviate the world’s challenges. Born in the Eastern Cape, Ziyanda holds a Bachelor of Sciences majoring in Geology and Geography and an honours degree in geohydrology, a study of groundwater and its interactions with the environment. However, it was the environmental aspect of her studies that captured her heart. “I chose the environmental field because I enjoyed it more than geology. I have an interest in healing the environment,” she explains.

She dreams of becoming an environmental officer and later a head of environmental compliance. Currently, she is using the internship opportunity to learn and grow, gaining as much experience as she can to prepare for the future. Under the mentorship of Gugulethu’s environmental officer, Ayanda Khumalo, Ziyanda has honed her skills. She has learned to monitor water usage, implement dust suppression, and test water samples weekly to ensure quality is maintained. “We keep an eye on stuff like that so that if there is a slight change, we can manage it and intervene as soon as possible,” says Ziyanda.