Civil Engineering May 2022 | Vol 30 No 4

Civil Engineering May 2022 37 RESEARCH INITIATIVES When it comes to his own research, Denis has worked extensively on geosynthetics interface interaction, which evolved to be applied in testing geosynthetic materials that are used in landfill designs in South Africa. The geosynthetics interface testing is now a fully fledged activity being conducted at UCT’s Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory. The laboratory’s constructed interface testing equipment is the only one of its kind in the region and serves both local and international customers. “The interface testing facility is part of the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory I established in 2010. We swept out all old equipment and invested in high-tech facilities for soil testing after success- fully acquiring more than R10 million in funding to further research projects both nationally and internationally,” he explains. Denis’ work contributed to him being nominated by SAICE’s Geotechnical Division to go to the 16 th African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Tunisia in 2015 and present the division’s bid to host the 17 th African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Through this presentation, the SAICE Geotechnical Division won the bid to host the 2019 regional conference in South African. Denis successfully chaired the Organising Committee for the confer- ence which was held in Cape Town from 7 to 9 October 2019. The prestigious event, co-hosted by the SAICE Geotechnical Division and the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, attracted more than 250 del- egates and 28 exhibitors from 39 countries. When he is not hard at work pre- paring the next generation of geotech- nical engineers, Denis enjoys spending time with his wife, Phumzile, and four children, Sindisiwe, Ed-Sthembiso, Kethiwe and Zoe-Siphiwe, while watching Arsenal Football Club (his favourite team) playing in the English Premiership League. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In noting his many achievements, Denis acknowledges the contributions and support of the many individuals and institutions that helped him achieve what he has today. Most notably, “the one immortal, invisible and wise God for His grace and strength, and Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour.” Denis also acknowledged and expressed his appreciation to UCT for providing the facilities and funding that supports first class teaching and research, as well as the companies who support the work of the Geotechnical Engineering Division. After transitioning from a UCT student over 20 years ago to an employee today, he thanked those at the institution for believing in him, providing an ena- bling environment, and according to him the opportunity to thrive, particularly his colleagues and heads of department, both past and present, namely Prof. Alphose Zingoni, Prof. Neil Armitage and Prof. Pilate Moyo. Denis also noted the contributions of: Q Q The Ugandan Government, for offering him a scholarship in 1990 to undertake his under- graduate studies in civil engineering at Makerere University. Q Q Prof. Badru Kiggundu, the former head of civil engineering at Makerere University, for introducing him to the field of geotechnical engineering. Prof. Kiggundu was Denis’ undergraduate final research project supervisor and first boss and was the one who recom- mended that Makerere University recruit Denis as a teaching assistant in 1994. He was also responsible for get- ting Denis a scholarship to pursue his master’s in geotechnical engineering at UCT in 1996, and personally visited UCT to fetch the application forms for Denis. Q Q The Norwegian Government, through the NTNU/ Makerere University Project, for financially supporting his studies at UCT. Q Q The British Government, through the Commonwealth Scholarship, for sponsoring his PhD studies at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Q Q All of his postgraduate students, who number over 50. “At undergraduate level, academics choose their students. At postgraduate level, students choose their supervisors. Thank you for believing in me. These postgraduate students are actually the ones who have done all the work. I appreciate all the contributions they have made,” he says. Q Q His relatives, in-laws and friends scat- tered around the world. “You are all special to me and my favourites.” Lastly, Denis thanked the SAICE Geotechnical Gold Medal organisers for instituting a platform that recognises achievements and contributions made to geotechnical engineering in South Africa, as well as his nominators who viewed him worthy of recognition. “Looking at the previous recipients of the Geotechnical Gold Medal, I saw a galaxy of geotechnical stars and heroes. It is indeed a compelling list and I feel very excited and humbled to have my name next to these doyens of geotechnical en- gineering. Winning this medal puts me in the spotlight and compels me to do more. It gives me more opportunities to mentor upcoming engineers and scholars on the African continent,” he says. “I dedicate this award to my mother who unreservedly gave all she had in order to put me through school.”  Denis with his wife, Phumzile, and children, Sindisiwe, Kethiwe, Zoe-Siphiwe (youngest) and Ed-Sthembiso