For Ms Afsaana Sultaana Mahomed, graduating with a BSc in Computer Engineering (Hons) from UKZN is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
From Reservoir Hills in Durban, Mahomed’s path to UKZN was never in question. “From a very young age, UKZN was the only university I ever aspired to study at,” she explained. “Every effort I made during my schooling years was driven by my dream of securing a place.” She admired the Institution for its academic rigour and the holistic development it offered to its students, especially those pursuing engineering. “Being part of UKZN has been both a privilege and a dream come true.”
Mahomed’s choice to pursue engineering, and specifically computer engineering, was deeply personal. Her greatest role model was her late father, Mr Mahomed Asad Mahomed. “Watching his dedication and passion for learning and machines ignited my desire to follow in his footsteps.” Her career choice was a tribute to the values of curiosity, resilience and excellence he instilled in her.
Throughout her degree, Mahomed found particular enjoyment in modules that allowed her to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of her field. She listed Artificial Intelligence, Security and Encryption, and Engineering Mathematics among her favourites. “Artificial Intelligence fascinated me because it’s about programming machines to learn, adapt and make decisions,” she said. She also appreciated how encryption-related work reminded her of the importance of digital safety and trust. Mathematics, the cornerstone of engineering, remained close to her heart for the logical discipline it demanded.
Her final-year project, a coffee maker replenisher, was an intelligent automation system that continuously monitored ingredient levels in coffee machines and automatically replenished them whenever they dropped below predefined thresholds. It also alerted the user whenever the main canisters containing the primary reserves were running low via a mobile application.
“While I implemented its integration for a coffee machine, allowing liquid ingredients to be refilled seamlessly without human intervention, the underlying engineering problem was far more complex,” explained Mahomed. “The challenge lay in designing a reliable system that integrates sensing, control and actuation in real time. Non-contact sensors were used to measure ingredient levels by exploiting differences in dielectric constants, the way different materials, such as water, milk or coffee grounds, affect electric fields. This principle allowed the system to distinguish accurately between varying levels and trigger precise control of pumps, solenoid valves and motors.
“In essence, the system had to perform continuous monitoring, respond within strict timing constraints, and avoid overfilling, while still maintaining a hygienic, food-safe operation.”
What made Mahomed’s project significant was its adaptability. Although it was demonstrated on a coffee maker, the same principles can be applied to far more critical environments such as industrial chemical plants, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, where it could automate the controlled delivery of water, nutrients or fertilisers.
“This project taught me how automation, when carefully engineered, can go beyond convenience and improve safety, efficiency, accuracy and reliability in diverse applications,” said Mahomed. “More importantly, it showed me the power of combining theoretical knowledge in sensing and control with practical system design to solve real-world problems.”
She now plans to pursue further studies under the mentorship of Academic Leader of Research in UKZN’s School of Engineering, Professor Akshay Saha, who was full of praise for the young engineer, mentioning that she had published two Q1 (Quartile 1) journal papers with him during her undergraduate studies.
Mahomed said her late father had played an irreplaceable role in her journey. He had faced serious health challenges, including the need for a heart and double lung transplant, yet remained a pillar of strength for his family. “Even though he is no longer here, his lessons remain with me every day. His words are always in my mind and memories of him are always carried in my heart,” she said. “This degree I dedicate to him, because everything I have achieved has been made possible through his constant love, his encouragement and all of my dreams he carried for me.”
In her free time, Mahomed enjoys reading, writing and most of all, spending time with her family. “They are my constant source of strength, joy and happiness,” she said.
Mahomed expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her on her academic journey, from her lecturers and mentors at UKZN to her family and the team at Link SA.
But her most heartfelt thanks remain reserved for one person. “My daddy is, was, and will always be my hero, and I will always be my dad’s daughter,” she said.
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini