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Dr
Name: Nonhlanhla Vilakazi
Location: D3 Lab 229 Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Zoology Academic Staff听 Staff Members
Contact Details:
Tel: +27 (0)11 559 7334
Email:听nvilakazi@uj.ac.za
About Nonhlanhla Vilakazi
Dr Nonny Vilakazi is a researcher with a deep-rooted interest in Palaeo-herpetology and heritage management. As a co-permit holder at Bolt’s Farm Karstic System, a significant palaeo-site within South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind, Dr. Vilakazi plays a vital role in exploring the environmental history of the area, which spans an extraordinary timeline from 4 million to 900,000 years ago based on biochronology. Her research leverages reptiles as bioindicators, using their fossil records to reconstruct past ecosystems and draw insights into climate change patterns that resonate with the shifts we experience today. Driven by a commitment to change perceptions of reptiles鈥攁nimals often misunderstood and unfairly killed鈥擠r Vilakazi advocates for their conservation, highlighting their critical role in environmental studies.
In addition to her primary research, Dr. Vilakazi supervises students researching fossil species, including bovids, rodents, rhinos, and primates, fostering the next generation of palaeontologists. Her work also extends to the management and rehabilitation of heritage sites, where she explores sustainable strategies to preserve these invaluable sites. Dedicated to making science accessible and engaging, Dr Vilakazi is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the public, transforming complex scientific topics into compelling narratives and making heritage science “fashionable.” She believes that each fossil within the Cradle holds a piece of the puzzle in understanding human evolution and the dynamic interactions our ancestors had with their environments.
Publications
Vilakazi, N.,听Gommery, D. & Kgasi, L. 2018. First fossil record of the spitting Elapidae in the Cradle of Humankind (South Africa).听South African Archaeological Bulletin听73 (207):听35-40
Gommery, D., Kgasi, L., S茅n茅gas, F.,听Vilakazi, N.,听Hancox J. and Brink. J. 2019. Waypoint 160: First听in situ听primate remain.听Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History听8:听1-5
Vilakazi, N.听2019. 鈥淗umble鈥� knowledge in the Palaeosciences: Isn鈥檛 it time to Decolonise? South African Archaeological Bulletin听74 (211):听138-140
Pickford, M., Gommery, D., Kgasi, L.,听Vilakazi, N.,听Senut, B. & Mocke, H. 2019. Southern African Tetraconodontinae: Recent discoveries.听Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia听21:听59-81
Vilakazi, N.,听Gommery, D. & Kgasi, L. 2020. First Agaminae discovered at Brad Pit A, Bolt鈥檚 Farm Cave System (South Africa).听Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History听9:听48-53
Kgasi, L.,听Vilakazi, N.听& S茅n茅gas, F. 2021. The effectiveness of fossil acid preparation at Ditsong National Museum of Natural History.听Cultural History Journal听12:听114-121
Vilakazi, N.听2021. Transformation in Palaeontology: Going nowhere slowly.听South African Archaeological Bulletin听76听(215): 171-175
Senut, B., Gommery, D., Kgasi, L. &听Vilakazi, N.听2022. Mylomygale fossil specimen from BPA, Bolt鈥檚 Farm Karstic System, Cradle of Humankind. Journal of African Earth Sciences听196:听1-8.
Gommery, D. &听Vilakazi, N.听2022. Un laboratoire franco-sud-africain. In Paleontologie d鈥� aujourd鈥� hui. EDP Sciences: France.
Gommery, D.,听Vilakazi, N., Kgasi, L. & S茅n茅gas, F. 2022. Bolt鈥檚 Farm: un site paleontologique sud-africain class茅 par l鈥橴nesco. In Paleontologie d鈥� aujourd鈥� hui. EDP Sciences: France.
Gommery, D., Kgasi, L.,听Vilakazi, N., S茅n茅gas, F., Pickford, M., Kuhn, B., Schnyder, J. & Pois, V. 2022. First听in situ听middle Pliocene cercopithecoid fossils from the Palaeokarst System Bolt鈥檚 Farm (South Africa).听Geodiversitas,听45(5):听163-195
Lemierre, A.,听Vilakazi, N.,听Gommery, D. & Kgasi, L. 2024. Unveiling the First Neobatrachian (Anura) discovered in the Cradle of Humankind (Plio- Pleistocene), South Africa.听Journal of African Herpetology.听DOI:10.1080/21564574.2024.2351821
External links
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