Rooted in heritage. Powered by data. Growing the future.
“Vha tshidivha khwine vhaita zwa khwine,” translated “If you know better, you will do better.”
For Rangani Nemando, Senior Technician at the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium (SANBI), this proverb, shared by radio presenter Rofhiwa Nethengwe, encapsulates his journey in natural science collections. With over six years of experience in scientific and data curation, Rangani is quietly shaping the future of botanical research, one digitised specimen and one trained intern at a time.
Rangani’s path into collections work began long before his first herbarium shift. It was written in the hills of Mavhode, a rural village where he grew up, surrounded by stories of his late grandfather, a revered traditional healer and herbalist. Though Rangani never met him, his grandfather’s deep connection to medicinal plants became a guiding inspiration.
“As a child, I would wander the mountains of my village, curious about plants and the natural world,” he recalls. “That early fascination grew into a passion for botany and biodiversity.”
This passion now drives Rangani’s work at the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium, where he contributes to data management, scientific curation, and field collecting. Whether he’s cleaning datasets, capturing metadata, or ensuring herbarium records are precise and accessible, Rangani approaches each task with precision and purpose.
“What I enjoy most about my work is data management—capturing, verifying, and ensuring the accuracy of biodiversity records,” he shares. “There’s something deeply satisfying in knowing that accurate data fuels research and conservation.”
But Rangani’s role is not just technical. It’s deeply human. A quiet leader, he finds joy in mentoring interns, guiding them through imaging techniques, and watching their skills and confidence grow. He believes leadership starts with trust, genuine relationships, and mutual respect, values he lives out daily.
“Building trust and showing people that they are capable goes a long way,” he says. “I enjoy sharing what I know and helping others grow in their work.”
Despite his calm and collected nature, Rangani is no stranger to adapting to change. He’s faced system upgrades, shifting responsibilities, and tight deadlines, but rather than viewing these as setbacks, he considers them as stepping stones in his professional development.
“Every challenge has helped me grow. They’ve taught me to stay focused, positive, and always ready to learn.”
He was nominated for the NSCF Emerging Leaders Workshop 2025 because of his passion and quiet consistency and because those around him recognise the potential he holds as a future leader in the collections community.
“I hope to learn how to lead with greater confidence, support others more effectively, and navigate challenges both personally and professionally,” he says.
Rangani also dreams of bridging the past with the future, linking traditional plant knowledge with modern scientific methods and technology. He sees mentorship as critical to this vision and believes institutions should create more spaces for knowledge exchange between generations.
When he’s not curating data or coaching interns, Rangani finds joy in simple pleasures: playing the bass guitar, farming, watching series, and most of all, spending time with family. His creativity and rhythm carry through both his music and his professional life, bringing harmony, focus, and flow to his work.
As South Africa’s natural science collections face evolving challenges, Rangani stands as part of a new generation that blends legacy with innovation. Grounded in purpose and driven by quiet determination, he’s showing that leadership isn’t always loud, but it is always felt.