[1] She became interested in biological science, and switched majors, graduating from Rand Afrikaans University in 1999.

[3] Mthunzi began to work for the National Laser Centre in the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, where she set up a functional cell-culture facility.

[4] Whilst at a conference in San Diego, Mthunzi-Kufa saw a presentation on optical tweezers which made her consider a career in biophotonics.

[26] In 2022, Dr. Mthunzi-Kufa was appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of the Advisory Council on National Orders by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

[27] 2011 - Selected to participate in the IAP/World Economic Forum's Summer Davos conference in Dalian, China[2] 2012 - Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze, awarded by Jacob Zuma[28][29] 2012 - SPIE One to Watch[30] 2012 - Forbes magazine Ten youngest power women in Africa[31][32][33] 2012 - South Africa's Most Influential Women[34] 2014 - Plenary speaker at the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics International Conference for Women in Physics[35] 2014 - Selected to the Global Young Academy 2014 - Emerging Leader at Genentech, San Francisco 2017 - Selected to attend BRICS Young Scientist Forum in China, Zhejiang University[36]