PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 May 2025
GA-RANKUWA, PRETORIA –Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) will confer qualifications across its five academic schools during the 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremonies, scheduled for 21 to 23 May 2025. The ceremonies mark a pivotal moment—not only for graduates, but for the health and science sectors that urgently require their skills, innovation, and leadership.
Graduates from the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Health Care Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and School of Science and Technology will formally complete their academic journeys and step into fields where their expertise is needed most.
Ceremony dates are as follows:
• 21 May – School of Medicine
• 22 May – School of Dentistry and School of Health Care Sciences
• 23 May – School of Pharmacy and School of Science and Technology
This cohort enters a world facing complex health challenges, scientific disruption, and a growing demand for evidence-based care and innovation. As such, SMU’s graduates are academically qualified, socially conscious, scientifically prepared, and ready to contribute across borders and sectors.
In a moment of solemn reflection, the university will confer a posthumous degree in honour of a student whose life ended before graduation, but whose academic efforts are remembered with pride and dignity.
The graduation on 23 May will also include a historic first: the conferment of an honorary doctoral degree to Professor Phuti Esrom Ngoepe, a renowned scholar in Physics and Materials Modelling. The degree, approved by Council on 3 April 2025, recognises a lifetime of contribution to science and higher education. A separate statement detailing this historic conferment will be released.
SMU remains committed to training professionals who are equipped not just with qualifications but with purpose, courage, and a deep understanding of the communities they serve.
About Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is a specialised South African institution advancing excellence in health sciences education, research, and innovation. Through a strong focus on impact and equity, SMU equips graduates to lead change in healthcare systems and scientific sectors across the continent and beyond.
For media enquiries, please contact Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, Acting Director: Communications and Marketing at tshimangadzo.mphaphuli@smu.ac.za
Cell: 081 015 4790
