When Dr Penny Moumakwa assumed the role of Chancellor at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), the significance stretched far beyond ceremonial formality. For the second time in its history, the university entrusted its highest ceremonial office to a woman. Yet, for Moumakwa, medical doctor, corporate leader, and trailblazer, the moment was less about personal triumph than it was about possibility. “What an absolute privilege and honour. SMU gave me a foundation to build my life and explore my purpose. My tenure must represent infinite possibilities for students, showing them that they can dream big, be bold, and pursue their most audacious goals.”

 

It is this fusion of humility and steel, the conviction that courage is the bedrock of all virtues, that has defined Moumakwa’s rise. From the operating theatre to the boardroom, she has consistently carved paths where few women have been allowed to walk. Now, she brings that same disruptive clarity to SMU, at a time when South African higher education is being asked not only to graduate students, but to reimagine society itself.

 

Although the role of Chancellor is traditionally symbolic, Dr Moumakwa insists hers will not be passive. “This is a labour of love for me. I am a proud beneficiary of this institution, and I want my tenure to have a real impact,” she says. With a vast network spanning healthcare and business, she intends to harness those relationships to open doors for SMU globally. “I hope to help the university establish mutually beneficial partnerships locally and internationally, profile the immense achievements of our alumni, and expose students to phenomenal business leaders who can demonstrate excellence and infinite possibilities.”

 

Her vision is clear: SMU must be a thought leader, not merely a graduate factory. It must set the agenda for healthcare in South Africa, filling the vacuum of ethical, bold, and action-oriented leadership that the sector so desperately lacks.

 

On transformation: More than a policy word

 

Few terms are as overused in South Africa as “transformation,” but for Moumakwa, it is not a catchphrase; it is a lived commitment. “Authentic transformation requires us to unlearn our own biases, blind spots, and limiting beliefs. It must be embedded in every aspect of the university, not just as policy but as practice. It’s about walking the talk.”

 

She sees SMU as a microcosm of South African society: diverse, complex, and deeply shaped by history. Transformation, she insists, is not about ticking boxes but about nurturing leadership that can rewrite the country’s future.

 

For Moumakwa, who has often found herself “the first or the only” woman in male-dominated spaces, the symbolism of SMU’s female leadership triumvirate- herself, Council Chair Nontlaza Sizani, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus is powerful. “It is extremely significant and timely. Together, we bring unique experiences and perspectives, and that makes for a very rich partnership,” she says. “I am particularly excited to explore how our collective talents can expand SMU’s academic excellence, social agenda, and student wellbeing.”

 

But her advocacy goes further. She is unequivocal about the systemic neglect of women’s health in research, funding, and leadership. “There is conclusive evidence that women bring unique creativity, empathy, and collaboration to leadership. Yet healthcare has historically underinvested in women’s issues. I am passionate about changing that.”

 

Her own career is a testament to what happens when doors are forced open. Now, she insists, it is her responsibility to hold those doors open for others.

 

A message to students: Enough, worthy, unstoppable

 

SMU’s students, many of them first-generation scholars, occupy a special place in her heart. Her message is uncompromising: believe in your brilliance. “Firstly, you are enough. You must trust your brilliance, creativity, and resilience. You must know that you are worthy, and you must have the courage to act on your dreams. Failure is part of the journey—Maya Angelou said it best: ‘You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.’”

 

In her eyes, the greatest legacy of apartheid is not structural alone but psychological, the internalised racism that tricks young people into believing they are “less than.” Calling it a “scam,” she urges students, especially young black women, to rewrite their own narratives.

 

Redefining SMU’s place in South Africa

 

For SMU,  Moumakwa’s appointment marks more than continuity; it signals a recalibration. With its history rooted in producing healthcare workers for underserved communities, the university now stands on the cusp of redefining itself as a continental force. Through her vision, the role of Chancellor evolves from a ceremonial to a catalytic one. By leveraging partnerships, amplifying women’s leadership, and championing authentic transformation, Moumakwa positions SMU as both a custodian of South Africa’s health sciences future and a beacon for global collaboration.

 

“I reflected deeply before putting my hand up for this role,” she admits. “But when I thought about what SMU has given me and what it can still give South Africa, I knew this was where I was meant to serve.”

 

SMU is entering a defining chapter. With Moumakwa at its helm, it has not only appointed a chancellor but also adopted a philosophy. One that insists on courage, boldness, community, and excellence as the only antidotes to South Africa’s fractured health sciences system and higher education challenges.

 

The appointment of SMU’s second female Chancellor is historic. But history, as Moumakwa reminds us, is not an end. It is a challenge: to be bold, to transform, and to dream audaciously.

By Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli