Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) marked a proud academic milestone on Friday, 12 September, as 110 students graduated at a ceremony held at its Sports Complex. The event not only celebrated individual achievement but also highlighted the University’s growing contribution to health sciences education in South Africa.
Among the undergraduates, nine students (8%) had entered the University through the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP), underlining SMU’s commitment to widening access to higher education. One student also graduated cum laude, underscoring the high academic standards at the institution.
The recently appointed SMU Chancellor, Dr Penny Moumakwa, formally conferred degrees to the graduates at SMU’s Spring Graduation Ceremony, marking her first official act in this prestigious role. Her presence added gravitas to the event as she personally recognised the achievements of the graduates across disciplines, including dentistry, health care sciences, medicine, pharmacy, and science and technology.
The results reflect the University’s strength across disciplines:
- School of Dentistry – 3 undergraduates, 5 Master’s (8 total)
- School of Health Care Sciences – 16 Master’s, 2 Doctorates (18 total)
- School of Medicine – 10 undergraduates, 1 Honours, 33 Master’s, 2 Doctorates (46 total)
- School of Pharmacy – 2 undergraduates, 9 Master’s (11 total)
- School of Science & Technology – 14 undergraduates, 8 Honours, 3 Master’s, 2 Doctorates (27 total)
The figures reveal a strong postgraduate output, with Master’s graduates forming the largest group. This reflects SMU’s dual focus on preparing practitioners and building research capacity and academic leadership.
Graduates shared moving reflections on their journeys. Lehlogonolo Mokaba, who graduated Master of Science (Mathematics) cum laude with a dissertation titled Self-adaptive technique with two-step inertia for monotone variational inclusion problem in real Hilbert space, reflected: “Resilience, faith, and countless hours of dedication carried me through. Hard work, when guided by passion, always bears fruit.”
Ayomide Adeyemi Abe, who earned a PhD in Medical Physics with a thesis titled Detection, staging and classification of lung cancer using deep learning, described his journey as both personal and global: “I arrived with nothing but faith. There were challenges, but I believed, and step by step, everything became clear. I dedicate this PhD to my late uncle, my family in Nigeria, and my supervisors. My advice: believe in yourself – everything is possible.”
Acting Vice-Chancellor for the ceremony, Professor Dini Mawela, applauded the graduates’ determination: “These young professionals will go on to change lives. Their success reflects both personal perseverance and the University’s unwavering commitment to excellence.” She highlighted broader 2025 milestones, including 1,403 graduates this academic year—1,293 during May—and SMU’s first honorary doctorate, awarded to Professor Ngoepe for his four decades of contribution to Physics.
The Spring Graduation marked more than numbers. It underscored SMU’s mission to produce highly skilled professionals in dentistry, health care sciences, medicine, pharmacy, and science and technology fields where South Africa urgently needs expertise.
For the graduates, the day represented years of resilience, long nights of study, and perseverance. For South Africa, it symbolised a stronger workforce equipped to improve healthcare systems, advance scientific knowledge, and tackle pressing national challenges.
As applause filled the Sports Complex, the significance stretched far beyond the hall. The true celebration lies ahead—in the hospitals, laboratories, and communities where these graduates will make their mark.
SMU’s Spring Graduation 2025 is proof once more that SMU does not just produce graduates. It shapes leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
By Tumelo Moila
