Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) alumnus and retired Head of the Department of Cardiology, Professor Pindile Mntla, is celebrated for a career defined by vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to medical education and research.
Born at Malmesbury Hospital in Cape Town, Prof Mntla was the second of five children, though only three survive today. Raised in Idutywa by his maternal grandfather and uncle, he attended primary school in Bolotwa and completed secondary education in Cofimvaba and at St John’s College in Mthatha. His early years instilled in him discipline and curiosity. “I owe much of my resilience and work ethic to those formative years,” he reflects.
Mntla graduated as a medical doctor from the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), now SMU, in 1984. During his years there, he was introduced to politics through the formation of Azanian Students Organisation (AZASO), where he served as the founding secretary of the Medunsa branch. He had already been exposed to uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) activities as a Grade 11 pupil at St John’s College, assisting with distributing literature, knitting jerseys, and supporting cell activities in Spring Street.
His medical training coincided with turbulent times in South Africa. Initially slated for an internship at Edendale Hospital in 1985, he refused to sign the “Inkatha Pledge” and was redirected to Natalspruit Hospital (now Telle-Mogoerane Hospital) during the height of the East Rand uprisings. Prof Mntla recalls the horrors of the era: a house in Thokoza, along with his graduation gown, hood, and books, was burnt, and he was closely monitored by Internal Security. Despite these challenges, he resolved early in his medical career that private practice would not be his path.
His registrar years at Wits were also marked by systemic inequities: restrictions on accommodation due to the Group Areas Act, unequal benefits compared to fellow registrars, and ongoing discrimination. Yet these obstacles did not deter him.
Returning to his alma mater in 1994 as a lecturer in Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Mntla co-launched the Refresher Course alongside Prof Willie Bam and departmental administrator Mrs Jackson in 1995. What began in a modest lecture hall evolved into a nationally recognised platform, now hosted at the CSIR, providing doctors with access to the latest cardiology knowledge in a structured, professional setting.
Mntla’s research collaborations, including work with the late Prof Bongani Mayosi, addressed critical cardiology issues such as pericardial disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure. Mentorship remains a core principle for him; numerous Master’s and PhD students under his guidance have completed studies shaping clinical practice today.
Beyond SMU, Prof Mntla has contributed to the Medicines Control Council (now SAHPRA – South African Health Products Regulatory Authority), the College of Physicians Council, and the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) Senate, and chairs the Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Collaboration Programme. He has served on advisory boards, including the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), acted as an external examiner for the University of Botswana and the University of Malawi, and participated in medical outreach through the Phalala Programme in Eswatini.
Mntla’s personal legacy is equally profound. He is married to Dr Edith Nonhlanhla Mntla (née Madela) and is a proud father of three children, two of whom have followed him into the medical profession. “Seeing my children pursue medicine fills me with immense pride,” he reflects.
“Prof Mntla embodies a rare blend of vision and humility,” says Dr Edith Mntla. “He inspires excellence while nurturing talent.” His leadership journey includes serving as Deputy Dean for Students (2002), Director of the School of Medicine (2005–2009), and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Throughout his career, he has exemplified intellect, action, mentorship, and service. “He doesn’t just teach medicine; he teaches us how to serve humanity,” Dr Mntla adds. His story remains one of resilience, leadership, and lasting influence on South African medicine.
By Tumelo Moila
