Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has strengthened its governance, risk management and internal control capabilities with the appointment of Kolobetso Suzan Rankokwadi as Risk Management Specialist, effective 1 July 2026.
Rankokwadi brings more than 25 years of professional experience spanning risk management, governance, compliance, financial management, internal controls and public sector administration. Her career includes strategic and managerial roles at the North West Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Treasury, the Department of Justice, and private-sector organisations.
Before joining SMU, Rankokwadi served as Deputy Director: Risk Management at the North West Department of Health, where she led strategic and operational risk management initiatives. Her responsibilities included compliance monitoring, fraud prevention, enterprise risk management, and implementing and monitoring audit action plans.
Her appointment strengthens SMU’s capacity to anticipate and manage institutional risks while supporting sound governance, accountability and operational resilience. This is particularly important in higher education, where effective risk management is integral to sustainable institutional performance and informed decision-making.
Rankokwadi said her approach to risk management goes beyond compliance and should form part of an institution’s broader leadership and decision-making processes.
“Effective risk management is about creating an environment in which an institution can anticipate challenges, make informed decisions and pursue its strategic objectives with confidence,” she said. “It requires a culture of accountability, ethical leadership and continuous improvement.”
Her expertise covers enterprise risk management, financial governance, budget management, policy implementation, stakeholder engagement, performance monitoring and regulatory compliance. These capabilities position her to contribute to SMU’s efforts to strengthen its governance architecture and institutional resilience.
Rankokwadi holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Systems Management from the University of Pretoria, a Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Management from the University of South Africa (UNISA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management from North-West University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from North-West University.
She is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA). She has completed professional development programmes in areas including effective risk management, ethics in the public service and the Public Service Senior Management Service Pre-Entry Programme.
For Rankokwadi, joining SMU provides an opportunity to apply her experience at a specialised health sciences university that contributes to the development of health professionals and the advancement of health sciences.
“I am excited to join SMU and to contribute to an institution whose work has a direct bearing on the development of health professionals and the advancement of health sciences,” she said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues to strengthen risk management practices further and contribute towards a culture of sound governance and accountability.”
Tshepo Mofokeng, SMU Director: Internal Audit and Risk Management, welcomed the appointment, saying Rankokwadi’s experience would strengthen the directorate’s capacity.
“We are excited about Kolobetso’s appointment and the experience and expertise that she brings to the team,” said Mofokeng. “Her extensive background in risk management, governance and public sector administration will strengthen our capacity to identify and mitigate institutional risks while supporting sound decision-making across the university.”
Mofokeng added that risk management is most effective when embedded in an organisation’s everyday culture, rather than treated solely as a compliance function.
Rankokwadi’s appointment reinforces SMU’s commitment to accountability, integrity and operational excellence as it advances its mandate as a specialised health sciences university. By strengthening governance and risk management, the University is creating a sound institutional foundation to support excellence in health sciences education, research and healthcare advancement.
By Dimakatso Modise
