PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 October 2025
GA-RANKUWA, PRETORIA—The spotlight will fall on Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) this weekend as its Convocation hosts a Fundraising and Alumni Awards Gala Dinner.
The gala, taking place on Saturday, 25 October 2025, will feature a keynote address by the Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, an SMU alumna whose life’s work exemplifies the transformative power of health-sciences education. The event will also be attended by the MEC for Health in Limpopo, Dieketseng Masesi Mashego, distinguished alumni, corporate partners, government leaders, and philanthropists.
Under the theme “SMU NextGen: Investing in South Africa’s Future of Health Sciences,” the black-tie gala will raise funds to support academically gifted but financially vulnerable students pursuing degrees in health sciences fields. The Convocation’s leadership envisions the evening as both a celebration of excellence and a call to action, urging alumni and partners to become part of a sustainable investment model for student support.
Since the launch of the Convocation’s fundraising drive, 17 students have received full-tuition sponsorships, while more than 40 others were financially unblocked to continue their studies. Building on this success, the Convocation aims to establish an Alumni Development Fund to strengthen SMU’s third-stream income and attract investment projects to the university.
According to the SMU Convocation President Japhta Phala, the initiative is a moral duty shared by all who benefited from SMU’s mission to democratise health sciences education. “We were all given a chance once,” he says. “Now it is our turn to extend that chance to those who come after us. This is about ensuring that talent is never lost to poverty but redirected toward healing and rebuilding our nation.”
Beyond the fundraising effort, the evening will include the Alumni Awards Ceremony, celebrating distinguished graduates who have contributed to medicine, innovation, and social transformation across South Africa and the world.
For event details or donations, please contact: Letsai Mashishi | Email: letsai.mashishi@smu.ac.za | Cell: 083 415 7722
For media enquiries, please contact: Tshimagadzo Mphaphuli | Email: tshimangadzo.mphaphuli@smu.ac.za | Cell: 081 015 4790
