Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) proudly celebrates the recent recognition of its newly appointed Council member, Dr Nomonde Mabuya, who has been awarded the prestigious Ellen Kuzwayo Council Medal by the University of Johannesburg for her outstanding contribution to public health, occupational safety, and women’s empowerment.
A medical doctor, occupational health specialist, academic, business leader, and social innovator, Mabuya has dedicated more than three decades to advancing the wellbeing of South Africans. Her distinguished career aligns strongly with SMU’s mission to cultivate leaders who drive transformation and improve the quality of life across the country.
For over thirty years, Mabuya has been one of the country’s leading advocates for workplace health and safety. She has advised major institutions—including Vodacom, Deloitte, Standard Bank, Telkom, and the South African Reserve Bank—on employee wellness and occupational health programmes that have protected thousands of workers and significantly improved working conditions across sectors.
Her influence has been especially notable in the mining industry. Mabuya played a central role in developing South Africa’s fitness-for-work guidelines, adopted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in 2014. These guidelines continue to serve as a national benchmark for fairness, accountability, and improved protection for vulnerable mineworkers.
As CEO of Qalo DigiHealth, she is advancing healthcare accessibility through digital innovation, promoting the use of electronic health records, remote patient monitoring, and other technologies that make healthcare more effective, affordable, and responsive to patients’ needs.
Mabuya’s contributions also extend to education and social development. Having lectured for 15 years at the University of Pretoria’s School of Public Health, she has shaped generations of health professionals. Her founding of the Women’s Sports Trust and Women Entrepreneurs Trust further demonstrates her commitment to empowerment, providing mentorship, scholarships, and funding opportunities for women and girls across the country.
Her medico-legal expertise has been equally influential through her work with the Road Accident Fund and her leadership as Chair of the HPCSA RAF Tribunal Committee, strengthening justice and fairness in medico-legal assessments.
The University of Johannesburg’s Ellen Kuzwayo Council Medal recognises leaders who advance social equity, transformation, and national development, qualities that Mabuya exemplifies. Her appointment to the SMU Council brings a powerful combination of strategic insight, public health expertise, and a deep commitment to societal impact.
Mabuya’s leadership continues to shape healthier, safer, and more equitable communities, an inspiring alignment with SMU’s vision of excellence and service to society.
