Mathematics is a field where black women remain rare. Professor Maggie Aphane is rewriting that narrative. As Head of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), Aphane is transforming mathematics from a gatekeeper discipline into a platform for inclusion, leadership, and innovation. Recently appointed to the National Graduate Academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (NGA-MaSS), she is shaping the future of mathematics both inside SMU and across South Africa.
Aphane holds a BSc, Honours, MSc, and PhD in Mathematics (Topology) from the University of South Africa (UNISA), where she became the first South African woman and only the second woman overall to earn a PhD in Mathematics from the institution. “I’ve often been the only black female present at international conferences,” she reflects. “That has only strengthened my resolve to break barriers and inspire others.”
Her fascination with mathematics began early, drawn by its logical precision and power to explain the world. Specialising in general topology, Aphane’s research supports fields such as data science, network analysis, and medical imaging. She also works in fixed point theory and graph theory, contributing to models used in drug development and disease transmission.
As Head of Department, she is actively reshaping the academic culture at SMU. “One of my central goals is to increase the representation of women in mathematics,” she explained. “Diversity is not just a value, it’s essential to innovation.” Under her leadership, the department introduced a graph theory module to help students analyse real-world public health data. This forms part of a broader effort to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration with fields such as pharmacology and public health.
Previously known mainly for teaching, the department has transformed into a leading research hub. “We’ve gone from zero publications to being SMU’s highest publishing department,” she notes with pride. Despite the challenges of working in a male-dominated field, she credits her achievements to the mentorship of Professor Seithuti Moshokoa and the support of her family. “You need people who remind you of your goals when things get tough,” she says.
For this reason, mentorship lies at the core of her academic legacy. She has created safe, inclusive spaces for young women in science, offering scholarships, internships, and research opportunities. Her recent participation in the Megamaths Conference, alongside six female postgraduate students, reflects her hands-on and empowering approach.
Under her leadership, the department has raised over R15 million to support emerging researchers and tutors, produced its first PhD graduates, and seen a steady rise in postgraduate enrolments. She also secured the department’s first nGAP lecturer and welcomed two postdoctoral fellows, further strengthening its research profile.
At SMU, where mathematics now fuels both research output and interdisciplinary innovation, Aphane is building more than a department; she is building a legacy. “I hope to be remembered as someone who opened doors and built lasting foundations,” she says. “That would be my greatest legacy.” For South African mathematics, and for every young woman following in her footsteps, Professor Maggie Aphane is ensuring that legacy is already taking shape.
By Tumelo Moila
