Gauteng province has taken a step to tighten the bond between government and higher education with the signing of a landmark Umbrella Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the Premier and the province’s seven publicly funded universities. The agreement signals a shift from consultation to execution, placing research, data and innovation at the centre of provincial decision-making.
The signing ceremony, hosted by the Office of the Premier, brought together Vice-Chancellors, senior academics and Members of the Executive Council responsible for key portfolios including Health, Social Development, Agriculture and rural development, Infrastructure and Cooperative Governance. Premier Panyaza Lesufi led the proceedings, underscoring the urgency of aligning academic expertise with government priorities.
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) featured prominently at the event, represented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Dr Moreoagae Bertha Randa and Professor Olanrewaju Oladimeji. Their presence reinforced SMU’s role as a specialist health sciences institution positioned to support Gauteng’s transformation agenda.
The MoU launches a structured partnership under the provincial social compact, designed to mobilise all sectors behind shared goals. It reaffirms the Gauteng Provincial Government’s commitment to evidence-based policy, credible data and the ambition to build a globally competitive, data-led city region. Central to the agreement is a call for increased investment in research, innovation, digital governance, integrated data systems and artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery.
Opening remarks from senior officials stressed that the agreement is not symbolic. It is a commitment to joint action, shared accountability and measurable outcomes. Vice-Chancellors from all seven universities outlined their strategic directions, confirmed their support for the province and pledged to align research and teaching capacity with Gauteng’s development needs.
Professor Matsha-Erasmus delivered a focused intervention that positioned SMU as a practical partner in health system strengthening. She highlighted the university’s priorities: producing work-ready health professionals, expanding clinical and public health research that informs policy, and deepening community engagement to improve population health. She emphasised that collaboration is not optional, but central to SMU’s identity and impact.
SMU committed its expertise across five areas: generating health data and evidence, driving innovation in health systems, delivering teaching and skills development, building policy-responsive research partnerships, and expanding community-based public health outreach. The university pledged full institutional support to ensure the MoU delivers tangible benefits.
In his keynote address, Premier Lesufi challenged universities to move faster from ideas to implementation. He reaffirmed the government’s policy priorities, highlighted the irreplaceable role of universities in building smarter public systems, and made it clear that success would be judged by results that improve citizens’ lives.
The MoU was formally signed by the Premier and the Vice-Chancellors of the SMU, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria, University of South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand and Vaal University of Technology.
According to the SMU Research and Innovation Director Prof Mapaseka Seheri, the agreement establishes a Joint Working Committee and lays the foundation for coordinated research agendas, efficient resource use and sustained collaboration. It positions Gauteng as a learning province and marks a move towards evidence-driven governance.
By Tumelo Moila
