Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating an important academic milestone after Dr Gomolemo Rakale, a Statistics lecturer, graduated with a PhD in Statistics at the university’s 2026 Spring Graduation Ceremony. His achievement highlights SMU’s commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and developing expertise that can help address South Africa’s healthcare challenges.
Dr Rakale completed his doctoral studies between January 2022 and September 2026. His research, titled Statistical Modelling of Maternal Mortality Trends and the Coping Strategies within South African Maternal Care Delivery, examines an issue of national importance: maternal mortality and the role of statistical analysis in understanding trends within maternal healthcare delivery.
His qualification builds on an academic journey at SMU, where he also obtained an MSc in Statistics in 2020, following a BSc Honours degree in Statistics in 2016 and a BSc in Mathematical Sciences in 2015, majoring in Statistics and Mathematics.
“Completing my PhD in Statistics represents an important milestone in my academic and professional journey,” Dr Rakale said. “My research focuses on maternal mortality trends and coping strategies within South African maternal care delivery, an area where statistical evidence can contribute to a better understanding of healthcare challenges.”
Dr Rakale has served as a Statistics lecturer at SMU since 2017, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students and contributing to teaching, research and academic administration. His teaching responsibilities include Sampling Theory, Linear Regression, Descriptive Statistics and Inferential Statistics. He also supports student development through mentoring, tutorial supervision and postgraduate research supervision.
His research record includes publications examining the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal mortality in South Africa. In 2026, he co-authored research investigating obstetric haemorrhage-related mortality using confidential enquiry into maternal deaths data. He also contributed to a study documenting the pandemic’s impact on maternal mortality and the implications for Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which seeks to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.
These contributions demonstrate the relevance of statistical modelling in examining public health trends and generating evidence to inform discussions about healthcare delivery and maternal health outcomes.
Beyond his academic responsibilities, Dr Rakale contributes to community development by volunteering to teach at the Bethsaida Community Learning Centre in Soshanguve. There, he assists learners preparing to rewrite their matric examinations in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy. He also provides career guidance and information about bursary opportunities, helping learners explore pathways to further education.
At SMU, he serves as an undergraduate course coordinator and helps coordinate examination timetables in the Department of Statistical Sciences. He also mentors interns, fellows and tutors assigned to the courses he facilitates.
Dr Rakale’s achievement reflects SMU’s broader mission to provide professional education and training while advancing innovative research in support of health and well-being. Through its emphasis on teaching, research, student development and community engagement, the university continues to develop academic expertise that can contribute to South Africa’s scientific knowledge and healthcare priorities.
By Tumelo Moila
