Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is strengthening the relationship between traditional leadership, academic research, and community development by appointing Kgosana Dr Koketso Rakhudu Goodwill as a Research Associate in the Department of Public Health, School of Health Care Sciences.
The three-year appointment marks an important step towards advancing community-centred research and strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and traditional leadership structures. It also recognises the role of traditional leaders in supporting research-driven interventions that address public health and socioeconomic challenges.
Kgosana Dr Rakhudu, a practising Traditional Leader of Tsitsing, Kgotla Ya Rakhudu, within the Royal Bafokeng Nation, brings a combination of customary leadership experience, international exposure and expertise in public management, corporate governance and social impact. He is also a Mandela Washington Fellow, having received specialised training in Public Management and Corporate Governance at Georgia State University in the United States.
His appointment builds on his involvement in the Bafokeng Health and Demographic Surveillance System (BAMMISHO), where he serves as Deputy Chairperson. BAMMISHO is the seventh and newest research node of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), providing an important platform for generating population-level evidence to inform health research, policy development and interventions that respond to community needs.
Reflecting on the importance of integrating traditional leadership into academic research, Kgosana Dr Rakhudu said communities should be recognised as active contributors to knowledge production, not merely recipients of research interventions.
“Traditional leadership must evolve beyond the administration of customary responsibilities to become an active instrument of social transformation. Our communities should not merely be subjects of research; they must be meaningful participants in generating knowledge, shaping interventions and determining the development pathways that affect their lives,” he said.
In his Research Associate capacity, he will contribute to research, teaching and community-based health innovation, creating opportunities to connect academic scholarship with practical community needs. His involvement is also expected to strengthen institutional partnerships and support research-informed approaches to rural healthcare challenges.
Beyond his traditional leadership and academic responsibilities, Kgosana Dr Rakhudu serves as Chairperson of Hakem Energies, where he drives renewable energy initiatives and opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). He is also Deputy Chairperson of the North West Provincial Council on AIDS (Private Sector), contributing to partnerships that extend rural health programmes to vulnerable populations.
His expertise in Community Mineral Succession and Social Impact Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) focuses on protecting community interests during mining ownership transfers. This includes regulatory compliance, transaction due diligence, monitoring Social and Labour Plan and Environmental Management Programme obligations, and developing sustainable community trusts and procurement structures.
“Natural resources must translate into enduring community prosperity. The true measure of responsible investment is not simply the economic value extracted, but the extent to which communities secure sustainable benefits through accountable governance, meaningful participation and enforceable commitments,” he said.
These principles inform Plan 2035, his vision for developing a self-sufficient, knowledge-driven and healthy Tsitsing. The initiative brings together land stewardship, renewable energy, healthcare, education and enterprise development, supported by transparent governance and evidence-based impact measurement.
For SMU, the appointment reinforces its commitment to excellence in teaching, learning and innovative research, while recognising the importance of meaningful community engagement in improving health and well-being.
By bringing traditional leadership and academic expertise closer together, the university is creating opportunities for research to respond more directly to community priorities and contribute to sustainable development.
By Dimakatso Modise
