by Lorato | Feb 15, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) reaffirmed its institutional leadership in community-centred health development during the Health Sector Stakeholders Summit held from 10 to 13 February 2026 under the theme “Strategic Collaboration for Sustainable Health Outcomes.” The four-day convergence brought together traditional authorities, government representatives, private sector companies, academics, health practitioners and community stakeholders in a unified effort to strengthen health systems, advance wellness and stimulate socio-economic progress in Tsitsing and neighbouring villages.
The summit coincided with the official launch of the Botsogo, Bophelo le Boitekanelo Summit 2026 by Kgosana Koketso Rakhudu of the Kgotla Ya Rakhudu, marking the commencement of a transformative partnership between traditional leadership and the university. In his opening address, Kgosana Rakhudu described the gathering as a watershed moment in the community’s developmental trajectory. “This summit represents hope translated into action,” he asserted. “It unites leadership, academia, business and the community in a shared commitment to improving health outcomes and securing a sustainable future for our villages.”
Anchored in a collaborative framework that integrates traditional leadership structures, government departments, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, corporate partners and community formations, the initiative seeks to position Tsitsing as a demonstrative site for community-based health innovation. The active involvement of several companies underscored the growing recognition that sustainable health development requires public–private partnerships capable of mobilising financial resources, technical expertise and innovation. Through coordinated planning, evidence-driven research, capacity development and sustainable interventions, stakeholders aim to fortify primary healthcare systems, enhance service delivery efficiencies and generate enduring socio-economic dividends.
During the Stakeholder Pledge and Closing Remarks session, SMU formalised its commitment to the partnership, underscoring its enduring mandate of socially responsive scholarship. Representing the institution was Professor Mathildah Mokgatle, Head of the Department of Public Health. Prof. Mokgatle articulated the university’s conviction that sustainable transformation emerges from authentic collaboration across sectors. “As a university dedicated to advancing public health, we recognise that meaningful change occurs when institutions, business and communities work in concert,” she said. “SMU commits to supporting this ongoing partnership to strengthen local health systems and improve sustainable health outcomes.”
She further emphasised that the initiative would serve as a dynamic platform for community-based research, experiential student training and contextually relevant, evidence-based interventions. “Our responsibility transcends classroom instruction,” Prof. Mokgatle noted. “We must ensure that our research, training and service are intrinsically aligned with the lived realities of communities such as Tsitsing, thereby contributing directly to their health, dignity and overall wellbeing.”
A defining feature of the summit was the unveiling of the 3B’s conceptual framework — Botsogo, Bophelo le Boitekanelo — spearheaded by Evah Molapisi, Lecturer in Community Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at SMU. Molapisi elucidated that the framework encapsulates an integrated vision of health, life and holistic wellness as interdependent pillars of community advancement. “Botsogo speaks to health, Bophelo to life, and Boitekanelo to comprehensive wellness,” she explained. “These principles remind us that health is not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of empowerment, opportunity and human dignity.”
The 3B’s vision aspires to cultivate sustainable community–academic partnerships, advance Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being, stimulate youth participation in health professions and establish a viable community-based platform for student training and service delivery. By embedding academic expertise within community contexts while drawing on the innovation and support of corporate stakeholders, the initiative seeks to bridge the divide between theory and practice, ensuring that scholarship translates into measurable social impact.
Complementing the health systems discourse, Moagisi Edwin Seleka, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department at SMU, contributed a reflective exploration of the therapeutic dimensions of arts and bibliotherapy. Dr Seleka illuminated the intricate interrelationship between mental and physical health, underscoring the physiological benefits of creative engagement. “The body and mind function synergistically,” she observed. “Music and humour stimulate the release of endorphins, thereby alleviating pain and mitigating stress.”
Expanding on the transformative potential of reading and artistic expression, she added, “To read is to journey beyond one’s immediate circumstances; it is to encounter new perspectives and possibilities. Creative expression enlarges the imagination, fosters emotional resilience and facilitates psychological restoration.” Her insights reinforced the summit’s holistic orientation, recognising that sustainable health outcomes necessitate attention to both corporeal and psychosocial dimensions of wellbeing.
As proceedings concluded, the Health Sector Stakeholders Summit emerged as a seminal platform for structured, long-term collaboration. By harmonising academic rigour, traditional governance, corporate participation and community engagement, the initiative presents a replicable model for inclusive, sustainable health development. Through its active involvement and formal pledge, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to advancing equitable health outcomes and fostering resilient communities across South Africa.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Feb 5, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Aflu Med Healthcare has named Dr Elliot Motloung, Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), as its 2025 Digital Healthcare Champion, recognising a clinician whose work is changing how paediatric surgery is taught, delivered and accessed across South Africa.
The award celebrates leadership that converts innovation into real-world impact. Dr Motloung’s career does exactly that. Known for decisive action in high-stakes clinical environments, he has built a body of work guided by a clear conviction: healthcare must be excellent, equitable and built for the future.
Aflu Med Healthcare is a South African health-technology company delivering integrated digital and mobile solutions to improve healthcare delivery and access. Its HealthSpace Ecosystem provides a centralised electronic health record and practice management platform that supports telehealth, clinical workflows, patient engagement, and data-driven decision-making. The company also offers business development support to healthcare providers and deploys mobile clinics that extend primary healthcare and outreach services into underserved communities.
At the centre of Dr Motloung’s impact is surgical education. He pioneered South Africa’s first Neonatal Surgical Skills Course, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford. Using simulation-based training, the programme equips surgeons with critical neonatal skills before they enter the operating theatre.
“In neonatal surgery, preparation is everything,” Dr Motloung said. “Simulation allows surgeons to build confidence and competence without placing patients at risk. That shift saves lives.”
The course has set a new national benchmark, enhancing patient safety in a discipline where the margin for error is razor-thin.
Access to care is another defining pillar of his work. Determined that geography should not dictate survival, Dr Motloung played a key role in establishing public paediatric surgical units in underserved provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga. These facilities have reduced the burden on families who previously travelled long distances for specialist treatment.
“No child should suffer because care is too far away,” he said. “Bringing services closer to communities changes outcomes—and dignity.”
Clinically, Dr Motloung is widely respected for his expertise in minimally invasive thoraco-abdominal surgery, paediatric trauma and advanced laparoscopic techniques. These approaches reduce pain, shorten hospital stays and speed up recovery—critical benefits for children and overstretched health systems alike.
What truly distinguishes Dr Motloung, however, is his purpose. Shaped by first-hand exposure to healthcare inequity, his mission is rooted in service to rural and marginalised communities. He has translated that commitment into a clear, scalable blueprint for paediatric surgical care that reaches beyond urban centres.
Alongside his clinical leadership, he is an influential academic mentor. Through structured training programmes and hands-on supervision, he is developing the next generation of paediatric surgeons, strengthening surgical capacity nationally and regionally.
“Training people is how impact multiplies,” Dr Motloung said. “If we invest in skills today, patients benefit for decades.”
In naming Dr Motloung as the 2025 Digital Healthcare Champion, Aflu Med Healthcare recognises a leader who does not merely respond to change—he drives it. His work continues to raise standards, inspire clinicians and reshape health systems, proving that true progress in healthcare is measured not by innovation alone, but by lives improved and futures secured.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 30, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to strengthen its research footprint on the global stage, as two of its distinguished chemistry professors—Professor Tshwafo Motaung and Professor Phumlani Mdluli—take the helm as Guest Editors of a Hot Topic Collection in Springer Nature’s Discover Applied Sciences. The newly launched Collection, Chemistry: Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy: Innovations in Biomass, Water Treatment, and Renewable Energy, is now open for submissions until 31 August 2026.
Both professors bring deep expertise and bold research visions to a platform read by hundreds of thousands of researchers worldwide. Their leadership elevates SMU’s profile while guiding a global discussion on how applied chemistry can deliver real environmental solutions.
Professor Motaung, an expert in organic polymer chemistry, nanocomposites, and waste-stream innovation, emphasised the urgency of the work ahead. “We cannot afford slow science in a fast-changing world,” he said. “Our goal is simple: convert knowledge into innovations that make a measurable difference to people, industries, and the environment.” Known for his commitment to translating scientific and indigenous knowledge into high-impact solutions, he believes Africa has a critical role to play in global sustainability efforts.
Professor Mdluli, whose research focuses on nanomaterials for diagnostics, water treatment, and renewable energy, highlighted the Collection’s emphasis on practical relevance. “This isn’t just about publishing research—it’s about accelerating technologies that can be deployed in real communities,” he explained. “Chemistry has the power to reshape how we use resources, recover waste, and build a circular economy.” He added that integrating molecular modelling into applied research will help scientists design smarter, more efficient materials.
Springer Nature has welcomed the collaboration, noting the important stewardship role played by editors. Yidan Xu, Managing Editor at Discover Applied Sciences, said: “Editors are the guardians of quality. We rely on experts like Professors Tshwafo and Mdluli to uphold rigorous standards and guide impactful research to publication. Their leadership strengthens the trust our authors and readers place in us.”
The Hot Topic Collection arrives at a crucial moment. As nations face mounting pressure from climate change, water scarcity, and energy demand, applied chemistry offers a pathway to scalable, science-driven solutions. The Collection spotlights innovations in biomass utilisation, pollutant degradation, polymer and composite development, catalytic materials, and pilot-scale demonstrations that bridge laboratory discoveries with industry and community application.
By emphasising translational value, the Collection seeks to inspire work that delivers real-world impact. It also contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Discover Applied Sciences—a multidisciplinary open-access journal with more than 4.9 million downloads in 2024—offers rapid processing, with a median submission-to-decision time of just 14 days. Researchers contributing to the Collection will benefit from high visibility and a global readership.
As Motaung concluded, “This is more than a scholarly Collection—it’s a call to action for chemists worldwide.”
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Nondumiso Nkosi, a Master’s student in Medical Virology at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), is making waves in biomedical innovation with a pioneering diagnostic assay for Hepatitis B. Developed in collaboration with Nagoya City University Hospital in Japan, her assay addresses a long-standing gap in accessible and efficient Hepatitis B diagnosis—particularly in regions where the disease is most prevalent.
The innovation holds immense promise for transforming public health outcomes in Africa. With millions affected by chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections that often lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma, early diagnosis is critical. Nkosi’s diagnostic tool is designed for low-resource settings, offering a potentially life-saving solution where conventional diagnostic infrastructure is either limited or absent.
Her work has already earned national attention. In 2023, Nkosi presented the innovation at the Bio Africa Convention, where she was awarded runner-up in the innovation showcase. “That moment changed everything for me,” Nkosi reflects. “It made me realise the magnitude and potential impact of my work.”
With the mentorship of Dr Omphile Simani, and support from the SMU Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Nkosi’s innovation is now on the path toward commercialisation. “We are working with Nkosi and Simani to identify industry partners for scaling the assay,” says Mohlatlego Sebola of the TTO. The Office has also played a key role in securing intellectual property protection for her work, positioning her as a rising figure in South Africa’s intellectual property landscape.
SMU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, underscores the broader significance: “Our commitment at SMU is clear—we nurture innovation, excellence, and community service. Nkosi’s work is a shining example of this mission in action.”
But Nkosi’s story begins far from the laboratories and conferences. Raised by a single mother in Mpumalanga, she speaks openly about the challenges that shaped her. “My mother taught me strength, resilience and the value of education—no matter the odds,” she shares. “Those lessons carried me from the classroom, where I first discovered biology, to the lab, where I found my passion for medical virology.”
Navigating the complex world of science as a young woman, Nkosi faced the familiar struggle of balancing multiple roles. “Women are often expected to be everything at once—caregivers, professionals, daughters, partners, scholars,” she says. “At times, I felt pulled in every direction, but it was in those moments that my purpose became clear.”
Her determination culminated in a patented innovation, a rare and remarkable achievement for a young scientist. “To have my name on a patent is more than professional validation; it’s a statement that women belong at the forefront of scientific discovery.”
Nkosi’s journey is far from over, but her message is already resonating with many. “Your background doesn’t define your limits,” she says to young women pursuing careers in science. “You belong. Your resilience and your voice matter.”
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Jan 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
In a field where women remain underrepresented, Dr Dineo Tsabedze is charting her own course and building new pathways for others. Recently appointed as Academic and Clinical Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), Tsabedze embodies a new era of leadership: one that merges cutting-edge science with inclusive, community-centred healthcare.
A nuclear medicine specialist and accomplished academic, Tsabedze’s ascent reflects more than personal success. Her work signals a shift in South African healthcare leadership, where women are not just participating but defining the future of advanced medicine. From global collaborations to local outreach, she is expanding access to specialised diagnostics and championing a healthcare system where excellence and equity are not mutually exclusive.
Her journey is marked by a series of recent milestones that reinforce her growing influence in medicine. In 2024, she was admitted as a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), a prestigious international recognition that affirms her contributions to cardiovascular medicine. “It’s a humbling honour,” says Tsabedze. “It reflects years of dedication to cardiovascular research.”
She also serves as President of the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship Alumnae Association, an organisation committed to developing a strong pipeline of female academic leaders across South Africa. “Academic leadership must reflect the diversity of our society,” she says. “We need more women at the decision-making table in higher education.”
In addition to her leadership roles, Tsabedze was recently awarded a competitive fellowship to collaborate with the University of Oxford. This opportunity allows her to contribute to international research while also enhancing the profile of South African scholarship. “The Oxford collaboration is more than academic. It is about exchanging knowledge, building networks and raising the standard of care at home,” she notes.
Her academic record speaks volumes. With 29 peer-reviewed publications and 280 citations, Tsabedze has made notable contributions to nuclear medicine and cardiovascular research. Her work is frequently presented at international conferences, positioning her as a respected voice in global scientific circles.
Tsabedze’s impact extends well beyond academia. She is currently leading two community-based initiatives aimed at expanding access to nuclear medicine diagnostics and treatment in underserved areas. “Too often, advanced technologies are reserved for the privileged,” she remarks. “These projects aim to reverse that by bringing quality care to the marginalised.”
At SMU and DGMAH, where her leadership bridges academic excellence and clinical service, Tsabedze is positioning nuclear medicine as a driver of innovation and accessibility. Under her guidance, the department is embracing precision medicine and exploring the use of artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging. “The future of nuclear medicine lies in personalisation and innovation,” she explains. Yet her vision extends beyond technology. Whether mentoring young women, leading international research, or transforming care models, her focus remains constant: opening doors for others. “I have mentors who opened doors for me. Now it’s my turn to do the same for others.”
For Tsabedze, leadership is not defined by position; it’s measured by impact, and in her leadership, both SMU and South African healthcare are finding new possibilities.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Nov 27, 2025 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
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.
