by Lorato | Mar 19, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Dr Abraham Mogano, also known as Abbey, an exceptional alumnus of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), continues to demonstrate that determination, resilience, and purpose can drive extraordinary achievement.
In March 2026, Dr Mogano took on the Calling Cape Town Extreme Challenge, a demanding endurance event aimed at raising support for education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The challenge tests participants across multiple disciplines and requires both physical endurance and mental strength.
On 5 March 2026, Dr Mogano successfully completed an 8 km open water swim from Robben Island to Big Bay. This achievement alone stands as a significant milestone, given the unpredictable ocean conditions and the level of endurance required.
“I had never done a triathlon before,” he says. “But when I saw that the challenge supports education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, I knew I had to be part of it. That purpose kept me going.”
The main challenge was scheduled for 8 March 2026 and was originally set to include another Robben Island swim, a 109 km cycle, and a 50 km run covering three Cape Town peaks. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the swim component had to be adjusted to ensure participant safety.
Instead, Dr Mogano completed a 2.7 km swim, followed by the full 109 km cycle and a demanding trail run reaching Devil’s Peak. Despite the changes, the challenge remained physically and mentally taxing. “Even with the changes, it was still a tough challenge,” he reflects. “But completing it reminded me that adaptability is just as important as preparation.”
For Dr Mogano, the journey is deeply personal. Growing up in a rural village in Mafikeng in the North West Province, he experienced first-hand how access to education and opportunities in sport can transform lives.
“Even a small opportunity can open doors—not just for one person, but for an entire generation,” he explains. “That is why initiatives like this matter.”
A proud SMU graduate, Dr Mogano completed his BSc in Dietetics in 2008 before going on to earn his MBChB from the University of Pretoria. He currently works as a General Practitioner at Netcare Moot Emergency Department and runs a Travel Medicine clinic at Intercare Wonderboom in Tshwane, with a focus on Emergency and Travel Medicine.
He credits his medical training for helping him build the discipline and resilience needed to take on extreme challenges. “Medicine taught me resilience, discipline, and focus—the same qualities required to complete a challenge like this,” he says.
Although he had never competed in a triathlon before, Dr Mogano brought strong experience in each individual discipline. His background includes open water swimming events, long-distance cycling, and ultra-marathons. This foundation enabled him to take on the combined challenge with confidence, even in the face of unexpected changes.
Balancing training with a demanding professional career and family responsibilities was not easy. However, through consistency and careful preparation, he remained committed to his goal. His ability to stay focused and adapt under pressure ultimately contributed to his success.
Dr Mogano’s achievement reflects SMU’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and community impact. His story embodies the university’s values of Ubuntu, ethical leadership, and service to society. “If my journey inspires even one child to believe in themselves or to pursue education, then every stroke, every pedal, and every step was worth it,” he says.
Through alumni like Dr Mogano, SMU continues to demonstrate how education can transform not only individual lives but also uplift communities. His accomplishment serves as a powerful reminder that with determination, purpose, and the willingness to adapt, even the most demanding challenges can be overcome.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Mar 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
In a landmark move for South Africa’s innovation ecosystem, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has partnered with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to establish the Local Intellectual Property-Based Skin Health and Personal Care Technology Innovation Cluster (LIPSHTIC). The formal funding agreement was signed by Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Vice-Chancellor of SMU, and Ismail Abdoola, Acting CEO of TIA, during a ceremonial event in the Vice-Chancellor’s boardroom. This partnership exemplifies how universities, industry, and government can unite to translate research into practical solutions.
LIPSHTIC will serve as a national platform anchored at SMU, designed to transform publicly funded intellectual property (IP) into safe, effective, and commercially viable skin health and personal care products. By creating a collaborative space where knowledge, resources, and expertise converge, the cluster aims to address pressing local health challenges while generating new economic and innovation opportunities.
The signing ceremony was attended by SMU’s distinguished leadership, including Professor Patrick Demana, Dean of the School of Pharmacy; Mahlatholle Masha, Acting Chief Financial Officer; Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Douglas Maleka, Dean of the School of Health Care Sciences; and Professor Sechene Stanley Gololo, Deputy Dean of the School of Science and Technology. Their presence underscored SMU’s unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary excellence. The cluster will also be co-led by Dr Vuyisile Thibane from the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and Dr Madan Poka from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, both providing critical technical guidance for the initiative.
LIPSHTIC brings together a network of industry, research, and academic partners. Industry contributors such as AMKA Products, Prime Product Manufacturing, and Zuplex Botanicals will provide formulation expertise, product testing, and market access. Science councils such as the CSIR, university departments from SMU’s School of Pharmacy, and tech stations like InnoVenton at Nelson Mandela University will support research, development, and technology transfer efforts.
The cluster addresses a crucial gap in South Africa’s innovation landscape by focusing exclusively on publicly funded research in the skin health and personal care sector. This includes cosmetic and dermatological formulations derived from indigenous plant extracts, essential oils, and other locally relevant bioactive botanicals. In its first phase, LIPSHTIC will develop approximately 25 priority IP assets identified from the September 2025 IP Call Survey Report. Each asset will undergo formulation refinement, optimisation, and rigorous validation to ensure market readiness.
Key objectives include advancing priority IP assets, strengthening technology maturation and validation, establishing industry-aligned innovation diffusion channels, leveraging technical expertise for market-ready products, and promoting inclusive growth by empowering SMMEs and local innovators. Licensing and technology transfer agreements with industry partners and SMMEs will facilitate the transition of IP from the laboratory to commercialisation while adhering to national and international safety and quality standards.
Deliverables include fully integrated IP assets, detailed technical dossiers, optimised prototypes, regulatory compliance documentation, and SMME capacity-building through training and mentorship. These efforts aim to create a sustainable innovation pipeline, enhancing local enterprise competitiveness and strengthening South Africa’s skin health sector.
Professor Matsha-Erasmus emphasised the transformative potential of the cluster: “Through strategic partnerships like this with TIA, SMU is demonstrating how universities can act as catalysts for meaningful economic and societal impact, turning research into tangible solutions for our communities.”
Abdoola added, “LIPSHTIC exemplifies TIA’s commitment to converting intellectual property into products that address real-world challenges. By collaborating with SMU and its partners, we are harnessing South Africa’s innovation potential inclusively and effectively.”
The establishment of LIPSHTIC signals a new era for collaborative innovation, where research, industry, and community intersect to deliver solutions that improve health, grow the economy, and position South Africa as a global player in skin health and personal care technologies.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Mar 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media, Student Media
The SMU Community Garden at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University has been named among the top 10 finalists in the inaugural Shoprite Act for Change Food Garden Competition, a national initiative celebrating grassroots projects that are tackling food insecurity and empowering communities across South Africa.
Launched in October 2025 by the Shoprite Group, the competition attracted an overwhelming response, with nearly 600 community gardens from across the country entering the contest. Each project shared stories of resilience, innovation and transformation through sustainable food production.
Among them, the SMU Community Garden in Ga-Rankuwa has emerged as a standout example of how small-scale agriculture can create meaningful change in a university environment. Established in September 2023, the garden was created to address food insecurity among students while promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness.
Today, it provides fresh vegetables to more than 15 students in need each week while serving as a hands-on training space for students interested in sustainable food production. “This garden isn’t just growing vegetables – it is cultivating hope and opportunity,” said Mpho Mmako, a horticulturist and representative from the project. “It provides a space where students can support one another while contributing to solutions that address hunger and promote healthier living.”
Beyond food production, the initiative has evolved into a skills development hub. More than 20 students have already received training through the project, with support from academic and campus partners including the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, the Department of Biology, the Green Campus Initiative and the Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice programme. Fourth-year dietetics students also use the garden as a learning platform, gaining practical experience in organic food production and exploring ways to promote healthy eating within local communities.
“The judging process considered not only agricultural output but also community reach, sustainability, skills transfer and social impact,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group. “This comprehensive approach has identified gardens that are making a real difference in their communities.”
From rural villages in Limpopo to urban townships in Gauteng, the finalists demonstrate the diversity and ingenuity of South Africa’s growing food garden movement. The SMU project stands out for showing how community gardens can thrive in an urban academic setting while directly supporting student welfare.
Looking ahead, the garden’s organisers hope to expand the initiative significantly. Their goal is to increase production to feed more than 50 students per week, while strengthening its role as a teaching and research platform.
To achieve this, the team hopes to secure funding to construct a 30m by 10m greenhouse with an automated irrigation system, purchase additional organic fertilisers and seeds, and invest in environmentally friendly pest control methods.
The competition now enters its final stage, where guest judges – including well-known food and sustainability advocates – will narrow the 10 finalists down to six winners. The results will be announced at an awards ceremony in Cape Town in April 2026.
With prizes valued at R1 million, the support offered to winning gardens will be tailored to help them expand their impact and ensure long-term sustainability. “Through the Act For Change Food Garden Project, we are reinforcing our long-term commitment to sustainable interventions that help communities thrive,” Raghubir said. “This competition represents more than a contest – it’s a celebration of community-led solutions to food insecurity.”
Regardless of the outcome, the SMU Community Garden has already demonstrated the transformative power of community-driven initiatives – nurturing not only crops, but also skills, collaboration and hope for a more food-secure future.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
A doctoral candidate from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has received international recognition for pioneering research exploring the role of exercise in substance abuse recovery. Evah Molapisi, a PhD candidate and lecturer in Physiotherapy, secured the Session Best Presenter Award at the Global Health Conference in Bali for her research titled “Exercise as Medicine: Improving Cardiovascular Endurance and Global Function in Nyaope Recovery.”
The award recognised the most impactful research presentation within her session and highlights the growing global interest in innovative approaches to addiction rehabilitation. Molapisi received an official certificate, formal recognition during the conference closing ceremony, and her research will be considered for publication in the conference proceedings. “This recognition affirms the calibre of mentorship and academic training at SMU,” Molapisi said. “It strengthens our resolve to produce research that improves access to recovery and rehabilitation services for vulnerable communities.”
Nyaope — a highly addictive street drug widely used in parts of South Africa — remains a serious public health concern. The substance, often composed of heroin, antiretroviral drugs and other harmful chemicals, can severely damage a user’s physical, cognitive and social functioning.
Molapisi’s research investigated whether structured physical activity could improve physical function among individuals recovering from nyaope addiction. The study followed 108 participants aged 18 and older at a rehabilitation centre in Tshwane over a 10-week structured exercise programme designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and general physical function.
Participants were assessed at three stages: before the intervention, midway through the programme, and after the 10 weeks. The findings revealed clear improvements in several key areas: greater stair-climbing endurance, indicating stronger cardiovascular fitness; faster heart-rate recovery after exercise; and improved aerobic capacity and overall physical conditioning.
“These results demonstrate that exercise can play a powerful role in restoring physical function during addiction recovery,” Molapisi explained. “It also helps improve psychological well-being and provides healthier behavioural alternatives that may reduce the risk of relapse.”
According to Molapisi, addiction treatment programmes often focus heavily on detoxification and psychological support, while the physical rehabilitation of recovering individuals receives less attention.
Her research suggests that structured exercise programmes should form part of holistic substance abuse rehabilitation strategies. “Exercise is a practical, accessible and evidence-based intervention,” she said. “When integrated into rehabilitation programmes, it strengthens both physical and mental resilience among recovering individuals.”
Molapisi serves as a Physiotherapy Community Lecturer and Undergraduate Research Coordinator at SMU, where she mentors students and leads research initiatives aimed at addressing real-world health challenges.
With more than 15 years of experience in clinical practice, teaching and community engagement, she has worked extensively in rehabilitation services and public health programmes.
Her doctoral research explores how physical activity programmes can improve quality of life and global physical function among recovering nyaope users in Tshwane. “Our work must move beyond theory,” Molapisi said. “Research should translate into solutions that strengthen communities and support people on their journey to recovery.”
Her award at the Global Health Conference in Bali places both Molapisi and SMU on the international research stage, while reinforcing the importance of innovative, community-centred approaches to tackling substance abuse.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 5, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
A South African public health specialist has claimed top honours on the global stage. At an international gathering of researchers in Bali, Indonesia, a study from rural Limpopo cut through the noise. Its message was urgent: nearly half of HIV-positive mothers surveyed showed symptoms of anxiety.
Tebogo Shivuri, a Master of Public Health graduate from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), was named Best Poster Presenter at the Global Health Conference in Bali for his research on perinatal anxiety among women living with HIV in the Tzaneen sub-district. “This recognition is not just about me,” Shivuri said. “It is about the women in Tzaneen whose mental health struggles often go unseen and untreated.”
Mental health disorders are rising globally, with perinatal depression and anxiety increasing alongside them. For HIV-positive mothers, the burden is compounded by stigma, economic hardship and complex clinical demands.
Shivuri conducted a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 395 HIV-positive perinatal women in Tzaneen. Using the Brief Symptoms Index-18 (BSI) and advanced statistical analysis through Stata-18, he identified a 47.09% prevalence of perinatal anxiety symptoms. The findings were stark:
- 09% of participants showed anxiety symptoms
- 35% experienced symptoms during pregnancy
- 73% experienced symptoms postnatally
- Only 11.65% had planned their current pregnancy
- The mean age of participants was 27 years
“Nearly one in two women screened positive for anxiety symptoms,” Shivuri explained. “That is not a marginal issue — it is a public health emergency.”
Anxiety was significantly more prevalent among first-time mothers, women with CD4 counts below 499, and those reporting high levels of HIV-related shame. Both clinical and partner-related socio-demographic factors were strongly associated with anxiety in bivariate and multivariate analyses (p≤0.05). “The association with HIV-related shame was particularly concerning,” he said. “It shows that stigma is not just social — it directly affects mental wellbeing.”
Shivuri’s research concludes that routine mental health screening during the perinatal period must be prioritised, particularly for women living with HIV. “We cannot treat HIV in isolation,” he stated. “If we ignore mental health, we undermine treatment adherence, maternal wellbeing and infant outcomes.”
He argued that Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services offer a critical opportunity for integrated care. “Screening tools are simple. What is needed is commitment to implementation.”
Conference organisers praised the clarity and practical implications of his presentation. One reviewer noted that the study “combined rigorous statistical analysis with real-world relevance for low- and middle-income settings”.
Currently a Clinical Preceptor at North-West University, Shivuri has spent more than a decade working in HIV prevention, treatment and care across South Africa. He has served in leadership and technical roles at ANOVA Health Institute, supporting ART initiation, PMTCT programmes and quality improvement strategies aligned with national and global HIV targets.
Reflecting on the award, Shivuri said: “Presenting to an international audience affirmed that research from rural South Africa matters. Our data belongs in global conversations.”
He is now pursuing a PhD in Nursing, continuing his focus on strengthening maternal and HIV-related health systems. “The ultimate goal,” he added, “is simple: no woman should navigate pregnancy, HIV and anxiety alone.”
In Bali, applause recognised academic excellence. But beyond the award, Shivuri’s message was unmistakable — maternal mental health must move from the margins to the centre of HIV care.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 5, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
If you want to change a profession, step into the room where standards are set. SMU alumnus, public health specialist and dietitian Vukosi (Richardson) Msimeki has done exactly that. He has been appointed to the Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition under the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for the 2025–2030 term — a body tasked with safeguarding professional, ethical and educational standards for dietetics and nutrition across South Africa.
His appointment places him among ten members entrusted with overseeing education, training, registration and professional conduct in terms of the Health Professions Act. The Board executes its regulatory mandate on behalf of the HPCSA, ensuring that practitioners meet rigorous standards in a sector critical to public health.
Msimeki, who holds a PGDip and a Master of Public Health from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and is completing PGDip in Health Leadership from University of Cape Town, brings more than 12 years’ experience spanning district, regional and tertiary healthcare levels. He currently serves as Deputy Director for Clinical Support and Therapeutic Services (Allied Health Services) at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital in the North West province, where he also holds the position of Chief Dietitian. “This is about protecting the public and strengthening the profession,” Msimeki said. “We cannot speak about health equity without fixing how we regulate, train and support nutrition professionals.”
His career reflects a deliberate climb through the public health system — from community service dietitian to assistant director and head of department. He has worked in Limpopo and North West, supervised university students, served as an external examiner, and contributed to national malnutrition programmes. Yet his focus extends beyond hospital walls.
“Eighty-five per cent of our communities rely on public health services,” he said. “At the same time, more than half of health professionals are in private practice, while funding is almost evenly split between public and private sectors. That imbalance leaves the public system overburdened. We must allocate resources more intelligently and lead ethically.”
In Rustenburg, Msimeki is driving the establishment of a district forum for Clinical Support and Therapeutic Services — a structure designed to extend services to hospitals that currently lack them. The long-term plan is provincial expansion to underserved areas.
Alongside his public service career, he is the founder and Chief Executive of Msimeki Group (Pty) Ltd, a diversified company operating in health services, property and logistics. He also serves on multiple boards, including as a non-executive director at Strategic Partners Group, as a board member of the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS), and as a Senior Advisory Council Member of OOKKR Entities (Office of Kgosana Koketso Rakhudu).
A long-standing leader within the Black Management Forum (BMF) in the North West, Msimeki advocates what he calls “managerial leadership”. “Policy without leadership collapses organisations,” he said. “Managers must lead. Leaders must take accountability. That is how institutions thrive.”
For Msimeki, the mandate is clear: raise standards, close gaps and ensure that nutrition — often overlooked — remains central to South Africa’s health agenda. “Nutrition is not optional,” he said. “It is foundational. If we get it right, we change lives.”
By Tumelo Moila
