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.
by Lorato | Nov 26, 2025 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media, Student Media
The Black Management Forum Student Chapter at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (BMF SC SMU) has been crowned BMF Student Chapter Branch of the Year, earning national recognition for exceptional leadership, bold innovation, and unwavering commitment to student development. The accolade, conferred during the 49th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Gqebherha, Eastern Cape, from 13–14 November 2025, marks a defining moment for the chapter after a year its executive describes as one driven by discipline, collaboration, and measurable impact.
Chairperson Thato Phasha described the win as “a powerful affirmation of what focused, values-driven student leadership can achieve.” She added, “Our goal has always been to empower students with real opportunities for growth. This award proves that commitment pays off.”
The accolade is presented to a student chapter that demonstrates exceptional performance across key areas, including academic excellence, youth development, and the promotion of values such as creativity, integrity, and accountability. According to the adjudicators, BMF SC SMU excelled by delivering evidence of meaningful programmes and sustained community engagement.
Secretary Thabiso Kekana highlighted the chapter’s strategic approach, saying: “We worked intentionally—every programme, every partnership, every event had to benefit students directly. Impact was our priority.”
At the core of the chapter’s work is the BMF mandate of “Developing Managerial Leadership,” which empowers young people preparing to enter the corporate and economic sectors. The Student Chapter aims to equip its members with managerial competence and an understanding of socio-economic transformation.
In 2024–2025, BMF SC SMU rolled out a series of high-impact initiatives. The Recruitment Drive strengthened member diversity, ensuring that more students gained access to leadership development platforms. The Mentorship and Tutorship Programme provided personalised academic support, contributing to improved performance and confidence among students.
Economic empowerment remained a strong pillar of the chapter’s agenda. Entrepreneurship Day encouraged entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, while the Financial Literacy Programme equipped students with practical skills for budgeting, saving, and long-term financial planning. Women’s empowerment took centre stage through Empowered Women, Empowering Economies, an initiative that promoted financial independence and leadership among female students.
Reflecting on these initiatives, Gender and Transformation Officer Maobuseng Mafata noted: “Our programmes are designed to break barriers—academic, financial, and social. We are developing well-rounded leaders.”
Project Officer Confidence Chego added, “This year proved that collaboration is our strongest tool. When students feel supported, they excel.”
The chapter’s achievements were amplified through key partnerships with STANLIB and MoneyCare, which enhanced the professionalism and reach of its programmes. These collaborations, Phasha said, “allowed us to deliver initiatives at a national standard.”
Winning the national title has energised the chapter’s leadership. According to Kekana, the recognition serves as “a commitment to go even further, to create more opportunities, and to raise the bar for student leadership across the country.”
As BMF SC SMU looks ahead, its mission remains unchanged: to shape a generation of ethical, dynamic, and socially conscious leaders. With renewed national recognition and a proven track record, the chapter stands poised for an even more impactful future.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Nov 20, 2025 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media, Student Media
In a year defined by strategic reinvention and unprecedented momentum, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has entered the national spotlight with its first-ever accolade from the prestigious Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards. The recognition marks not only a milestone for the Communications and Public Relations Unit but also a defining moment in the university’s evolving institutional identity.
MACE, the sector’s leading professional body for higher-education communicators across Southern Africa, celebrates innovation, strategic excellence and impactful storytelling. Its awards are widely regarded as the sector’s highest honour, recognising institutions that demonstrate distinction in brand positioning, engagement and advancement. For SMU, competing among 26 universities, this achievement signals a shift in the university’s competitive posture and brand maturity.
This recognition emerges from a year in which the Communications and Public Relations Unit underwent a remarkable transformation, reshaped through refined processes, elevated outputs and a clarified strategic purpose. Since assuming leadership in October 2024, Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, Manager: Communications and Public Relations, has guided a deliberate repositioning of the unit anchored in rigorous storytelling, institutional clarity and competitive brand visibility. It has been, in many ways, a re-awakening of SMU’s voice.
Reflecting on the achievement, Mphaphuli says: “When I assumed duty, I knew that SMU possessed an extraordinary story—rich, rigorous and rooted in purpose. My vision has always been to craft a brand presence that mirrors the calibre of our academic excellence, our people and our impact. This award signals that our voice is now resonating beyond our borders, and we are only getting started.”
Under her leadership, the unit delivered some of the institution’s most sophisticated communication outputs to date. Institutional publications were revitalised into rich, editorially strong, visually compelling assets that reflected SMU’s academic prestige and social impact. Digital communication experienced its strongest year yet, with engagement rising by nearly 50%, follower growth accelerating significantly, and search engine optimisation positioning SMU among South Africa’s most visible health-sciences brands. These gains, achieved through disciplined strategy and a commitment to excellence, created the foundation for the national recognition the university celebrates today.
But the triumph belongs equally to the team whose collective dedication sharpened SMU’s communications edge. Public Relations Officer Tumelo Moila notes that the award reflects a relentless pursuit of agility. “We had to operate at the speed of the sector,” he explains. “Our work demanded creativity, instinct and a willingness to constantly stretch ourselves. This isn’t just a win, it’s a reflection of our readiness to compete nationally.”
Team member, Public Relations Officer, Dimakatso Modise, echoes this sentiment, emphasising the team’s evolution. “We became a unit that embraces complexity,” he says. “Our landscape shifts daily, and we’ve learned to shift with it—always with excellence at the centre of everything we produce.”
The excellence was not confined to written communication alone. The university’s visual language underwent a noticeable elevation under the creative direction of Graphic Designer Dineo Motshegare, whose artistry strengthened brand identity, event branding, and publication design throughout 2025. “Our role is to reflect SMU’s essence visually, emotionally and with precision,” she shares. “Design became a strategic enabler, not an accessory. This recognition validates that approach,” adds Motshegare.
The surge in online visibility was also powered by meticulous web optimisation and digital stewardship led by Web Editor Lorato Molubi, who ensured that SMU’s online platforms aligned with global accessibility, SEO, and content consistency standards. “We focused on making SMU discoverable, authoritative and trustworthy in the digital space,” she explains. “Seeing our SEO rankings climb was proof that our digital storytelling is resonating.”
Within the communications ecosystem, SMU FM’s contributions played a central role in strengthening internal communication and real-time storytelling on campus. “Radio became a conduit for immediacy and authenticity,” says Mpho Legodi.
Collaboration extended beyond the unit itself. In 2025, the Communications and Public Relations Unit worked closely with Student Recruitment Officer, Ntsheu Collins Mangena, to align recruitment messaging with the university’s broader brand narrative. “Strategic recruitment relies on strategic communication,” Mangena reflects. “By working hand-in-hand with the Communications & Public Relations Unit, we were able to position SMU in a way that spoke powerfully to prospective students and their parents. This award confirms the strength of that alignment.”
The achievement has been warmly welcomed by university leadership. Acting DVC: Operations, Odette Ramsingh, who oversees the unit’s strategic direction, praised the milestone as a significant accomplishment for SMU. “This award reflects the team’s collective effort in positioning the university’s reputation on a national scale, especially as the recognition comes against the backdrop of competing with 26 other universities. It is also a powerful affirmation of the excellence, creativity and dedication of our Communications and Public Relations team, whose strategic work continues to elevate SMU’s voice and presence. Their commitment to position SMU is central to achievements such as these.”
As SMU steps into 2026, the MACE recognition serves not merely as an award but as a marker of strategic excellence, in which the institution’s voice is sharper, its story more confidently told, and its reputation increasingly aligned with national and continental expectations for a modern health sciences university.
What began as an internal transformation has now entered the national stage. And with a unified team carrying forward a shared vision, SMU’s voice—once quiet—has become unmistakably resonant.
