by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to demonstrate its growing leadership in specialised healthcare after one of its senior clinicians, Dr Elliot Motloung, played a key role in the successful separation of conjoined twins at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo.
Dr Motloung, Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery at SMU, was part of a multidisciplinary team that performed a highly complex procedure on conjoined twins earlier this month. The operation, led by his predecessor as Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery at SMU, Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo, lasted eight hours and required meticulous planning and coordination across multiple medical disciplines.
Explaining the complexity of the case, Dr Motloung said separation surgery involving conjoined twins is inherently high-risk due to the shared anatomy and delicate physiology of the patients. “The separation of twins surgery is always complex because the surgeon has to take into cognisance the physiological status of each child and the anatomical variations present,” he said. “In this particular case, there were vital gastrointestinal and solid organs that had to be separated, requiring a multidisciplinary team approach.”
The surgical team included paediatric surgeons, anaesthetists, radiologists, neonatologists, cardiologists, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons, supported by allied health professionals such as dieticians, psychologists and occupational therapists. According to Dr Motloung, this level of collaboration was essential to optimise the twins’ condition before surgery and ensure the best possible outcomes.
“I was privileged to be invited to be part of a team of local experts for what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “A series of multidisciplinary meetings was held to plan every aspect of the procedure, from imaging and diagnosis to surgical execution and post-operative care.”
Among the most critical moments during the operation were securing the twins’ airways and establishing reliable vascular access. These steps were particularly challenging due to the babies’ size and positioning. “The anticipated difficult airway intubation and vascular access were crucial to making the surgery safe,” Dr Motloung explained. “We also had to manage shared blood vessels supplying vital organs, which required absolute precision to prevent excessive blood loss.”
He added that closing the surgical sites presented another significant challenge. “Ensuring that all vital organs were securely placed within the body cavities required great expertise, and our plastic and reconstructive surgeons did an exceptional job,” he said.
Following the operation, the twins are reported to be recovering well under close supervision at Mankweng Hospital. However, Dr Motloung cautioned that careful monitoring remains essential. “The main challenges now are preventing hospital-acquired infections and ensuring that the children gain sufficient weight so they can eventually be discharged as healthy babies,” he said.
The successful procedure builds on SMU’s track record in handling complex paediatric surgical cases, including a landmark conjoined twin separation performed at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) in 2017. That operation, which involved twins sharing a liver, was the first of its kind at DGMAH and highlighted the university’s capacity for advanced surgical care.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the recent operation, Dr Motloung emphasised the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the healthcare sector. “This is not the first time SMU has been involved in the separation of conjoined twins, which is why we were invited to collaborate,” he said. “The more we participate in these procedures, the more we strengthen our expertise and position ourselves at the forefront of complex surgical care.”
He added that SMU remains committed to supporting other institutions and expanding access to specialised healthcare across the continent. “As a department, we will continue to share our expertise and collaborate with other institutions locally and across Africa to assist children who require complex, life-saving surgeries,” he said.
The successful separation not only marks a significant medical achievement for Limpopo but also reinforces SMU’s role as a leader in health sciences education, research and clinical excellence in South Africa.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has strengthened its commitment to academic excellence and student success through its participation in the 2026 Achieving the Dream (DREAM) Conference, held in Portland, Oregon, in the United States from 01–05 March.
Representing the university were Professor Dini Mawela, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Research; Tulani Nkuntse, Acting Executive Director of Student Affairs; and Dr Joshua Maliavusa, Manager: Student Academic Support and Siyaphumelela Institutional Lead. Together, they joined more than 2,000 higher education practitioners from over 300 institutions worldwide, all united by a shared mission to improve student outcomes through the Siyaphumelela network.
From the outset, the conference delivered a focused and high-impact platform for collaboration. Through pre-conference workshops, plenary sessions, breakaway discussions and DREAM Scholars engagements, the SMU delegation engaged with evidence-based strategies designed to improve student success. Key themes included equitable access, academic momentum, student mobility and the broader role of universities in shaping inclusive societies.
Reflecting on the experience, Prof Mawela emphasised the practical value of global engagement. “The conference delivered clear, actionable insights on how institutions can use data and collaboration to improve student success outcomes,” she said. Her remarks underscored the importance of informed decision-making in strengthening institutional performance.
A standout theme was the growing use of dual enrolment programme pathways, which align secondary and higher education systems to better prepare students for university success. While widely implemented internationally, the concept prompted critical reflection on how such models could be adapted within the South African context to improve transition, retention and completion rates.
Dr Maliavusa highlighted the importance of balancing global innovation with local relevance. “We must ensure that the strategies we adopt are responsive to our local realities while maintaining global standards of excellence,” he said. His perspective reinforced a central takeaway from the conference: meaningful progress requires context-driven solutions grounded in evidence and experience.
Beyond the formal programme, the conference created valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration among South African institutions. A delegation of 45 representatives participated in dedicated engagements coordinated by the regional managing team, including a welcome breakfast, a networking dinner at the Portland Historic Museum and the DREAM Scholars recognition reception. These platforms enabled deeper engagement, knowledge exchange and the strengthening of partnerships across institutions.
The conference concluded with a structured debriefing session, where each institution reflected on key learnings and began translating insights into practical strategies. For SMU, this marked a decisive shift from knowledge acquisition to implementation, ensuring that lessons gained will directly inform institutional planning and student support interventions.
Nkuntse highlighted the significance of collaborative learning in shaping institutional progress. “The collaborative sessions enabled meaningful engagement with peers and the sharing of experiences that will directly inform how we strengthen student support at SMU,” he said. These insights will be taken forward through the university’s Student Success Committee and integrated into broader institutional strategies.
Participation in global platforms such as the DREAM Conference reinforces SMU’s position as a forward-thinking institution committed to continuous improvement. By engaging with international best practices while remaining grounded in local realities, the university continues to enhance its ability to deliver inclusive, effective and student-centred education.
As SMU advances its mission to transform health sciences education through innovation and excellence, the knowledge and networks gained from the 2026 DREAM Conference will play a critical role in shaping future strategies. The experience not only broadened perspectives but also strengthened the university’s resolve to improve student outcomes and drive meaningful impact.
Ultimately, the conference served as both a catalyst and a call to action—equipping the SMU delegation with the tools, insights and urgency needed to accelerate student success and reinforce the university’s contribution to higher education and societal development.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating a major milestone after two of its BSc Honours (Computer Science and Information Technology) students secured first place at the prestigious RMB x GirlCode Group Hackathon, reinforcing the institution’s growing reputation for excellence in computing and innovation.
Tsholofelo Sekome and Jennifer Mkhonto were part of a five-member team that emerged victorious during the competition held recently. The hackathon is widely recognised as a leading platform aimed at empowering women in technology and promoting diversity within South Africa’s fintech sector. Competing against some of the country’s brightest emerging developers, the team demonstrated exceptional technical skill, teamwork, and resilience under pressure.
Joining Sekome and Mkhonto were Paidamoyo Mapfuwa (University of Johannesburg), Neliswa Ntintili (University of the Witwatersrand), and Caitlyn Pillay (IIE). Together, they impressed judges by building a high-performance trading platform, “Tradebook Pro”, from scratch in just 48 hours. The system replicated the core functions of real-world financial exchanges, highlighting both technical depth and practical application.
The challenge required participants to design a fully functional, industry-grade trading platform capable of processing and matching buy and sell orders in real time. Guided by coaches Zwivhuya Tshitovha and Ashay Makanjee, the team prioritised building a robust and scalable system that could meet the demands of modern financial markets.
Sekome, who led the backend development, focused on architecting the core engine responsible for order matching and system performance. “I focused on developing the backend architecture using Java, ensuring that the system could handle complex financial requirements while maintaining low latency and high performance,” she said. “Building a robust trading platform from the ground up was one of the most rewarding challenges I’ve taken on.”
Mkhonto played a pivotal role in ensuring seamless system integration, contributing to both backend development and data management. Working closely with Sekome, she helped design the matching engine that enforced fairness and efficiency in trade execution.
“In just two days, we designed and built a full trading solution, thinking through everything from frontend to backend to persistence, while keeping performance at our core,” Mkhonto said. “This win reflects the strength of collaboration and shared vision.”
The platform’s backend handled order processing, trade execution, and matching logic with precision. By using advanced data structures such as TreeMap for automatic price sorting and ArrayQueue to enforce price-time priority, the team ensured fairness in transactions. The integration of SQLite further enabled reliable data storage, ensuring that all trades were securely recorded.
Judges commended the team for delivering a solution that met industry-level standards for scalability, speed, and accuracy—key requirements in financial technology environments. “It was an intense exercise in designing a system capable of handling complex financial requirements, all while racing against the clock to bring the core logic to life,” Sekome said. “Every edge case mattered.”
For Mkhonto, the experience was both professionally and personally transformative. “This hackathon taught me that I belong in tech,” she said. “Seeing our system execute its first trade after hours of debugging was an unforgettable moment.”
The RMB x GirlCode Hackathon continues to play a vital role in creating opportunities for women in technology by providing mentorship, exposure, and a competitive platform to showcase talent. The team acknowledged the guidance of their coaches and the broader support system that contributed to their success.
“We are incredibly grateful to our coaches for guiding us and pushing us to the finish line,” Sekome said. “We also thank RMB and GirlCode for creating a platform that empowers women in tech.”
For SMU, this achievement underscores the strength of its Computer Science and Information Technology programme today.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), officially launched the Local Intellectual Property-Based Skin Health and Personal Care Technology Innovation Cluster (LIPSHTIC) at NASREC during South Africa Innovation Week. The milestone event followed the signing of a formal funding agreement between Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Vice-Chancellor of SMU, and Ismail Abdoola, Acting CEO of TIA, creating a national platform dedicated to translating publicly funded research into commercially viable solutions.
LIPSHTIC aims to transform intellectual property (IP) from publicly funded research into safe, effective, and market-ready skin health and personal care products. Anchored at SMU, the cluster brings together universities, industry, and government to address pressing health challenges, promote local innovation, and create economic opportunities for small businesses.
A highlight of the launch was a panel discussion featuring industry leaders on commercialisation, technology transfer, and inclusive innovation. Representing SMU, Dr Vuyisile Thibane, co-project leader of LIPSHTIC, outlined the university’s role in guiding and overseeing the initiative.
The event also showcased three SMU patent holders: Emmanuel Kiyonga, Nondumiso Nkosi, and Thabo Lesiba Lekgoathi. Kiyonga’s drug, Raloxifene Hydrochloride Hydrate Solvate, offers promising treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer. Nkosi developed an innovative diagnostic assay for Hepatitis B, while Lekgoathi filed a provisional patent for a novel medicinal plant compound with activity against respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Their presence highlighted SMU’s culture of innovation, though they did not participate on the panel.
Vuyisile Hobololo, TIA Head of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Bio-innovations Development and Commercialisation, emphasised the strategic value of LIPSHTIC: “LIPSHTIC is a model for how indigenous knowledge and publicly funded research can be converted into products that address real health challenges while creating economic opportunities for local innovators,” he said.
The cluster’s strength lies in its collaborative network. Industry partners, including AMKA Products, Prime Product Manufacturing, and Zuplex Botanicals, provide formulation expertise, product testing, and market access. Research support comes from institutions such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and tech stations like InnoVenton at Nelson Mandela University, alongside SMU’s Schools of Pharmacy and Health Care Sciences, ensuring rigorous development and technology transfer.
In its first phase, LIPSHTIC will advance around 25 priority IP assets identified in the September 2025 IP Call Survey Report. Each asset will undergo optimisation, formulation refinement, and validation to meet regulatory and market standards. Licensing and technology transfer agreements will ensure that SMMEs and local innovators benefit directly, promoting inclusive growth in South Africa’s skin health sector.
The cluster’s deliverables include optimised prototypes, technical dossiers, regulatory compliance documentation, and capacity-building initiatives to support emerging enterprises. SMU’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) continues to play a pivotal role in converting research into commercial products.
First-year student and aspiring biotechnologist, Lerato Mthethwa, attended the launch and expressed excitement: “This initiative shows me that innovation isn’t just in the lab—it’s about making real impact in our communities. SMU is giving us the tools to turn ideas into solutions that matter,” she said.
By combining scientific expertise, industry knowledge, and community engagement, LIPSHTIC demonstrates the power of universities as catalysts for economic and social impact. Its launch during Innovation Week signals a new era of collaborative research, positioning South Africa as a global contender in skin health and personal care technologies, while fostering entrepreneurship, job creation, and sustainable development.
SMU continues to cement its reputation as a university that drives academic excellence, research innovation, and tangible societal benefits. Through initiatives like LIPSHTIC, the institution ensures that its work not only advances science but also creates meaningful opportunities for local communities and innovators alike.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has reaffirmed its role as a leading force in health sciences education, formally welcoming a new generation of healthcare professionals at its 2026 Oath-Taking Ceremony.
Held on 20 March at the New Auditorium, the ceremony marked a decisive entry point into the medical profession for first-year students across MBChB, Radiography and Emergency Medical Care. More than tradition, the event signalled a clear, binding commitment to ethical practice, clinical excellence and patient-centred care.
The message from university leadership was unequivocal: healthcare demands discipline, not hesitation; purpose, not uncertainty. SMU’s vision to transform health services through innovation and excellence framed the occasion, positioning students as future drivers of change in a complex and evolving healthcare system.
SRC Chairperson of the School of Medicine, Vumbhoni Mahlaule, delivered a direct and motivating address. “You are not just students; you are the heartbeat of this institution and the future of our healthcare system,’ he said. He urged the cohort to replace reliance on motivation with consistent discipline, adding, “The path you have chosen is demanding, but you were selected because you have the excellence and character to succeed. Carry this oath in your hearts throughout your practice.”
Speakers reinforced a central truth: empathy is not optional in healthcare. It is a skill to be developed, sharpened and applied daily through active listening and patient-centred engagement. Students were challenged to meet this standard from the outset.
Representing Emergency Medical Care, Wisdom Ndlovu addressed the realities ahead with clarity and urgency. “Growth does not happen in comfortable places,” he said. “There will be challenges, but do not panic. You are here because you deserve to be here.” His message underscored resilience as a non-negotiable trait for success.
First-year MBChB student, Buyile Mkhwanazi, shared his excitement after taking the oath: “Standing here today, I feel the weight and honour of this responsibility. It’s more than a ceremony—it’s a promise to myself and my patients that I will always strive for excellence and compassion in everything I do.”
The defining moment came with the oath, officiated by the School of Medicine’s Dean, Professor Risenga Chauke. In a unified declaration, students committed to placing patient welfare above all else, upholding dignity across all backgrounds, and maintaining the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.
“That oath will not define who you become,” Prof Chauke told the cohort. “It confirms who you already are through the steps you have taken. One day, you will realise it was never just a moment—it was a journey, built step by step, stone by stone.”
The ceremony also highlighted SMU’s strategic focus on excellence, accountability and student-centred learning, alongside its commitment to strengthening its national and global reputation. By aligning academic training with real-world healthcare demands, the university continues to produce graduates equipped to lead, innovate and serve.
As the ceremony concluded, the message remained clear and urgent: the responsibility now rests with the students. At SMU, the oath is not symbolic—it is a standard. And through that standard, the university continues to shape healthcare in South Africa and beyond.
By Rose Moreki
by Lorato | Mar 26, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has marked a defining moment in medical education, as seventeen cohorts of final year students from its School of Medicine formally took their Hippocratic Oath in a landmark ceremony that underscored the university’s commitment to ethical training and community-centred healthcare.
The ceremony signalled more than tradition. It marked a clear transition from training to responsibility, as students publicly committed themselves to the principles that define the medical profession—compassion, integrity and service. For SMU, the moment reinforced its role in shaping healthcare professionals equipped to meet South Africa’s evolving health challenges.
Addressing the students, Dean of the School of Medicine, Risenga Frank Chauke, delivered a direct and uncompromising message on the weight of the oath. “This oath can make you or break you,” he said. “I expect you to treat patients with compassion, uphold the highest standards of care, and make a meaningful difference in our communities. I do not want to see any of you disciplined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.”
During the ceremony, students recited their oath in unison, pledging to dedicate their lives to the service of humanity and to uphold the dignity and honour of the profession. They committed to delivering care to the best of their abilities, maintaining the highest ethical standards and serving communities with integrity and respect.
For the seventeen cohorts, the ceremony represented the culmination of years of rigorous academic and clinical preparation. It formally inducted them into the medical profession while reinforcing the moral responsibility that comes with patient care. The moment reflected both achievement and accountability, as students acknowledged the expectations placed upon them as future doctors.
Prof Chauke further emphasised the broader role of healthcare professionals beyond clinical practice. “Medicine is not just about treating disease; it is about caring for people and making a meaningful impact in their lives,” he said. “Let this oath guide your actions, your decisions and your attitude throughout your careers.” His remarks reinforced the principle that technical competence must be matched by ethical conduct and human-centred care.
Students expressed a strong sense of pride and purpose as they took the oath. The ceremony also brought together families, academic staff and distinguished guests, creating a shared moment of celebration and reflection. It recognised not only the students’ achievements but also the support systems that contributed to their journey. The atmosphere reflected both accomplishment and anticipation for the impact these future professionals will have on society.
Prof Chauke encouraged students to extend their commitment beyond hospital settings and into the communities they will serve. “This oath is not a formality; it is a lifelong commitment,” he said. “Let it shape your conduct and your responsibility to society.” His message underscored the importance of community engagement as a core component of medical practice.
As these cohorts embark on their professional journeys, the values embedded in the oath—compassion, accountability, integrity and service—will remain central to their development. Through this ceremony, SMU continues to produce healthcare professionals who are not only clinically competent but also socially conscious and ethically grounded.
By strengthening the link between academic excellence and community impact, SMU reaffirms its position as a leading institution in health sciences education. The oath-taking ceremony stands as a powerful reminder that the future of healthcare begins with a commitment to serve—one patient, one community, and one decision at a time.
By Dimakatso Modise
