by Lorato | Mar 11, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Occupational therapy (OT) transforms lives by enabling individuals to engage in meaningful daily activities, supporting health, independence, and well-being. Few embody this mission as profoundly as Professor Daleen Casteleijn, who recently joined the Department of Occupational Therapy at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) as a professor. Her career spans clinical practice, research, teaching, and global mentorship. At every stage of her journey, Casteleijn has combined passion, innovation, and commitment to evidence-based practice, shaping the profession and those it serves.
Professor Casteleijn grew up in rural Mpumalanga, in Hazyview and Bushbuckridge, and attended Ben Vorster High School in Limpopo. “Like many young people finishing school, I was not entirely sure what career path to follow. Occupational therapy was a random choice, and I graduated in 1983 from the University of Pretoria. At the time, even after four years of study, I had very little understanding of the profession,” she recalls. Her early clinical experiences at Kalafong, Weskoppies, and Ga-Rankuwa (now Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital) ignited a fascination with mental health and the transformative power of occupational therapy.
Further studies, including an Honours degree at MEDUNSA (now known as SMU) and a PhD at WITS University in 2010, propelled her research career, particularly in outcome measurement and instrument development. “What began as an uncertain career choice has evolved into a passion for evidence-based occupational therapy and supporting the next generation of clinicians and researchers,” she reflects.
From clinician to academic leader, Professor Casteleijn’s career is marked by both depth and breadth. “My career began in clinical practice, particularly in mental health, where I witnessed first-hand the transformative power of occupational therapy,” she explains. Working closely with clients highlighted both the value of OT and the challenge of demonstrating its impact within complex healthcare systems.
Her PhD research focused on outcome measurement, a theme that has guided her work in teaching, supervision, and research collaboration. “I supervised many PhD students, most of whom developed instruments for South Africa and other African countries. They enriched my understanding of contextually relevant tools in different healthcare settings,” she says. Over the years, collaborations with colleagues in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, and Australia have further strengthened her commitment to translating research into practical clinical tools.
Professor Casteleijn is particularly drawn to occupational therapy for its holistic understanding of people. “Health is not only about symptoms or diagnoses but about participation in meaningful life roles,” she explains. She describes occupation through the concepts of doing, being, becoming, and belonging — the activities people engage in daily, their identity and sense of meaning, their growth over time, and their connection to others and society.
“What continues to inspire me is seeing how small changes in a person’s ability to engage in daily activities can profoundly influence wellbeing, independence, and purpose. Occupational therapy can be one of the most cost-effective contributions within the healthcare system,” she notes.
One of her most influential contributions to the field is the Activity Participation Outcome Measure (APOM), developed during her PhD and now used in South Africa and the United Kingdom. “The APOM was motivated by a need I observed in clinical practice. I am a strong believer in the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, and the APOM is based on its levels of creative ability,” she explains. Patented in 2015, the tool enables clinicians to measure meaningful change in activity participation, effectively bridging theory and practice.
Professor Casteleijn emphasises the significance of seeing a locally developed tool gain global relevance. “Seeing the APOM implemented in practice across different contexts demonstrates how locally developed research can contribute to global knowledge and practice.” Through online training programmes, the instrument has also reached clinicians in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
At SMU, Professor Casteleijn aims to strengthen research capacity, mentor young academics, and contribute to building an environment where teaching, research, and clinical practice support one another.
According to Acting Head of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Annah Lesunyane, the department is grateful and excited to welcome her expertise. “Prof Casteleijn brings a wealth of experience to the department. Her extensive background in research, teaching and clinical practice will greatly enrich our academic environment and contribute to strengthening research and postgraduate development within occupational therapy at SMU,” Lesunyane says. “In addition, Prof Casteleijn firmly believes that the true measure of impact lies not only in citations but in implementation, when research takes root in practice, changes services and improves lives.”
By Dimakatso Modise
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
by Lorato | Mar 5, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has moved decisively to strengthen healthcare regulation with the appointment of Dr Mashudu Manafe to its Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, where she will serve as Chairperson of the Education, Training and Registration Committee for the 2025–2030 term.
The appointment places one of South Africa’s leading public health nutrition experts at the centre of decisions that shape professional training, practice standards, and public protection. For the health sector, the message is clear: governance will be rigorous, and outcomes will matter.
Dr Manafe, Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), was formally inducted during an intensive process designed to prepare board members for the demands ahead. The induction focused squarely on legislative authority, governance responsibilities, operational systems, and strategic priorities, reinforcing the HPCSA’s insistence on accountability.
‘Effective regulation begins with clarity of mandate and purpose,’ Dr Manafe said. ‘Our responsibility is to ensure that professional education and practice standards protect the public while strengthening the integrity of the health professionals.’
Under Regulation 2 of the Regulations relating to the functions and functioning of Professional Boards, each board must, at its first meeting of the year, appoint committees that operate until the following year. These committees are not administrative formalities; they are the engine that drives oversight, quality assurance, and reform.
Committee governance is tightly structured and deliberate, with the appointment of a Chairperson for each committee, except the Executive Committee, which is chaired by the Professional Board Chairperson; clear rules on committee composition, quorum requirements, and terms of reference; and direct alignment with the HPCSA’s mandate to safeguard the public and uphold professional excellence.
Dr Manafe brings rare breadth to the role. A Doctor of Public Health, she earned her doctorate from SMU in 2018 and has built a career at the intersection of nutrition science, leadership, and health systems research. In addition to leading her department, she serves as a Senior Lecturer and postgraduate supervisor, mentoring master’s and doctoral candidates and shaping the next generation of health professionals.
Her research portfolio addresses some of South Africa’s most urgent public health challenges, including weight management and obesity, with a focus on why weight-loss attempts fail; nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour among healthcare workers; household food security, food hygiene, meal planning, maternal and child nutrition, including infant feeding practices and acute malnutrition.
Before entering academia, Dr Manafe worked as a clinical dietitian at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, ensuring her policy and education work remain grounded in frontline healthcare realities.
For the HPCSA, her appointment signals intent. The Council is repositioning its Professional Boards as active drivers of quality, ethical practice, and public confidence, not passive compliance bodies.
‘Strong governance is not abstract,’ Dr Manafe said. ‘It directly shapes the competence of practitioners and the safety of patients.’
As the 2025–2030 term is in progress, the signal to professionals, educators, and institutions is unmistakable: standards matter, leadership matters, and delivery will be closely scrutinised.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Mar 5, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Postgraduate study demands more than intelligence. It demands discipline, independence and integrity. That was the clear message delivered at a high-impact research workshop hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
Held at Batter Boys under the theme “Advancing Research and Postgraduate Development,” the workshop brought together postgraduate students, emerging scholars and experienced academics for an intensive exchange of ideas. The programme combined research engagement with candid conversations about academic discipline, workplace expectations and professional credibility.
Programme directors Tumisho Kekana, an nGAP lecturer in the department, and Sanele Mlotshwa, a part-time lecturer and MSc student, designed the event to bridge academic rigour with real-world preparation. “We wanted students to understand that postgraduate study is not simply about completing a thesis,” Kekana explained. “It is about becoming a disciplined thinker who can manage time, produce knowledge and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Opening the workshop, Professor Maggie Aphane, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, delivered a direct and uncompromising address that set the tone for the day. “At the postgraduate level, you must learn to work without supervision,” Aphane told participants. “Be your own boss. Do not wait to be pushed before you act.”
Her message focused on personal accountability and professional maturity. She warned students that academic success depends not only on knowledge but also on integrity and work ethic. “Never work only when your supervisor is present,” she said. “Your integrity is tested when no one is watching.” She further emphasised that competence must match ambition. “Develop aptitude and invest in your skills,” she advised. “Confidence without competence will expose you.”
Throughout the workshop, speakers reinforced a set of core principles essential for postgraduate success:
- Own your research journey – Independence is expected at the postgraduate level.
- Manage your time deliberately – Discipline transforms ambition into achievement.
- Build credibility – Your academic reputation becomes your professional brand.
- Pursue consistent progress – Small, daily advances lead to meaningful results.
- Prepare for the workplace – Research discipline translates directly into career success.
Kekana stressed that structure and planning are critical to completing a research degree. “If you do not manage your time, your time will manage you,” he said. “Consistent progress, even in small steps, produces long-term impact.”
Speaking as both a lecturer and postgraduate student, Mlotshwa provided a relatable perspective on the challenges researchers face. “No one will chase you to complete your research,” he said. “You must wake up each day with intention. Research is a marathon, not a sprint.”
He urged students to cultivate resilience and self-motivation, noting that postgraduate success relies heavily on internal drive. “Last-minute effort will not carry you through a research degree,” he added. “Consistency is your greatest advantage.”
The workshop also featured an international research presentation by Dr Jamshaid Ahmad from the University of Jeddah. His presentation, “Fixed Point Theorems in Generalised Metric Spaces with Applications,” explored advanced mathematical frameworks relevant to modern analysis. “In this work, we examine extended b-suprametric spaces and establish fixed point results for generalised contractions,” Ahmad explained. “These findings extend existing results in the literature and contribute to the ongoing development of fixed-point theory.” He encouraged participants to explore further research directions, including complex-valued extensions and additional applications within mathematical analysis.
By the end of the workshop, one message stood above all others: postgraduate education is not merely about producing research outputs. It is about shaping professionals who can think independently, act ethically and lead with confidence.
As Professor Aphane concluded: “Your name is your brand. Protect it. Once credibility is lost, it is very difficult to recover.” For SMU’s postgraduate community, the challenge was clear — lead your research, lead your discipline, and lead yourself.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Mar 5, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University did not attend GLOBEHEAL 2026 to observe. It arrived to lead. Within two days, its academics delivered plenaries, chaired critical debates and secured top awards, confirming SMU as a serious global force in public health. Hosted in partnership with The International Institute of Knowledge Management, the 9th Global Public Health Conference convened leading scholars and practitioners from across the world. SMU’s presence was decisive, visible and influential.
Professor Martha Chadyiwa, Professor of Public Health, and Professor Olanrewaju Oladimeji, Professor of Public Health and Researcher, were invited as Plenary Speakers, a distinction reserved for recognised thought leaders. Their invitation sent a clear message: SMU scholarship commands international respect. “Being invited to deliver a plenary address at a conference of this calibre reflects the strength of our research and its relevance to global health priorities,” said Professor Chadyiwa. “SMU contributes solutions, not noise.”
Professor Chadyiwa also chaired a high-level session on research innovation and health systems strengthening, steering robust dialogue that challenged assumptions and sharpened policy thinking.
Professor Oladimeji described the engagement as strategic. “Global platforms like GLOBEHEAL are where partnerships are forged, and ideas are stress-tested. We are here to shape the agenda.”
SMU’s delegation advanced research with precision and purpose:
- Dr Samantha Govender, Head of Department: Speech and Audiology, and Public Health Researcher, presented “Strengthening Primary Health Care Systems Through Community-Driven Health Innovation in Resource-Constrained Settings.”
- Atholl Kleinhans, Public Health Practitioner and Lecturer in Health Systems Management and Policy, delivered “Minority Stress Among LGBTIQ+ Health Profession Students at Historically Disadvantaged Universities.”
- Mqemane Tshababa, Public Health Researcher and Postgraduate Scholar, contributed virtually with “Health Systems Resilience in the Face of Emerging Infectious Disease Threats in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
- Funanani Managa, Public Health Doctoral Candidate, presented Facility-based intervention to improve ART Adherence and mental health disorders among PLHIV in Africa”.
Each presentation tackled a pressing systems problem: access, data intelligence and resilience. The message was consistent regarding public health reform, which must be evidence-led and community-driven.
Evah Molapisi, a PhD candidate in Public Health at SMU and emerging researcher, secured the Session Best Presenter Award for “Exercise as Medicine: Improving Cardiovascular Endurance and Global Function in Nyaope Recovery”. She received an official award certificate, formal recognition during the closing ceremony, and consideration for publication in the conference proceedings. “This recognition affirms the calibre of mentorship and academic training at SMU,” said Molapisi. “It strengthens our resolve to produce research that improves access for vulnerable communities.”
Tebogo Shivuri, a Master of Public Health graduate, won first prize for poster presentation for his research on perinatal depression among HIV-positive women. His award included a certificate, commemorative trophy and formal recognition before international delegates. “Our research highlights the urgent need to integrate mental health screening into routine maternal HIV care,” said Shivuri. “The evidence is clear. The time to act is now.”
These achievements underscore a research culture built on clarity, rigour and urgency. Stronger, clearer, sharper: SMU has built a research engine that converts evidence into influence. GLOBEHEAL 2026 confirmed what partners and policymakers increasingly recognise SMU’s active participation in global public health conversations. As Professor Chadyiwa concluded: “When SMU steps onto the global stage, we do so with confidence and with solutions.”
By Tumelo Moila
