by Lorato | Apr 23, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) took centre stage in advancing the future of Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) as it hosted the 7th Networking Workshop of the South African Historically Disadvantaged Institutions Alliance (SAHDIA) from 20–21 April 2026. Bringing together senior leaders, policymakers and academics, the two-day engagement positioned SMU as a catalyst for strategic dialogue on sustainability in higher education.
Anchored on the theme “Navigating the Funding for Sustainability Landscape: Opportunities for HDIs,” the workshop moved beyond diagnosis of systemic constraints to focus on practical, actionable solutions. Discussions were characterised by intellectual depth and a shared sense of urgency to reposition HDIs within an increasingly competitive funding landscape.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Thandi Lewin, Deputy Director-General at the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), set a clear and pragmatic tone. “The sustainability of Historically Disadvantaged Institutions will not be secured through traditional funding models alone; it requires agility, innovation, and a deliberate alignment with national development priorities,” she said. Her remarks underscored a shift from dependency to strategic positioning, urging institutions to reassess their approach to funding ecosystems.
Professor Lewin further highlighted the critical role of collaboration in unlocking opportunities. “Funding opportunities do exist within the system, but they are increasingly competitive and partnership-driven. Institutions must position themselves not in isolation, but as part of a cohesive and strategic collective,” she added. This call resonated strongly with delegates, reinforcing SAHDIA’s relevance as a unifying platform for collective advancement.
In her welcome address, SMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus framed the workshop as both reflective and forward-looking. “Historically Disadvantaged Institutions carry the weight of history, but they also hold the promise of transformation. It is through platforms such as SAHDIA that we begin to convert that promise into measurable impact,” she noted. Her message positioned SMU not only as a host but as an active contributor to shaping a transformed higher education landscape.
Emphasising the university’s commitment to partnership-driven growth, she added: “This gathering is not merely about dialogue; it is about forging partnerships that will redefine our institutions as centres of excellence, innovation, and societal relevance.” The statement aligned with SMU’s broader mission of advancing health sciences education through collaboration and impact.
Chairing the workshop, Professor Nosisi Feza, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation at Walter Sisulu University, ensured continuity and strategic focus throughout the proceedings. She called for a shift from discussion to implementation, stating: “SAHDIA must evolve beyond being a platform for engagement into a mechanism for coordinated action. Our strength lies in our ability to move together, with purpose and clarity.”
Her emphasis on governance and structural alignment further sharpened the conversation. “If we are to influence the funding landscape meaningfully, we must first ensure that our own governance frameworks are robust, responsive, and future-oriented,” she said during panel deliberations.
Day 2 built on this momentum, expanding the funding conversation into research impact, international collaboration and open science. The workshop culminated in a forward-looking panel on collaborative projects, where institutions outlined shared priorities and concrete initiatives.
Closing the engagement, SMU’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Research, Professor Dini Mawela, reflected on the outcomes with measured optimism. She noted that the discussions had “laid a strong foundation for actionable partnerships that will shape the future of HDIs.”
The SAHDIA workshop ultimately affirmed SMU’s role as a convener of critical conversations and a driver of institutional transformation. By fostering strategic alignment, strengthening partnerships and advancing innovative funding approaches, the university continues to position itself at the forefront of shaping a sustainable and equitable higher education system in South Africa.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Apr 23, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University continues to shape leaders across Africa, and few stories capture this impact as powerfully as that of Dr Tiro Mampane. President and founder of the Boitekanelo Group of Companies. A graduate of Medical University of Southern Africa, now SMU, Dr Mampane completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 2003 and has since built a transformative healthcare education enterprise in Botswana.
Raised in Bontleng, a small township in Gaborone, Dr Mampane credits his entrepreneurial roots to his family. “I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My grandmother owned a tuckshop selling magwinya, and that’s where I acquired my early business instincts,” he recalls. “Bontleng is a community where education, hard work and service to others are highly valued. Those early experiences shaped my desire to contribute meaningfully to my country.”
His decision to pursue health sciences was shaped by witnessing inequality in healthcare access. “As a child, I saw the challenges families faced in accessing quality healthcare. I wanted to be part of a profession that not only heals, but uplifts communities,” he says. This passion would later drive him to establish Boitekanelo College, creating pathways into healthcare careers for others.
Dr Mampane’s academic journey was influenced by strong role models, particularly his mother. “Her strength, discipline and sacrifices laid the foundation for everything I have achieved,” he says. He also acknowledges mentors such as Ms Nkwane and Mr Jim Ngambi, who encouraged him to “dream beyond my circumstances”.
Choosing MEDUNSA was a deliberate step. “It had a reputation for excellence and for producing professionals who make a difference across Africa. I wanted an environment grounded in service and social responsibility,” he explains. His time at the institution proved formative. “The university challenged me intellectually and taught me discipline, perseverance and leadership,” he says, adding that exposure to diverse peers strengthened his belief in continental collaboration.
After graduating, Dr Mampane worked at Princess Marina Hospital during the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Confronted with a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, he made a pivotal decision. “I realised I could make a greater contribution by training the next generation,” he says. This led to the founding of Boitekanelo College.
Today, the institution stands as a significant force in Botswana’s health education landscape, with over 10,000 graduates and a strong employment rate. “Our mission is to change lives through quality healthcare education,” he says. “We focus not only on technical skills, but on compassion, ethics and accountability.”
A recent collaboration between SMU’s Department of Speech and Audiology and Boitekanelo College marks a full-circle moment. “As an alumnus, it is deeply meaningful to see my alma mater and Boitekanelo working together. It demonstrates the lasting value of relationships built at university,” he reflects.
Looking ahead, Dr Mampane emphasises the importance of African collaboration. “By working together, we can share knowledge, address common challenges, and strengthen health sciences education across the continent,” he says.
For current students, his message is clear: “Remain committed to excellence, never stop learning, and always remember the communities you serve.” His journey stands as a testament to SMU’s enduring role in developing leaders who drive innovation, expand access to healthcare, and transform lives across Africa.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Apr 23, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), formerly the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), continues to produce graduates who shape health systems far beyond South Africa’s borders. Among them is Dr Luvuyo Bayeni, an alumnus whose journey from clinical medicine to continental health leadership reflects the evolving role of doctors in strengthening public health systems across Africa.
Dr Bayeni, who holds an MBChB from SMU and an MBA from Nelson Mandela University, has built a career that bridges frontline clinical care and strategic health governance. He currently serves as Chief Director for Human Resources for Health at South Africa’s National Department of Health, where he leads national workforce planning and policy development aimed at strengthening the resilience of the health system.
Speaking about his professional journey, Dr Bayeni reflects on the shift from clinical practice to systems leadership: “Medicine taught me to treat individuals, but leadership has taught me to treat systems. If we fix the system, we improve care for millions, not just one patient at a time.”
With over 21 years of experience, his career has spanned Obstetrics and Sexual and Reproductive Health, district health management, and senior executive roles, including Acting Chief Executive Officer, Clinical Manager for Surgery, and District Health Manager. His reputation for operational turnaround in challenging environments, particularly in the Eastern Cape, earned him the informal title “Dr Fix It”.
Dr Bayeni’s leadership foundation was shaped early during his time at SMU, where he was deeply involved in student governance. He served in multiple leadership roles, including four terms in the Student Representative Council and positions within SASCO and other student structures. These experiences, he says, were formative in understanding accountability and advocacy.
“Student leadership was my first exposure to governance. It taught me that leadership is not about position, but about responsibility to others,” he explains.
Beyond national government, Dr Bayeni extends his influence through DrB Talks, a platform he founded to drive conversations on health systems, leadership, and community development. The platform has featured discussions across media outlets, including Sowetan and TruFM, aiming to connect policy with public understanding.
At the continental level, he serves as Co-Chair of the Governance and Leadership Subcommittee of the African Union Health Workforce Task Team, contributing to efforts aimed at strengthening health workforce systems across member states. He is also a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative, recognising his contribution to ethical and transformative leadership.
Reflecting on Africa’s health challenges, Dr Bayeni emphasises the need for collaboration and long-term thinking: “Africa’s health systems will not be strengthened by isolated interventions. We need coordinated leadership, investment in people, and sustained commitment to reform.”
In addition, he serves on governance structures, including the Board of Boxing South Africa and the Medical and Dental Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, contributing to regulatory oversight and professional standards.
Dr Bayeni’s journey illustrates a broader shift in health professions: the transition from individual clinical excellence to systemic leadership. His work demonstrates how clinicians can shape policy, governance, and workforce development at national and continental levels.
His story also reflects the enduring role of SMU in producing health professionals who are not only clinically competent but also equipped for leadership in complex systems. The university’s commitment to excellence, accountability, and innovation continues to be evident in the impact of its alumni across Africa’s health landscape.
Ultimately, Dr Bayeni’s career stands as a testament to the power of combining clinical expertise with visionary leadership. From hospital wards to national policy and African Union platforms, his work continues to advance the goal of equitable and resilient healthcare systems.
SMU remains central to this narrative, reinforcing its mission of transforming health sciences education and contributing meaningfully to the health and well-being of communities in South Africa and beyond.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Apr 23, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing transformative education when the Centre for University Teaching and Learning (CUTL) recently hosted its Teaching and Learning Symposium. Under the theme “Transforming Health Sciences Education: Towards Contextually Relevant and Future-Ready Curricula,” the symposium brought together academic staff, clinicians, and teaching and learning practitioners to reflect critically on the future of health sciences education.
The event formed part of SMU’s broader institutional agenda to strengthen curriculum transformation, inclusive pedagogy, and Health Professions Education (HPE). It also underscored the university’s strategic mission of producing graduates who are not only clinically competent but also socially responsive and ethically grounded.
Delivering the opening address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tandi Masha Erasmus set a decisive tone for the discussions, stating: “We are not merely revising curricula; we are reimagining the very purpose of health sciences education in a rapidly evolving world. Our graduates must be both clinically competent and socially responsive.”
Her remarks were echoed through strong institutional participation, with senior leadership including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Community Engagement, deans from various schools, and the Deputy Director of Student Affairs in attendance. Their collective presence signalled a unified commitment to academic excellence and educational reform.
The pre-symposium programme featured two intensive capacity-building workshops aimed at strengthening institutional capability in curriculum design and digital pedagogy. The first session focused on Council on Higher Education (CHE) Higher Education Practice Standards (HEPS), with Siyabulela Sabata facilitating discussions on quality assurance and curriculum reform. He noted: “Transformation is not an event—it is a disciplined, continuous engagement with standards that demand both rigour and creativity.”
The second workshop explored digital teaching and learning innovations, particularly the effective use of Ithute, SMU’s digital learning platform. Facilitated by Dr Tabisa Mayisela from the University of Cape Town’s Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, the session emphasised intentional design in online education. She remarked: “Digital pedagogy is not about replacing the lecturer; it is about amplifying meaningful learning experiences through intentional design.”
These preparatory sessions laid a strong foundation for the main symposium held recently, which featured keynote presentations, research papers, and a panel discussion. The hybrid format attracted approximately 66–90 in-person delegates daily, alongside 45–55 online participants, reflecting growing engagement with flexible academic platforms.
Across the programme, presenters highlighted emerging approaches in problem-based learning, interprofessional education, student wellbeing, ethical considerations in artificial intelligence, and the strengthening of clinical reasoning. Collectively, these themes reflected a shared institutional drive to produce graduates capable of navigating complex healthcare environments with competence and compassion.
A key highlight of the symposium was the keynote address by Professor Flavia Senkubuge, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria. She challenged institutions to rethink inherited pedagogies, stating: “We must move beyond inherited pedagogies and build curricula that speak directly to our context, our communities, and our health system realities.” She further emphasised the importance of adaptability in modern healthcare training: “A future-ready graduate can navigate complexity with empathy, evidence, and ethical clarity.”
The panel discussion that followed expanded on these ideas through an Ubuntu-informed lens, emphasising relational and humanising pedagogies. Speakers stressed that health sciences education must remain grounded in community engagement, compassion, and collaborative knowledge production.
In conclusion, the symposium reinforced that curriculum transformation is an ongoing institutional responsibility requiring sustained collaboration, critical reflection, and innovation. As repeatedly emphasised during the event, “curriculum transformation is not the responsibility of one unit or one faculty, but a collective institutional commitment.”
The discussions further aligned with SMU’s vision of transforming health services through excellence and innovation, and its mission of delivering high-quality education and research that responds to societal needs. The university’s institutional values—particularly accountability, excellence, integrity, student-centredness, and Ubuntu—were evident throughout the engagements, shaping both discourse and direction.
Ultimately, the symposium reaffirmed SMU’s role in shaping future-ready health professionals equipped to respond to both local and global health challenges. It also highlighted the importance of strategic communication and institutional advancement in strengthening the university’s brand, ensuring that its achievements in teaching and learning continue to be recognised nationally and internationally.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Apr 23, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to strengthen its commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance following a recent visit by its Department of Chemistry to Sasol’s Polymers Technology Services Centre. The engagement marked the beginning of discussions around a potential partnership aimed at enhancing student development, research collaboration, and innovation.
During the visit, SMU students were given guided tours of advanced laboratories, where they gained first-hand exposure to industrial-scale chemical processes and cutting-edge research environments. The experience provided a practical complement to their academic training, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.
Professor Tshwafo Motaung, Head of the Department: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, emphasised that the visit was driven by a clear strategic intent. “We are committed to strengthening industry-academic collaboration to ensure that our teaching and research remain relevant and impactful,” he said. “Engaging with Sasol allows us to expose our students to real-world applications of chemistry while exploring opportunities for collaborative research aligned with national development priorities.”
The visit also served as a platform for meaningful discussions on future collaboration. Key focus areas included student training opportunities, joint research initiatives in polymer science and waste-to-value innovations, and knowledge exchange through seminars and collaborative projects. Importantly, Sasol confirmed that SMU students would be included in its internship database, positioning them for future training and employment opportunities.
“This collaboration aligns strongly with our academic focus areas, including polymer chemistry, nanocomposites, and waste management,” Professor Motaung added. “It supports our goal of producing industry-ready graduates while contributing to innovative, market-relevant solutions.”
Students who attended the visit described the experience as both inspiring and transformative. One of the MSc chemistry students, Mmabatho Matlaila, noted, “The guided tours gave us a clear understanding of how theoretical knowledge is applied in real industrial processes. The level of technological advancement and precision was particularly impressive.” The student further highlighted the contrast between academic and industrial laboratories, explaining that “industrial labs operate on a much larger scale, with a strong focus on efficiency, quality control, and production outcomes.”
The inclusion of SMU students in Sasol’s internship database was widely welcomed. “This is a valuable opportunity that increases our chances of gaining practical experience and potentially securing employment in a leading company,” Matomokoane Mofokeng, lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, added. The visit also reinforced career aspirations, with many students expressing renewed interest in pursuing industrial chemistry.
From Sasol’s perspective, the engagement reflects a shared commitment to developing future scientific talent. A Sasol representative, Sebe Mncwabe, stated, “We value the opportunity to engage with emerging talent and contribute to the development of future scientists by providing exposure to industry practices.” The representative further noted that collaborations with universities are essential in bridging the skills gap and fostering innovation.
Looking ahead, the Department of Chemistry plans to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, establish structured internship pipelines, and initiate pilot research projects. There is also strong potential for expanding collaboration into long-term training programmes and strategic research initiatives.
This engagement underscores SMU’s broader mission of fostering meaningful industry linkages, enhancing research impact, and contributing to socio-economic development. By connecting students with industry leaders and advancing collaborative innovation, SMU continues to position itself as a dynamic institution dedicated to transforming education and driving progress in the health and sciences sectors.
By Tumelo Moila
