by Lorato | Oct 23, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
For Dutch physiotherapy student Ciara Kohlhoff, a three-month internship at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in Pretoria has been more than an academic exchange — it has been a life-changing experience.
A third-year student at THIM University of Applied Sciences for Physiotherapy in the Netherlands, Kohlhoff joined SMU’s Department of Physiotherapy as a visiting international student earlier this year. Her placement was made possible through collaboration between SMU and THIM University, a partnership aimed at fostering global learning and professional development in health sciences.
“Being accepted by SMU has been an amazing opportunity,” says Kohlhoff. “From the moment I arrived, I was supported, guided, and made to feel part of the team. The attention to detail during orientation — from registration and uniforms to clinical placements — showed how committed the department is to ensuring student success.”
Kohlhoff followed the same practical programme as SMU’s third-year physiotherapy students, integrating classroom theory with hands-on experience across multiple clinical settings. She describes the programme as “well-structured and comprehensive,” noting that it has helped her develop confidence and competence across new areas of practice.
At SMU, her clinical exposure expanded beyond the orthopaedic and neurological rehabilitation focus of her degree in the Netherlands. She gained experience in paediatrics, respiratory care, burn management, and neurological rehabilitation, working alongside local students in hospitals across Pretoria.
“I have learned far more than I expected,” she reflects. “The clinical experience here has deepened my understanding of how physiotherapy serves diverse communities. It has also given me valuable insight into South Africa’s healthcare system and the role physiotherapists play within it.”
Before joining SMU, Kohlhoff faced challenges finding a hospital or clinic willing to accommodate her internship requirements. The partnership with SMU provided the breakthrough she needed. The university supported her through every stage of the process — from assisting with her Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration to arranging multiple hospital placements to ensure a broad clinical experience.
“SMU went above and beyond to make my practical experience meaningful,” Kohlhoff says. “Their support has been unwavering, and it has truly shaped my professional journey.”
She credits much of this success to Dr Muziwakhe Tshabalala, Acting Head of the Department of Physiotherapy, whose leadership and mentorship have made a lasting impact.
“Studying in the Netherlands never meant I wanted to leave South Africa,” she adds. “My goal has always been to return and serve my country. Thanks to SMU and Dr Tshabalala, I have gained the skills and confidence to do exactly that.”
Kohlhoff’s experience highlights SMU’s growing reputation as a globally connected health sciences institution — one that not only trains future healthcare professionals but also fosters international collaboration grounded in compassion, excellence, and inclusion.
“I will forever be grateful to SMU for welcoming me,” she concludes. “It has been worth every moment — a journey that has strengthened both my passion and my purpose as a physiotherapist.”
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Oct 23, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
In 2025, a quiet revolution began at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). Out of conversations once confined to private circles emerged SMU Pride Connect — the university’s first student-led queer structure. Founded by a group of determined students led by Freddy Kunene (Chairperson) and Phozisa Gumede (Secretary), Pride Connect was born from a shared conviction: queer students at SMU deserved to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
“For years, queer students were visible yet unseen,” recalls Kunene. “We were part of the community but not represented in its spaces or policies.” That absence became the spark. What began as honest conversations among friends evolved into a movement that redefined inclusivity on campus.
From its inception, SMU Pride Connect has stood for advocacy, community, and celebration. The structure’s mission is simple but powerful — to make SMU a safer, more inclusive home for LGBTQIA+ students. Within months of its founding, Pride Connect made history with its March 2025 Awareness Campaign, introducing the university community to a vision of belonging that left a lasting impression. The campaign was followed by game nights and safe spaces, giving queer students and allies room to connect and express themselves freely.
June 2025 marked a turning point. The group hosted SMU’s first-ever Pride Celebration Picnic — a colourful, joy-filled gathering that doubled as the structure’s official launch. “Seeing students dancing under rainbow flags felt like liberation,” Gumede says. “For many, it was the first time they felt free to exist openly on campus.”
Then came October’s Pride Month March and Panel Talk, a bold milestone that sparked campus-wide dialogue about identity, inclusion, and visibility. The event brought together students, staff, and university leaders — proof that Pride Connect’s advocacy was inspiring genuine cultural change. For its groundbreaking work, the group was named Vice-Chancellor’s Society of the Year 2025, a recognition that cemented its place in SMU’s evolving story of transformation.
Behind these milestones is a committed leadership collective whose dedication drives the structure forward. The 2025 executive committee includes:
Freddy Kunene (Chairperson), Hlonipho Leshilo (Deputy Chairperson), Phozisa Gumede (Secretary), Esther Msiza (Deputy Secretary), Masala Kutama (Treasurer), Tumisho Manyama (Media Officer), Sibongile Molefe (Media Officer), Dimpho Pilusa (Counselling Officer), Thuto Matsie (Counselling Officer), Lehlogonolo Mathete (Events Organiser), and Alex Chokwe (Events Organiser). Atholl Valdon Kleinhans and Eunice Modiba serve as Technical Advisors.
Each plays a vital role in advancing Pride Connect’s mission of visibility, equality, and empowerment. Together, they ensure that every initiative — from awareness campaigns to policy dialogues — reflects the diverse voices within SMU’s queer community.
Leading a queer organisation within a health sciences context has not been without challenges. From navigating bureaucracy to confronting social stigma, the founders have faced their share of resistance. Yet, their resilience continues to drive them. “Education and dialogue are our tools,” says Gumede. “We’re turning misunderstanding into empathy, one conversation at a time.”
Looking ahead, Pride Connect plans to launch a Queer Health Education Series, strengthen mental health support systems, and expand its Pride Month activities into a full Pride Week celebration in 2026.
Their vision is bold: a campus — and ultimately, a country — where inclusivity is not an aspiration but a norm.
“Pride,” Kunene concludes, “is love without apology. It’s courage, compassion, and community — and at SMU, it’s only just beginning.”
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Oct 21, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
At a time when South Africa’s health system continues to demand capable, compassionate, and visionary professionals, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is once again leading from the front. Through its Convocation, the university is rallying alumni, partners, and the broader corporate community to reinvest in the next generation of health-sciences leaders.
This initiative will culminate in a prestigious evening of celebration and purpose — the SMU Convocation Fundraising & Alumni Awards Gala Dinner, to be held on 25 October 2025, under the theme “SMU NextGen: Investing in South Africa’s Future of Health Sciences.”
The gala will bring together distinguished alumni, corporate partners, government leaders, and philanthropists in an atmosphere of elegance and generosity, while raising critical funds to support financially constrained students in the health-sciences disciplines.
A vision born of convocation leadership
For Japhta Phala, President of the SMU Convocation, the gala represents far more than a single fundraising event but a powerful act of collective responsibility. “The Convocation was inspired to initiate this fundraising gala because we understand that education remains the most enduring investment in South Africa’s future,” says Phala. “As alumni, we are products of a system that once gave us a chance to realise our dreams and now it is our turn to extend that opportunity to those who come after us.”
Under Phala’s leadership, the Convocation Executive Committee has prioritised rebuilding the bridge between SMU and its alumni network, not only through nostalgic reconnection but through tangible, transformative contribution. The gala is envisioned as an annual anchor event to institutionalise alumni giving and affirm SMU’s standing as a national asset in health sciences education.
Phala emphasises that the event also serves as a symbolic bridge between SMU’s proud legacy and South Africa’s urgent need for more skilled health sciences professionals.
“We hope this initiative will make a measurable difference in the lives of our students — students who are talented, committed, and eager to serve,” he explains. “Beyond financial relief, this is about restoring dignity and hope. It’s about ensuring that a gifted student from a rural or township background doesn’t abandon their dream simply because they can’t afford to continue studying.”
He adds that the gala reflects the broader spirit of SMU itself; a university founded to democratise access to health-sciences education and to transform the health landscape of South Africa.
Alumni and partners: The lifeblood of progress
Phala believes the success of SMU’s mission depends on a collective ecosystem of support where alumni and partners play an active, enduring role.
“Our alumni and partners are vital architects of the university’s future,” he notes. “Their involvement, whether through mentorship, research collaboration, or financial contribution is what keeps the SMU flame burning. They embody the university’s values in the workplace and in society, and their investment today will shape the calibre of healthcare professionals our country produces tomorrow.”
The Convocation Executive Committee echoes this sentiment, calling on alumni from across generations to see themselves not as former students, but as lifelong ambassadors and investors in the institution’s continued excellence.
Beyond the fundraising appeal, the gala will honour outstanding alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in medicine, governance, innovation, and social impact. Through initiatives like this, SMU is positioning itself not only as a centre of academic excellence but also as a hub for national health transformation, driven by its own graduates.
Phala concludes: “The future of SMU — and indeed South Africa’s health sciences system will be written by those who understand that legacy is not what we inherit, but what we build for others to inherit. This gala is our collective commitment to that principle.”
Event: SMU Convocation Fundraising & Alumni Awards Gala Dinner
Theme: SMU NextGen – Investing in South Africa’s Future of Health Sciences
Date: 25 October 2025
Dress Code: Black Tie (Men – Black & White Tuxedos | Women – Elegant Red Gowns)
For Sponsorships/Donations More Information: letsai.mashishi@smu.ac.za
By Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli
by Lorato | Oct 16, 2025 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to shape South Africa’s health sciences landscape, producing visionary professionals, pioneering researchers, and transformative leaders. From government corridors to hospital theatres and corporate boardrooms, SMU alumni advance health sciences, drive innovation, and contribute to socio-economic development across the continent.
To preserve and strengthen this legacy, SMU Convocation invites alumni, partners, and friends to the SMU Convocation Fundraising & Alumni Awards Gala Dinner on 25 October 2025 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. The event is more than a celebration — it is a call to action to invest in the next generation of health sciences leaders. Many talented SMU students face financial challenges that threaten their academic and professional aspirations. The Gala Dinner aims to bridge this gap, ensuring no deserving student is left behind. The evening will also honour distinguished alumni whose contributions reflect SMU’s values of Excellence, Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, and Respect.
In preparation for the event, the SMU Convocation Executive Committee (EXCO) held a strategic workshop to plan for the year ahead. The session provided an opportunity to reflect on Convocation’s role in advancing the University’s mission, strengthening alumni relations, and ensuring meaningful participation in institutional development.
Delivering the welcome address, Japhta Phala, President of SMU Convocation, emphasised that Convocation is more than a statutory structure — it is a vibrant community of graduates, academics, and stakeholders united by a shared responsibility to support SMU’s growth. “The Convocation exists to be the voice of alumni, strengthen the bond between graduates and their alma mater, and play a meaningful role in the life of the institution,” he said.
Vice-President Elifolet Bhembe outlined the workshop objectives, which included preparing for the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and finalising plans for the Fundraising Gala Dinner. “We reviewed the SMU Statute and Convocation Constitution to ensure compliance and alignment, developed a detailed checklist for the AGM, and explored ways to enhance Convocation activities and alumni benefits,” he explained.
The workshop focused on governance, accountability, and innovation. By grounding its work in the SMU Statute and Constitution, Convocation reaffirms its commitment to transparency and good governance. The AGM was highlighted not merely as a statutory requirement, but as a democratic platform empowering alumni to influence the University’s direction.
Participants also discussed enhancing alumni engagement through tangible benefits, such as professional networking platforms, mentorship programmes, and opportunities for collaboration in research and community development. “A vibrant alumni community is central to the sustainability and reputation of SMU. When alumni thrive, the University’s name shines brighter — and when the university grows, alumni benefit in return,” the EXCO noted.
The workshop included dedicated Convocation EXCO members: Japhta Phala (President), Elifolet Bhembe (Vice-President), Sello Madibela (Secretary), Jeff Shipalana and Remofilwe Poeng (Additional Members), Dr Zukiswa Gonya (University Council Member), and Letsai Mashishi (Senior Officer: Convocation Administration).
Concluding the session, Phala thanked members for their dedication, emphasising that their work lays the foundation for a more connected alumni community and a stronger institution. “The work we are doing today paves the way for a stronger Convocation, a more engaged alumni network, and a university that continues to shine as a centre of excellence in health sciences education,” he said.
As SMU prepares for the Fundraising & Alumni Awards Gala Dinner, the call is clear — come together as a community, invest in the dreams of future health professionals, and build a lasting legacy of opportunity, excellence, and impact.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Oct 16, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 2025 Student Representative Council (SRC) elections and the constitution of a new cohort of student leaders for the 2025/2026 term.
The elections, held on 18 September 2025, reflected the University’s commitment to democratic values and participatory governance. Following the voting process, all objections were addressed through proper channels, ensuring transparency and fairness. The final results were officially published on 6 October 2025, and the new SRC was formally constituted on 7 October 2025.
Tulani Nkuntse, Director of Student Affairs, congratulated the newly elected council and thanked students for their active participation. “We wish the new SRC well in their term and look forward to their meaningful contribution towards improving the student experience at SMU. They carry the trust and confidence of their peers,” he said.
The SRC serves as a vital governance structure, linking students and University management. The newly elected council is expected to strengthen student representation, enhance communication, and promote initiatives that advance academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement.
The 2025/2026 SRC comprises:
| Name and Surname |
Position |
| Mthokozisi Dlamini |
President General |
| Precious Mogoru |
Deputy President |
| Thato Mongake |
Secretary General |
| Mpiliso Zwane |
Deputy Secretary General |
| Tshepiso Tenacious Mashiloane |
Treasurer General |
| Teboho Edward Mathobisa |
Residence & Safety Officer |
| Siphesihle Mkhwanazi |
Sport and Recreation Officer |
| Vacant |
Projects & Campaigns Officer |
| Rirhandzu Maluleke |
Postgraduate Students’ Officer |
| Morata Mokgadi |
Culture and Religion Officer |
| Ace Junior Netshipale |
School of Dentistry |
| France Baloyi |
School of Health Care Sciences |
| Vumbhoni Mahlaule |
School of Medicine |
| Lesedi Diketane |
School of Pharmacy |
| Caswell Xaba |
School of Science and Technology |
Nkuntse emphasised that the SRC must embody teamwork, accountability, and servant leadership. “Leadership at SMU is not only about representation but also about stewardship — driving initiatives that improve student life and promote academic success,” he said.
This year’s elections marked a significant milestone with a voter turnout of 63.67%, more than double previous years. “Such engagement reflects students’ growing awareness of the importance of participation in governance and their commitment to building a stronger, inclusive student community,” Nkuntse added.
The new council assumes office as the University continues to prioritise student development, wellness, and engagement. In the coming months, the SRC will collaborate with the Department of Student Affairs on programmes aimed at improving residence life, promoting student wellness, expanding recreational opportunities, and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.
SMU remains committed to nurturing student leadership and empowering young leaders to make a lasting impact within and beyond the University. “We look forward to seeing this council continue the legacy of strong student leadership and contribute to a vibrant, engaged, and inclusive campus environment,” concluded Nkuntse.
By Dimakatso Modise
