DHET Director General Dr Nkosinathi Sishi impressed by outstanding progress made at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University during his visit.

by Lorato | Oct 5, 2022 | Media Statements, statements

Media Statement
Date: 05 October 2022
For Immediate Release

Director General of the Department of Higher Education and Training Dr Nkosinathi Sishi paid a courtesy visit to the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University on 04 October 2022 at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbati. The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to provide a general update on SMU and this gave the DG a sense of the current status of the University, existing challenges and its future plans as espoused in the 2021- 2025 Strategic Plan which is being implemented. Accompanying the DG was the DDG University Education Dr. Marcia Socikwa.

The Vice-Chancellor took the DG on a tour of the Campus visiting the SMU MECRU unit, the proposed African Bioimaging Centre, the premium 2,000 beds student accommodation facility and the upgraded
Pharmacy Building.

SMU through the MECRU unit is currently conducting a Vaccination trial study sponsored by Sinovac/Numolux Group. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of two doses of CoronaVac® against confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases in children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years. The pilot study was launched in September 2021 and has successfully enrolled a total number of 370 participants as per the given target to the site. Other studies currently underway at MECRU include the following:

• CoVPN 3008 COVID 19 Vaccine (Mordena)
• VPM 1002 (Tuberculosis vaccine)
• SHERPA – SISONKE (J&J Vaccine), for booster shot of HCW with Mordena vaccine.

Moreover, the proposed African Centre for Bioimaging will house the state-of-the-art High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) that has been purchased through joint funding from the Department of Science & Innovation, National Research Foundation,

Department of Higher Education and Training and SMU. The HRTEM has capabilities for elemental microanalysis, tomography and cryo-imaging which will allow the university to obtain high resolution images to amongst others, support research in the health sciences such as in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology.

Dr. Sishi expressed his appreciation on the work done so far by SMU and said the path the University has taken will lead to the realization of the vision driven by Prof Mbati. He was particularly impressed with efforts to improve research and development as well as progress made around the academic project in general. “We now have a broader picture of where you want to go as a University. My advice is that if you wish to move faster, find the right partners to work with, including international partners. I also want to give you our sincere affirmation that the department will support you”, said the DG.

Prof Mbati explained that SMU is on a new trajectory in line with its 2021-2025 strategic plan and that the academic project and the financial sustainability of the University are key priorities. He further elucidated that plans are underway to implement the approved new Business Model which will among other things allow for the commercialization of the SMU land which will in turn enable SMU to bring the much needed third stream income. The VC assured the DG that the University will account fully for every cent received.

Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Phaladi Seakgwe, Acting Director: Communication and Marketing at
phaladi.seakgwe@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0790751673

SMU to celebrate Africa Month through dialogue and other activities

by Lorato | May 18, 2022 | Media Statements, statements

Media Advisory
Date: 18 May 2022
For Immediate Release

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University will celebrate Africa Month through dialogue and a range of activities from 19 to 20 May 2022 under the theme ‘Strengthen resilience in nutrition and food Security on the African Continent’.
Several distinguished speakers and academics are lined up to share their insights on a variety of topics that relate to the theme. The speakers are as follows:

• Dr Bazibu Richard Kajjura – a public health nutrition Scientist based at the Makerere University’s college of Health Sciences.
• Professor Unathi Kolanisi – Associate Professor and Acting Deputy Dean from the University of Zululand’ s Consumer Science department.
• Professor Corrie du Preez – Associate Professor in the Department of Consumer Sciences at the University of Zululand where she has been a lecturer for more than 33 years.
• Dr Annette van Onselen – Senior lecturer at SMU and a member of Nutrition Society of South Africa, Association for Dietetics in South, Africa and African Nutrition Society.

Africa Month is observed to commemorate the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union (AU). The day is also used to reflect on the challenges confronting the African Continent and the successes achieved in a number of areas.

Date: 19 May 2022
Venue: SMU Amphitheatre
Time: 15h00 to 18h00

Date: 20 May 2022
Venue: SMU Student cafeteria
Time: 10am to 7pm

Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni: Director Communication and
Marketing at Lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885

Media Advisory Africa Month 2022

SMU to commence with the Orientation of new students

by Lorato | Feb 2, 2022 | Media Statements, statements

Media Statement
Date: 01 February 2022
For Immediate Release

The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University hereby announces that Orientation for first time entering students will take place from 02 – 04 February 2022. About 1000 students are expected to virtually join the orientation proceedings over a period of three days.

SMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Mbati wishes to thank the students for choosing to study at SMU. “I want to assure our new students that they are joining a University with a
rich history and legacy. Starting from its predecessor universities, SMU is known to have produced men and women who are now playing a significant and prominent role in the
health and other sectors both locally and internationally,” said Prof Mbati.

The Vice-Chancellor further emphasises that the University is right in the middle of a deliberate process to take it to greater heights. “Guided by the University’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan which serves as our roadmap towards the attainment of our objectives, we are poised to make SMU a leading Regional University as measured by teaching and learning excellence, vibrant impactful research and innovation, post graduate training and excellence in core support activities including ICT, infrastructure and maintenance,” said Prof Mbati.

The University has five (5) Schools which offer a variety of qualifications and boast top academics and National Research Foundation (NRF) rated Researchers.

Issued by Communication and Marketing
For media enquiries, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni Director: Communication and Marketing at Lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885

Media Statement Orientation Days 2022  

Media Statement: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University to finalise selection and admission of first entering students for 2022

by Lorato | Jan 18, 2022 | Media Statements, statements

Media Statement
Date: 18 January 2022
For Immediate Release

Every year, the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University receives thousands of applications from prospective students who wish to study at the University. SMU has received more than 44 000 applications for first time entering students for the 2022 academic year while it only has space for approximately1 000 students.

All applications go through a rigorous and competitive selection process and offers are based on the admission requirements of different Schools. This means that attainment of minimum requirements will not automatically guarantee admission to the programmes offered by the University.

The pre-selection and admission of first time entering applicants was conducted in October 2021 by the Selection and Admission Committee of each School and final selection activities will only take place from 21 January 2022 subsequent to the release of the 2021 Grade 12 results.

Those who have applied are urged to check the status of their applications by clicking on the below link and use their student number as well as pin: link: https://lifestudent.smu.ac.za/pls/prodi41/w99pkg.mi_login

Successful applicants will be given up to three (3) calendar days to accept or decline the offer online. If they do not respond within the given time, their places will be given to other eligible applicants on the waiting list.

Registration for all First Time Entering Students will then commence on 01 – 04 February 2022. However, those who will not be in a position to finish registration on 04 February due to circumstances beyond their control will be given an opportunity until 07 February 2022 which will serve as the last day.

Registration will be online and students will be able to register for the modules and qualifications they were admitted into. Those who struggle will be assisted on campus at the University sports complex during working hours.

Students can call the following numbers for assistance: 012 521 4204/ 4319/4644/5057.

Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni (spokesperson) at Lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885

Download Media Statement

Media Statement: Continued student protest at SMU, 08 November 2021

by Lorato | Nov 8, 2021 | Media Statements, statements

Media Statement
Date: 08 November 2021
For Immediate Release

In the last few days, Management received a set of demands from students residing at University-leased off campus residences, particularly TVL, The Heights and Drie Lillies. The main demand raised is that students should continue to reside at these facilities whose contract with the University expires at the end of 2021.

Students have decided to continue with protest action despite several engagements held with them where the University’s position on the matter was reiterated. Management remains of the firm view that the demand that students be allowed to stay in the University-leased student accommodation facilities beyond the expiry of the signed agreements between the University and these providers, who are not on the approved Panel of Service Providers, cannot be acceded to. What the students want Management to do is to essentially annul its decision that has been approved by Council.

Sadly, the continued student protest will collapse the 2021 academic calendar which has previously been revised again due to staff and student protests on campus earlier in the year. These protests seriously negatively impact on the operations of the University and will affect productivity and the performance of the institution as staff members are also prevented from accessing their offices.

The University rules prohibit any protestors from barricading university entrances. The University Management therefore calls upon protesting students not to prevent those students who want to proceed with their academic studies or staff members who wish to access their offices.

Students are similarly requested to abide by the decision taken by the University as no further extensions of the residences in question would be made as doing so would be illegal and exposes the University to litigation. The University is not in a position to act outside the structures of its Supply Chain Management policies.

Issued by the Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Phaladi Seakgwe, email address phaladi.seakgwe@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0790751673

Download Media Statement