by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has recognised the achievements of its 16 academic and support staff members after they completed the 2026 Supervisory Development Programme offered at Wits Business School (WBS), with certificates awarded on Friday, 6 November 2026.
The intensive six-month programme was designed to strengthen participants’ leadership, supervisory and management capabilities, equipping them with practical skills to improve performance and lead teams effectively.
A highlight of the ceremony was the Catalyst Crew research syndicate receiving the programme’s top syndicate award for its project, titled Developing a Community Health and Medicine Safety Awareness Campaign for the Ga-Rankuwa Community.
The team comprises Benedict Masenamela, Senior Officer: Alumni Relations; Nokukhanya Nyawo, Operations Manager, School of Pharmacy; Dr Phumzile Skosana, Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy; Dr Thokozile Okaecwe-Mosiane, Acting HOD, Department of Pharmacy Practice; and Tumelo Moila, Acting Manager: Communications and Public Relations.
Individual excellence was also recognised, with Masenamela named the overall best student. Boipelo Motswane, Head of Residence: Student Affairs, secured second place, while Moila and Dr Okaecwe-Mosiane were tied at third place overall.
Masenamela described the recognition as humbling and rewarding. “Being named the overall best student is a humbling and rewarding achievement. The programme has strengthened my understanding of leadership, teamwork and effective management. It has also reinforced the importance of applying the knowledge gained to make a meaningful contribution to the University,” he said.
He added that the Catalyst Crew’s research award reflected the team’s collective commitment, collaboration and dedication to addressing community health needs.
Delivering the University’s address, Dr Tshifhiwa Mulaudzi, Director: Finance Operations (Acting) and WBS alumnus, described the programme as an investment in the University’s most valuable asset – its people.
“People are the most valuable asset we have. A building does not mentor a new staff member. A system does not calm a tense meeting or notice when a colleague is struggling. People do. Supervisors do,” he said.
Mulaudzi encouraged graduates to view supervision as an act of stewardship, emphasising that effective leadership should prioritise employees’ development and wellbeing. He challenged them to consider whether their teams were better off because of their leadership.
Acting Executive Director: Student Affairs, Tulani Nkuntse, also emphasised the importance of developing capable supervisors to strengthen the University’s institutional performance.
“Leadership development is essential to building an effective and responsive University. As supervisors, these graduates can create supportive working environments, strengthen accountability, and ensure their teams contribute meaningfully to SMU’s mandate. The real value of this programme will be demonstrated through how they apply their knowledge and lead others,” said Nkuntse.
Nonhlanhla Sindane, Skills Facilitator at SMU, said the programme was an important investment in developing leadership capacity and critical skills pipelines across the institution. She encouraged participants to apply what they learned and transform their work environments.
The programme forms part of SMU’s broader leadership development initiatives, supported through its partnership with the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA). Previous initiatives include executive, transformational leadership and middle management development programmes.
Following the introduction of the Supervisory Development Programme in 2025, when 15 delegates participated, a further 16 employees completed the 2026 intake.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dini Mawela congratulated the participants and highlighted the programme’s 100% pass rate. She also acknowledged two employees from the University’s Cleaning Department who completed the programme, demonstrating SMU’s commitment to staff development across different occupational levels.
Through these initiatives, SMU continues to invest in its people, strengthen leadership capacity and build teams that advance its teaching, research and community engagement mandate.
by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
A commitment to improving access to essential oral healthcare for vulnerable children has brought dental professionals, healthcare institutions and volunteers together for the Kids Dental Home Foundation’s (KDHF) fifth annual Pro Bono Surgical Campaign, taking place from 8 to 12 November 2026 in Pretoria.
Founded in 2022 by Dr Londiwe Sibisi-Maboye, an alumna of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), the registered non-profit organisation was established to address lengthy waiting periods and financial barriers faced by children requiring dental surgery under general anaesthesia.
For many families from low socio-economic backgrounds, the cost of accessing theatre facilities makes essential dental treatment unaffordable, leaving children experiencing pain and complications that affect their everyday lives.
Through its flagship programme, Saving Smiles in Africa™, the foundation provides sponsored dental surgeries, preventive oral health education and sustainable community partnerships to improve access to appropriate dental care.
The fifth annual campaign aims to provide 12 children with free dental surgeries and conduct 200 complimentary dental screenings, reinforcing the foundation’s commitment to underserved communities.
The programme includes screening days on 8, 9 and 11 November, followed by surgical procedures on 10 and 12 November. Surgeries are being conducted at Cure Day Medkin Hospital and Kilnerpark Day Hospital, with approximately 25 to 30 volunteers contributing their time, expertise and resources.
Dr Sibisi-Maboye expressed her happiness with the campaign’s progress and her appreciation for the healthcare professionals, partners, and volunteers supporting the initiative. Her dedication to children’s oral healthcare has also earned international recognition, after she became the first African dentist to secure first place in the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Award, sponsored by Colgate.
Among the volunteers supporting the campaign is Dr Thabo Twala, Chairman of the Dental Professionals Association and an SMU alumnus. His participation highlights the importance of professional collaboration in addressing healthcare inequalities.
Twala emphasised the significance of the foundation’s intervention, noting that without such initiatives, many children would remain on hospital waiting lists without access to the surgical treatment they need. His involvement reflects healthcare professionals’ responsibility to extend their expertise beyond conventional clinical practice and contribute to community wellbeing.
The campaign also received support from Dr Mosae Augustinus Phatsoa, Health Ministries Director, who supervises Seventh-day Adventist institutions across five countries. His attendance at Cure Day Medkin Hospital demonstrated broader institutional and community support for improving access to healthcare.
Five children successfully underwent dental surgeries at Cure Day Medkin Hospital on 10 November, marking an important milestone in this year’s campaign.
For the families involved, the procedures represented relief from prolonged discomfort and the opportunity for improved health and quality of life.
One parent, Lucky Nkwana, expressed relief and happiness following his son’s successful surgery. The child had experienced difficulties eating because of his dental condition, making the procedure particularly important to his daily wellbeing.
The foundation’s work highlights the importance of early intervention, preventive education and partnerships in addressing children’s oral health challenges.
For SMU, the achievements of its alumna demonstrate how professional training, leadership and community service can translate into meaningful interventions that improve lives and contribute to the health and wellbeing of communities.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has strengthened its commitment to accountable governance and alumni engagement by inducting its newly appointed Convocation Executive Committee, equipping members with the knowledge and understanding needed to fulfil their statutory responsibilities and contribute to the university’s strategic objectives.
Coordinated by higher education expert Dr Faroon Goolam, the induction familiarised committee members with SMU’s governance framework, the Institutional Statute, and the responsibilities of serving in a statutory university structure. The programme also highlighted the Convocation’s role in strengthening relationships between the university and its former students and academic employees.
The committee assumed office in May 2026 after being elected at the Convocation Annual General Meeting on 16 May. Its induction marked an important step in preparing members to participate effectively in institutional governance and represent the Convocation’s interests.
Addressing the members, Acting Registrar Sello Simon Mokoena emphasised the importance of understanding the legislative and institutional frameworks that guide university governance. He encouraged committee members to familiarise themselves with the Institutional Statute, describing it as an essential reference for carrying out their responsibilities.
“Effective participation in university governance requires a clear understanding of the Institutional Statute, the responsibilities attached to each position and the principles that guide institutional decision-making. Members must understand their mandate and appreciate the significance of their contribution, particularly when participating in governance structures such as the university Council,” said Mokoena.
Deputy Registrar Henno Croucamp provided further insight into the university’s governance architecture, focusing on legislative compliance, accountability and administrative oversight. He outlined his office’s role in supporting the Registrar and ensuring governance processes align with the Higher Education Act, institutional policies and applicable regulations.
His presentation also covered policy reviews, records management, coordinating Council meetings, and governance support for statutory committees. He emphasised that structured induction is important to ensure governance representatives have the knowledge and competencies to discharge their duties effectively.
Beyond compliance, the programme considered the Convocation’s contribution to alumni relations and institutional sustainability. Its priorities include updating SMU’s alumni database, expanding alumni networks and building relationships with potential donors. These efforts seek to mobilise former students as active partners in the university’s development and strengthen support for its strategic priorities.
Convocation President David Tebogo Moloko welcomed the induction and thanked the university for preparing the committee for its mandate. He highlighted the importance of understanding the Convocation’s governance role, particularly its representation on Council.
“We are pleased with the manner in which the university has inducted us. We must understand the responsibilities entrusted to us, particularly our role in Council. This requires us to be informed, prepared and conscious of the contribution we are expected to make to the university’s governance and development,” said Moloko.
The Convocation Executive Committee comprises President Moloko, Vice-President Keitumetse Donald Bokaba, Secretary Bokie Malekano Thupi, and members Unathi Tshoni and Ledile Makgato. Musawenkosi Msibi serves as the Convocation’s representative on the university Council.
Through the induction, SMU is investing in informed leadership, institutional accountability and meaningful alumni participation. An active, well-informed Convocation will strengthen the university’s relationship with its broader constituency and ensure alumni contribute to its governance, growth, and long-term sustainability.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is recognising a significant academic achievement after its Transformation Manager, Dr Velencia Maupye, recently earned a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa). Her doctoral research focuses on developing strategies to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education institutions (HEIs), contributing to efforts to improve student safety, well-being and academic participation.
Dr Maupye’s thesis, entitled Experience of undergraduate female students regarding gender-based violence in higher education institutions: Developing preventative strategies, examines the lived experiences of undergraduate female students affected by GBV. The study explores how violence affects students’ emotional well-being, participation in academic activities and sense of safety within higher education environments.
Using a qualitative research approach, the study drew on semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with undergraduate female students and student counsellors. Guided by Afrocentric Theory, African Feminism and Empowerment Theory, the research sought to understand students’ experiences and identify prevention strategies suited to the South African higher education context.
The findings highlighted the multiple forms of GBV experienced by female students and their negative consequences for psychosocial well-being and academic functioning. The research recommends strengthened awareness and education programmes, improved reporting mechanisms, greater institutional accountability and capacity-building for frontline personnel. It also advocates integrating GBV education into the curriculum to strengthen prevention efforts. “Gender-based violence in higher education requires a comprehensive response that places students’ experiences, safety and well-being at the centre of institutional interventions,” Dr Maupye said.
A key contribution of the doctoral study is the development of a comprehensive GBV prevention strategy and a monitoring and evaluation framework specifically tailored to higher education institutions in South Africa. These tools are intended to support institutions in implementing prevention initiatives, assessing their effectiveness and strengthening accountability.
The research also contributes to social work scholarship and practice by providing evidence-based insights into the experiences of undergraduate female students. Its recommendations offer a foundation for developing responsive interventions that address institutional challenges while strengthening support for affected students.
Dr Maupye brings extensive professional experience in transformation management, gender mainstreaming, diversity and inclusion, employment equity and organisational change. Before her current role at SMU, she served as Head of Transformation at the University of Venda and previously held the position of Manager: Gender-Based Violence at SMU, where she led initiatives on campus GBV prevention, institutional policies, and stakeholder engagement.
Her academic qualifications include a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Limpopo. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from MANCOSA and has completed professional development programmes in management, strategy execution and change management. “Research must translate into practical measures that strengthen prevention, improve institutional responses and create safer learning environments for students,” she said.
Dr Maupye’s doctoral achievement aligns with SMU’s commitment to excellence, accountability, respect and the promotion of a safe, inclusive university community. As a dedicated health sciences institution, SMU continues to recognise the importance of research and professional development in addressing social challenges and advancing the well-being of the communities it serves.
Her study reinforces the need for higher education institutions to treat GBV prevention as an institutional responsibility, supported by effective policies, accessible reporting systems and sustained interventions that protect students’ dignity and right to education.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) Senior Lecturer in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Dr Heather Legodi, is advocating for healthier and safer school food environments, emphasising that access to nutritious food and safe food preparation practices are essential to children’s health, development and well-being.
A specialist in public health nutrition, community engagement and food security, Dr Legodi believes that addressing childhood malnutrition requires looking beyond individual dietary choices. It calls for attention to the availability, affordability, nutritional quality and safety of food sold or provided to learners. Schools should promote healthy eating rather than expose children to unsafe food practices and poor nutritional choices.
Her commitment to nutrition and community well-being is rooted in her upbringing in Tembisa, where sharing food and looking out for others were part of everyday life. Recalling how she and her friends shared meals, including pap and chicken feet, vegetables and kota bought with pooled pocket money, she says these experiences shaped her understanding of food as both nourishment and a source of human connection.
Her career in dietetics was not initially planned. After matriculating with distinctions in Biology and English, she intended to study Computer Science. However, when she applied to the then Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), Computer Science and Dentistry were fully subscribed. Dietetics became an unexpected opportunity. “I often say that I think the degree chose me,” she reflects.
Dr Legodi completed her undergraduate studies in 1994, followed by a Master of Science in Nutrition at Alabama A&M University in the United States in 1999. She later earned a doctorate in Paediatrics from the University of the Witwatersrand and, in 2021, a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Pretoria, focusing on food and nutrition security. She is also an alumna and former faculty member of the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP).
Her professional experience spans academic leadership, research and community-based interventions. She served as Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Pretoria from 2020 to 2024. During this period, she contributed to developing guidelines with UNICEF on foods and beverages sold in South African schools, reinforcing her conviction that school food environments shape children’s dietary habits and nutritional outcomes.
At SMU, where she joined in 2024, Dr Legodi has collaborated with the university’s food garden initiative to promote food security among students. She continues to advance public health nutrition, research and community engagement, with a particular interest in improving access to safe and nutritious food.
Her expertise was recently featured in an eNCA Checkpoint investigation presented by Nkepile Mabuse, which examined children consuming food prepared using repeatedly discarded cooking oil, locally known as “Lalaza”, at a school in Orange Farm.
Reacting to the footage, she said: “My heart broke. I just saw children eating poison.” For Dr Legodi, the incident highlights the urgent need for accountability and stronger oversight of school food environments. School meals must not only be available but also tasty, appealing and presented with dignity. She emphasises that the National School Nutrition Programme represents a significant public investment in children’s health and education.
Beyond school feeding programmes, Dr Legodi advocates for a whole-school approach to nutrition, addressing food sold through vendors and tuck shops, food hygiene, access to clean water, nutrition education and healthier food choices. She believes schools, parents, communities and policymakers must work together to create environments where healthy eating is accessible and encouraged.
Her guiding philosophy comes from the book My Name Is Today, which she encountered during her Community Nutrition studies. Its message continues to shape her work: “We have to do better today, not tomorrow.”
Through her work, Dr Legodi highlights the importance of transforming school food environments into spaces that protect children’s health, promote good nutrition and support their potential to thrive.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Nov 11, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Postgraduate nursing students from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) have strengthened community healthcare through an integrated mental and occupational health initiative for South African Police Service (SAPS) members, demonstrating the university’s commitment to holistic healthcare education and service to society.
Held recently at the Polisie Rondawel in Hesteapark, Akasia, the event brought together students pursuing postgraduate diplomas in Mental Health Nursing and Occupational Health Nursing. Guided by their lecturers, Dikeledi Maphake and Dr Lorato Manyeneng, the initiative coincided with World Mental Health Day and promoted awareness under the theme “Lived Experiences | Real Voices | Real Change”.
The programme began with a five-kilometre awareness walk, with participants wearing shades of green. Led by programme directors Sabelo Tshabalala and Nokuphila Nhleko, the walk set the tone for a day focused on improving awareness, encouraging early intervention and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
Mental Health Nursing students delivered presentations on suicide prevention, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. SMU senior lecturer Dr Sophy Moloko also addressed the importance of mental health, highlighting the need to recognise psychological well-being as an essential component of overall health.
The event’s central feature was a combined mental and occupational health screening session, enabling SAPS members to access health information and assessments in one place. Mental health awareness was complemented by practical occupational health services tailored to policing’s physical and psychological demands.
“This collaboration is about treating the whole person,” said Maphake. “You cannot separate a police officer’s mental well-being from their physical health, or from the demanding nature of their work. By bringing these two specialities together, we are demonstrating a model of care that is truly holistic.”
Occupational Health Nursing students conducted baseline health checks under the “Know Your Numbers” initiative, screening participants for blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, blood glucose, cholesterol and body mass index. The screenings included guidance on healthy ranges and how to prevent chronic conditions..
Reflecting on the learning experience, Tintswalo Mtshali said the initiative provided an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting while developing essential professional skills. “Being part of this programme allowed us to put our theoretical knowledge into practice and engage directly with a community whose occupational demands often place them under considerable physical and psychological pressure. We gained valuable experience in health screening, health education and interdisciplinary collaboration, while recognising the importance of delivering compassionate, patient-centred care,” said Mtshali.
Recognising the physical demands of law enforcement, students also educated officers about musculoskeletal disorders, including lower back pain, neck strain, shoulder problems and knee pain. They discussed preventive measures such as correct lifting techniques, ergonomic adjustments, regular breaks and appropriate personal protective equipment.
The programme further included a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) demonstration to equip officers with essential life-saving knowledge. As first responders, SAPS members were guided through the basic steps of checking responsiveness, calling emergency services and performing chest compressions while awaiting assistance.
Additional sessions addressed noise-induced hearing loss, including the importance of hearing protection, and breast cancer awareness. Participants received information about early detection, recognising warning signs and the importance of regular self-examination.
SAPS members welcomed the initiative, particularly the convenience of accessing mental and physical health information and screening services at one venue.
Through this initiative, SMU’s postgraduate nursing students demonstrated how specialised clinical training can translate into meaningful community service. By equipping police officers with practical health knowledge and promoting a holistic approach to well-being, the university continues to advance its mission of excellence in health sciences education, innovative practice and improved health outcomes for the communities it serves.
By Tumelo Moila
