SMU welcomes UniTiva University delegation for benchmarking visit

by Lorato | May 7, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) recently welcomed a delegation from Mozambique’s Universidade Wutivi (UniTiva), led by its Chancellor, Professor Domingos Tivane, for a high-level benchmarking visit. The visit focused on exploring best practices across SMU’s flagship academic programmes in medicine, pharmacy, hospital management, nursing and midwifery, and clinical psychology.

The day commenced with a warm welcome from Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching, Learning and Community Engagement, who emphasised the spirit of collaboration between the two institutions. “We are honoured to host Professor Tivane and the UniTiva delegation. This is an opportunity not only to showcase our strengths but also to learn from one another and build sustainable academic partnerships,” said Mabelebele.

Dr Carlien Jooste, Director of Internationalisation, provided an overview of SMU’s institutional footprint and introduced the South African Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education as the basis for the visit. Professor Tivane responded by reaffirming the purpose of the engagement.

“We are here to learn, to be inspired, and to build bridges between our institutions,” he said. “UniTiva is looking to enhance its own health sciences training, specifically Medicine, which will commence in July 2025, and SMU, with its track record of academic excellence, is the ideal institution to benchmark against.”

An insightful overview of the School of Medicine’s curriculum and operations was delivered by Gerda Botha and Professor Honey Mabuza, followed by a session on best practices per year level in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme. Notable contributors included Dr Edwin Seleka (MBChB I) and Professor Robert Ndou (MBChB II), with further input from Professor Honey Mabuza on undergraduate research and Thokozile Kgongwane on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP).

“Our fourth-year students are publishing in accredited academic journals, which speaks to the quality and impact of our undergraduate research training,” noted  Mabuza. Professor Lesiba Baloyi was joined by colleagues Prof Mokoena Maepa and Maryke Pierce to discuss the University’s clinical psychology programme and their African-focused approach in SMU’s highly competitive postgraduate clinical psychology programme.

Thokozile Kgongwane, along with Skills Centre Director, Dr Lesego Phiri, then led the delegation on a hands-on tour of the SMU Skills Centre, offering a glimpse into simulation-based teaching and the university’s commitment to experiential learning.

The afternoon sessions focused on Nursing and Midwifery, Hospital Management and Pharmacy, where Dr Madan Poka outlined innovative teaching methods, student support, and community engagement initiatives.

“This visit is not just about showing what we do, but how we do it—our pedagogy, our partnerships, and our passion,” Dr Poka, Acting Dean of Pharmacy, observed.

Professor Sogo Matlala, Dr Andile Mokoena-De Beer, and Kgomotso Mabasa presented best practices in nursing, midwifery and hospital management. These included competency-based education aligned with the South African Nursing Council’s R174 regulations, incorporating rigorous objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), a 50% pass mark threshold, and 2,120 supervised clinical hours across key disciplines—closely aligned with international standards set by the United Kingdom’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and European Union (EU) directives.

SMU’s unique IPECP programmes are redefining healthcare education through interprofessional collaboration, shared values, and ethical practice. The programme aligns with global frameworks from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses while maintaining a strong local impact.

“Our IPECP model improves patient outcomes, reduces duplication of resources, and supports our graduates to thrive in multidisciplinary teams,” noted Kgongwane.

Dr Jooste stressed that any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) developed must be “intentional, mutually beneficial, and active.” A lively discussion on the potential MoU followed, setting the tone for future collaborations and an invitation for SMU delegates to visit UniTiva.

The day concluded with a tour of the School of Pharmacy laboratories and reflections on SMU’s continuous quality improvement efforts. These include quarterly academic review meetings, internal and external moderation processes, peer reviews, and student feedback loops that inform module planning and redesign.

SMU’s commitment to innovation was also on full display, from hybrid and flipped-classroom models to the integration of 3D-printed anatomical structures and dispensing software in Pharmacy education. The institution’s research-integrated curriculum prepares students for evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and global competitiveness.

“We pride ourselves on excellence, innovation, and relevance. This benchmarking visit confirms that we are on the right track in shaping Africa’s next generation of healthcare professionals,” concluded Jooste.

SMU continues to set the pace in health sciences education across the continent, with international visits such as this reaffirming its role as a beacon of health care sciences academic excellence and societal impact.

By Tumelo Moila

Pitch, Purpose, and Perseverance: From Mohlahlereng to Banyana Banyana

by Lorato | May 7, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media

From the quiet village of Mohlahlereng in Tzaneen to the roaring stadiums of international football, Dr Nthabiseng Maesela’s journey is a compelling testament to purpose, perseverance and passion. An alumna of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and the doctor for South Africa’s women’s national football team, Banyana Banyana, Maesela is not only a practising Sports Physician but also a trailblazer for young women entering the world of sports medicine.

Born in Mohlahlereng and raised in Burgersfort before relocating to Lephalale and eventually Polokwane, Maesela’s path to medicine was inspired from an early age. “My journey into medicine was your typical ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ story – and the answer was always ‘a doctor’,” she says. Motivated by her father’s constant affirmation— “You’re going to be a doctor, akir?”—and the allure of saving lives as portrayed on television, she enrolled at the University of Limpopo’s Medunsa Campus in 2012, calling it “the beginning of everything”.

While medical school is notoriously demanding, Maesela credits her success to her deep faith and involvement in campus ministry. “I was strengthened by my faith and my participation in Believer’s Loveworld (BLW). It was more than just a ministry—it became a place of worship, mentorship, and lifelong friendships,” she reflects.

Initially unsure of her specialisation, it was during her internship that Maesela discovered sports medicine, far from the confines of hospital corridors. “I met a sports physician on the athletics field and began volunteering at local events. I eventually worked with organisations like the Limpopo Academy of Sports. I was captivated. I had found my calling in a space I never expected,” she shares.

Her career reached a defining moment in 2023 when she received a call-up to support Banyana Banyana in their preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. “I was in absolute disbelief,” she admits. “That quickly turned into appreciation and a sense of responsibility. I knew I had to give my best—not just as a doctor, but as a contributing member of the team.”

Working with elite athletes brought new challenges. “High-performance athletes are generally healthy, but they are prone to injuries, and their care revolves around recovery, performance optimisation, and adherence to anti-doping rules,” she explains. “You can’t prescribe medication as you would with regular patients—timing and substance content are crucial.”

From addressing knee and ankle sprains to tackling female-specific health concerns such as menstrual cycles, relative energy deficiencies, and ACL vulnerabilities, Maesela highlights the importance of holistic care. “Our team includes physiotherapists, biokineticists, sports scientists and psychologists. Everyone brings their expertise—it’s a collaborative effort to support the athlete’s performance and wellbeing,” she says.

She vividly recalls the emotional high of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: “When Banyana Banyana reached the Round of 16, making history as the first South African team—male or female—to get that far, it was overwhelming. To know I played even a small part in that success was incredibly humbling.”

Despite her achievements, Maesela remains focused on community impact. “I’m fortunate to have entered the field at a time when young black women are welcomed and encouraged. But there’s still a gap. We need more visibility, more representation. Seeing someone like you in the field makes all the difference.”

Looking to the future, her ambitions are grounded in her home province. “While I don’t plan to stay on as a full-time team doctor, I’m dedicated to my private practice and providing medical support at tournaments and events. I also hope to establish a high-performance centre in Limpopo for semi-professional and professional athletes.”

She concludes with heartfelt encouragement: “It’s not about where you start, but where you’re willing to go. SMU gave me the foundation I needed, and now I’m building from there. Let’s keep supporting our ladies—they’re not just hardworking, they’re history-makers.”

By Tumelo Moila