by Lorato | May 29, 2025 | All News, SMU Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to affirm its role as a catalyst for change in South Africa’s health sciences landscape, driven by a bold vision to transform education, research, and community service. This commitment was powerfully reflected during the 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremonies, held from 21 to 23 May, where the University conferred over 1,200 qualifications across its five academic schools.
The celebrations not only recognised academic achievement but also marked a historic milestone—the awarding of SMU’s first-ever honorary doctorate, underscoring the University’s steady rise as a hub of innovation, excellence, and national impact in higher education and healthcare development.
“This graduation series is not just a ceremonial rite—it is a powerful affirmation of the University’s mission to train a new generation of leaders, healers, and scientific pioneers,” said Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Research, Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele. “Our graduates step into the frontlines of health and scientific progress at a time when their skills are most needed.”
A total of 1,294 qualifications were conferred, with 69% being undergraduate degrees and 31% postgraduate qualifications. These included 33 postgraduate diplomas, 196 honours degrees, 162 master’s degrees, and 9 doctoral degrees.
The data further underscored SMU’s commitment to academic excellence and transformation. Women accounted for 65.2% of graduates, with 95 of the 102 cum laude and 27 summa cum laude distinctions awarded to female students.
Racially, 94.3% of the graduates were African, followed by 3.4% White, 1.5% Indian, and 0.8% Coloured graduates. Importantly, 124 of the graduates had entered the institution through the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP), exemplifying SMU’s efforts in widening access to tertiary education.
In a historic highlight, SMU conferred its first honorary doctoral degree upon Professor Phuti Esrom Ngoepe, a globally respected physicist renowned for his groundbreaking work in Materials Modelling. The honour recognises his lifetime contributions to the advancement of science and innovation in South Africa and around the world.
In his acceptance speech, Prof Ngoepe reflected on the honour with deep humility and gratitude. “I would like to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University for conferring this honour upon me today. I humbly accept this award on behalf of everyone who has worked tirelessly alongside me over the years.”
This is a milestone not only for SMU but for the entire scientific community. Prof Ngoepe’s work has bridged the gap between theoretical science and practical societal benefit. SMU is immensely proud to welcome him into its family.
Prof Ngoepe’s award also underscores SMU’s intention to broaden its academic footprint beyond health sciences and further establish itself as a multidisciplinary hub of excellence.
The graduation ceremonies reflected SMU’s interdisciplinary approach to addressing the country’s complex socio-health challenges:
- School of Medicine: 524 graduates, including 305 undergraduate degrees and 64 master’s degrees.
- School of Dentistry: 96 graduates, including 86 undergraduate degrees.
- School of Health Care Sciences: 240 graduates, including 168 undergraduates and 45 master’s.
- School of Pharmacy: 106 graduates, with qualifications ranging from higher certificates to doctoral degrees.
- School of Science and Technology: 230 graduates, including 204 BSc degrees and 3 doctoral degrees.
A posthumous degree was also conferred during the ceremony in honour of the late BSc Honours in Chemistry graduate, Noko James Pole, whose academic efforts were tragically cut short, serving as a poignant reminder of the resilience and humanity behind the academic journey.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Mabelebele invoked a Ghanaian proverb— “Knowledge is like a baobab tree; one person’s arms can never wrap around it”—to inspire continued learning among graduates.
SMU graduates understand that their qualifications come with a purpose and responsibility—to heal, to innovate, to serve. With a blend of tradition, academic rigour and a vision for inclusive transformation, the 2025 Autumn Graduation affirmed that both the present and future, indeed, belong to SMU.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | May 26, 2025 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media, Student Media
In a landmark moment for Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), the institution conferred its first-ever honorary doctoral degree during the Autumn Graduation Ceremony held on 23 May 2025. The prestigious honour was bestowed upon Professor Phuti Esrom Ngoepe, a globally recognised scholar in the field of Physics, in recognition of his exceptional academic contributions to Materials Modelling and his enduring impact on the advancement of science in South Africa and beyond.
The degree was awarded by the School of Science and Technology, underscoring SMU’s deepening commitment to academic excellence and its recognition of transformative figures whose work aligns with the university’s mission to advance knowledge that serves society.
Ngoepe’s illustrious career spans more than five decades, marked by prolific research, pioneering contributions in computational modelling, and a steadfast dedication to education and mentorship. Over the years, he has supervised 61 Master’s students, 34 PhD candidates, and mentored 16 postdoctoral researchers. His scholarly influence extends to over 1,000 conference presentations, both locally and internationally, and a formidable body of peer-reviewed publications that continue to shape the global discourse in Physics and Materials Science.
Beyond academia, Ngoepe has been instrumental in shaping South Africa’s science policy landscape, having served on a number of high-level national councils and advisory panels. These include the Council for Geosciences, MINTEK, the South African Nanotechnology Initiative, and the Platinum Value Addition Initiative Steering Committee, among others.
His immense contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) from the Presidency of South Africa in 2008 for his achievements in the natural sciences. In 2022, he was honoured with the Chinese Government Friendship Award, further cementing his global standing. In 2023, a Materials Science Workshop was held in his honour — a fitting tribute to his lifetime of service to science.
In his acceptance speech, Ngoepe reflected on the honour with deep humility and gratitude.
“I would like to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University for conferring this honour upon me today. I humbly accept this award on behalf of everyone who has worked tirelessly alongside me over the years.”
He also used the occasion to share a message of encouragement with the graduating class: “My message to you graduates is that only the best of yourself is good enough.”
Acknowledging the many students and colleagues who have journeyed with him, he added: “I value and appreciate the efforts and dedication of all students and co-workers over many decades. Their potential, ingenuity and talent for doing things that are the best in the world — I have learnt so much from them. They have kept me young at heart and in my mind.”
Addressing broader societal challenges, Ngoepe spoke of the need for Africa to foster independence in thought and action: “In the last two years, two weeks, two days, amazing trends in geopolitics have been unfolding. We are slowly learning that in order to survive as a country and a continent, we need to steer away from dependency. This cuts across all disciplines — whether in social matters or health matters, such as the treatment of contagious diseases — areas in which this university plays a vital role in service delivery.”
The historic conferment marks a new chapter in SMU’s journey as a leading institution in health sciences education, research, and innovation. By honouring one of South Africa’s most accomplished scientists, the university has not only recognised individual excellence but also reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing knowledge that uplifts communities, transforms lives, and inspires the next generation of changemakers.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | May 19, 2025 | Media Statements, statements
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 May 2025
GA-RANKUWA, PRETORIA –Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) will confer qualifications across its five academic schools during the 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremonies, scheduled for 21 to 23 May 2025. The ceremonies mark a pivotal moment—not only for graduates, but for the health and science sectors that urgently require their skills, innovation, and leadership.
Graduates from the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Health Care Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and School of Science and Technology will formally complete their academic journeys and step into fields where their expertise is needed most.
Ceremony dates are as follows:
• 21 May – School of Medicine
• 22 May – School of Dentistry and School of Health Care Sciences
• 23 May – School of Pharmacy and School of Science and Technology
This cohort enters a world facing complex health challenges, scientific disruption, and a growing demand for evidence-based care and innovation. As such, SMU’s graduates are academically qualified, socially conscious, scientifically prepared, and ready to contribute across borders and sectors.
In a moment of solemn reflection, the university will confer a posthumous degree in honour of a student whose life ended before graduation, but whose academic efforts are remembered with pride and dignity.
The graduation on 23 May will also include a historic first: the conferment of an honorary doctoral degree to Professor Phuti Esrom Ngoepe, a renowned scholar in Physics and Materials Modelling. The degree, approved by Council on 3 April 2025, recognises a lifetime of contribution to science and higher education. A separate statement detailing this historic conferment will be released.
SMU remains committed to training professionals who are equipped not just with qualifications but with purpose, courage, and a deep understanding of the communities they serve.
About Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is a specialised South African institution advancing excellence in health sciences education, research, and innovation. Through a strong focus on impact and equity, SMU equips graduates to lead change in healthcare systems and scientific sectors across the continent and beyond.
For media enquiries, please contact Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, Acting Director: Communications and Marketing at tshimangadzo.mphaphuli@smu.ac.za
Cell: 081 015 4790
SMU GRADUATES STEP INTO THE FRONTLINES OF HEALTH AND SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS_Press Statement
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by Lorato | May 13, 2025 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
As graduation season unfolds at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), alumna Dr Talente Biyela reflects on her studies, four earned degrees, and an already impactful career. From the rural heart of Esikhawini Nsimbini Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, to the halls of academia and the wards of Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Biyela’s journey has been marked by determination, passion, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
Raised by a “resilient single mother,” Biyela is one of six siblings who defied the odds. “I’ve always been curious,” she shares. “My love for problem-solving and analysis first led me to mathematics, and later to medicine.”
Her academic achievements are remarkable. She holds a BSc in Mathematics and Chemistry, a BSc Honours in Mathematics, a BSc Honours in Applied Mathematics, and an MBChB. In 2016, while pursuing her Honours degree in Applied Mathematics, she was selected among the top 30 students nationwide for a prestigious Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) scholarship in Russia. “Presenting neutron activation for life sciences in Russia was an invaluable experience,” she recalls. “Russia is incredibly rich in nuclear research.”
Transitioning from mathematics to medicine, however, was not without challenges. “It was tough moving into medicine,” she admitts. “I was used to numbers and analysis, but the theoretical focus of the first three years of the MBChB required new study methods.” At the same time, she taught Mathematics to Grades 11 and 12 at Seageng Secondary School in Soshanguve.
Beyond academics, Biyela is passionate about education and sport. After discovering SMU lacked a women’s football team, she founded the SMU Ladies’ Football Team. “Football was my escape,” she explains. “Starting the team wasn’t just about sport—it was about creating an outlet for students to decompress and build social cohesion.”
Her leadership extended beyond the pitch. Serving three terms in the Student Representative Council (SRC), she also sat on the university council, institutional forum, exclusions committee, and chaired several student organisations. “Leadership gave me insight into policy and governance,” she reflects. “It deepened my desire to transform a health system currently on its knees.”
Determined to uplift others, she established the Bokamoso Science Centre to bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary science education for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. “Many students arrive at university never having been inside a lab,” she laments. “We needed to change that.”
As a doctor, Biyela finds fulfilment in patient care. “Nothing beats a patient telling you how much you’ve helped them,” she shares. Yet, she acknowledges the challenges of a hierarchical medical environment. “Managing different personalities in patient care can be difficult.”
Her role as a COVID-19 compliance officer was especially formative. “Working during the pandemic forced rapid adaptation,” she explains. “I was responsible for data collection, analysis, and strategy implementation. It reinforced my belief in health education and prevention.”
Biyela is outspoken about South Africa’s healthcare inequities. “Our healthcare system is in shambles,” she asserts. “It continuously fails black, poor people who cannot afford private care. Funding models must change, and wasteful expenditure must be addressed.”
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Health. “My background in maths and research will be invaluable for data analysis and policy development,” she notes. “I want to remain in the public sector, where I can make the most impact. I dream of a health system that doesn’t discriminate based on skin colour or income.”
Despite her many roles, Biyela remains grounded. “I value time deeply,” she says. “If I give you my time, I’ve given you the most precious part of me. My culture and spirituality keep me anchored.”
Her message to young people considering career shifts is clear: “The sky is the limit. There’s nothing unattainable. Cross over with pride—every degree shapes you into a better person.”
As she continues blazing trails in medicine, policy, and advocacy, Biyela hopes to leave a legacy of service. “I want to be remembered as someone whose life was dedicated to making others’ lives better,” she says. “Someone whose allegiance was always with black, poor people.”
For Biyela, success is not merely personal—it’s about building a healthier, more equitable South Africa for generations to come.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | May 13, 2025
Science and Technology Latest Research Output: 2024 Home » Search Results for "sustainable energy in south africa" ACCREDITED JOURNALS Qurban, M, Khaliq, A, Saqib, M & Abdeljawad, T 2024, ‘Stability, bifurcation, and control: Modeling...
