by Lorato | Jan 21, 2026 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Nontobeko Khoza is redefining what leadership looks like from spaces society too often overlooks. At 19 and as a second-year Bachelor of Audiology student at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), she is proving that leadership doesn’t require a title; it starts with presence, advocacy, and purpose. Living with a physical disability, Khoza stands as a quiet yet powerful advocate for inclusion, not only within health sciences but across every space where voices like hers have long been absent.
Her choice to study audiology is more than academic; it’s personal. “In rural areas, people living with hearing loss are often ignored or misunderstood. Many believe it’s witchcraft, or they simply don’t have access to help,” she explains. “I want to be the voice that changes that.” For Khoza, leadership means advocacy. Every step she takes, every classroom she enters, is a statement: she belongs. “My disability isn’t a limitation. It’s my reason to lead. It gives me purpose.”
At SMU, Khoza found more than education; she found a platform. The university’s commitment to inclusivity and transformation has provided her not only with practical tools but also a sense of belonging. A specialised wheelchair and clinical assistant have helped her navigate physical spaces, while her presence within the university community challenges long-standing perceptions of who belongs in healthcare leadership.
Khoza’s message is clear: “Inclusion isn’t about being accommodated. It’s about being counted.” Her leadership voice grew louder when she was invited to share her journey at a university staff conference, an experience that shifted her perspective. “It reminded me that my voice matters, and that there’s power in sharing my journey.” She draws strength from her faith, guided by the verse: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Yet her advocacy is grounded not in personal triumph, but in the belief that change must be collective. “I don’t want to be an exception. I want to open the way for others.” As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, Khoza challenges the nation to widen the lens: “It’s not just about gender equity, it’s about real inclusion. We need to be part of the conversation, not an afterthought.” She adds, “Women with disabilities aren’t just part of the conversation. We deserve to lead it.” Her message to young women like herself is simple but radical: “You are not defined by the limits others place on you. You can lead from wherever you stand.”
With every lecture attended, every conversation started, and every barrier crossed, Khoza is not asking for inclusion; she’s demonstrating it. At SMU, she’s not just learning to heal others; she’s teaching a university and a nation what real inclusion looks like. In the margins where others tried to place her, she is leading the way and she is advocating for change.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 15, 2026 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Mukhethwa Managa never set out to be anyone’s role model. Yet, by choosing to live boldly and unapologetically, she has become just that—a quiet symbol of courage in spaces where difference is often met with silence.
A double-degree graduate from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), Managa’s story is not about fitting in. It’s about belonging on her own terms. “Coming out was painful, but necessary,” she recalls. “I wasn’t trying to prove anything. I just wanted to be free.”
Known to many by her stage name Alpha Art, the 27-year-old from Tshidzini village in Venda grew up navigating a world that offered few reflections of herself. As a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community, she knew early that her identity would challenge expectations. University, however, was where her fight for authenticity took shape.
At SMU, she earned not just academic degrees—a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Physiology, and a professional qualification in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, but something far more important: her voice. “At SMU, I found spaces that accepted me and spaces that didn’t,” she says. “But the LGBTQIA+ student organisation changed everything. It showed me that being myself wasn’t something to apologise for.”
Support from peers and mentors gave her the courage to be visible in a community where invisibility often felt safer. From lecture halls to football fields, Managa began to live out loud. Her leadership shows itself in many forms. As a rapper, sketch artist, and soccer player, she pushes past the limits others place on womanhood.
“I’ve learned that womanhood looks different for everyone,” she explains. “Some women are feminine, others masculine. All of us deserve to belong.” For Managa, belonging is not just about visibility, it’s about using visibility as a platform for others.“When people see me walking boldly across campus or on stage as Alpha Art, I want them to know they can be themselves, too. That’s leadership.”
She hopes that SMU and institutions like it will continue expanding spaces where diverse identities of womanhood are celebrated, not merely tolerated. “Institutions need to stop thinking of inclusion as optional. It’s essential to developing real leaders.”
Managa’s journey isn’t framed by awards or titles. Her legacy is quieter but no less powerful: showing others that strength lies in living truthfully. Her advice to those navigating identity in spaces that weren’t built for them? “Live out loud. You don’t need permission to be yourself.”
Today, as a qualified healthcare professional, an artist, and a woman rewriting her own definition of strength, Managa is proof that leadership begins with authenticity. And at SMU, her story and her voice found room to grow.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 15, 2026 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Leadership doesn’t always look like authority; sometimes, it looks like authenticity. For Kelebogile Nonkwelo, living openly as a queer woman living with HIV is more than personal truth; it’s a form of leadership that empowers others to believe in their worth. From her rural childhood in Ngqeleni to her role as Senior Health HIV/AIDS Officer at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), her journey is one of visibility, compassion, and creating spaces where others no longer have to hide. In her truth, others find courage.
Originally from Ngqeleni in the Nyandeni District of the Eastern Cape, Nonkwelo’s rural upbringing shaped her passion for public health and social justice. “Growing up, I witnessed the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. Not just the illness, but the silence and shame surrounding it. I knew I had to be part of the change,” she reflects.
Diagnosed with HIV 22 years ago, Nonkwelo draws strength from her journey and channels it into her work. “Living with HIV has taught me empathy. I don’t just see people’s conditions, I see their pain, strength, and stories,” she says. While she occasionally conducts HIV counselling in a colleague’s absence, her primary role focuses on broader health promotion and support, including awareness campaigns, peer educator programmes, and implementation of the Higher-Health mandate.
Her work spans ten key focus areas, ranging from gender-based violence and mental wellness to sexual reproductive health and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. “No two days are the same,” she shares. “But each one reminds me why this work matters.” Nonkwelo’s impact reaches far beyond her formal job description. As a queer woman living with HIV, she openly shares her story to empower others facing similar challenges. “Disclosing my status was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But it allowed others to see that healing, growth, and success are still possible,” she says.
Her journey from a rural village to a leadership position at one of South Africa’s premier medical universities is a source of pride. “From where I come from, girls weren’t expected to lead or even dream big. I’m here to say: rural girls have power too.”
Navigating dual marginalisation, both as a queer woman and someone living with HIV, has not been easy. “People judged me for where I came from and what I live with. But I never let that define my worth or derail my mission,” she says. Nonkwelo believes visibility is a powerful form of healing. “Representation matters. When students see someone like them in a leadership role, thriving and unafraid, it permits them to do the same.”
She applauds SMU’s strides toward diversity and inclusion, particularly the work done by the Advocacy and Diversity unit under Student Affairs. However, she urges continuous progress: “Policy must always translate into everyday practice.”
She asserts that SMU is more than a workplace; it’s the platform where she shows up, fully seen, and where her presence tells a story of possibility. Each day, in counselling rooms, awareness campaigns, and quiet conversations, she offers a message that transcends HIV, gender, and identity: “You are not broken. You are whole. You are worthy.” In her truth, others find courage. And in her visibility, they find permission to lead.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 15, 2026 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
In the fast-paced world of broadcasting, prime-time radio is more than a slot; it’s a platform of influence. At SMU FM, three women are turning microphones into megaphones for change. From early-morning power talks to drive-time debates and sports commentary, Thato Ledwaba, Rose Moreki, and Thandi Caroline Sebola are setting the tone, not only for the station but for the Ga-Rankuwa community at large.
Each presenter leads one of SMU FM’s top shows: The Morning Brew, The Soulful Lounge, SMU Sports, and The Ultimate Drive, bringing their unique voices to conversations that matter.
Thato Ledwaba, host of The Morning Brew, carved her path through passion and persistence. “I started small, volunteering, learning, and consistently showing up. Over time, my voice found its place, and so did I,” she says. For her, being a woman in prime time is deeply personal. “It’s about representation and breaking barriers. It’s reminding young women that they belong in powerful spaces too.”
She uses her platform to drive real conversations. “We talk about mental health, identity, relationships, social justice — the things students are actually dealing with,” she explains. Her goal? “To inform, uplift and remind the SMU community of its power.”
Rose Moreki, who commands the mic on both The Soulful Lounge and SMU Sports, came into radio with a love for storytelling and sports. “When I left Ga-Rankuwa FM, I wanted to be part of another great station that holds its listeners at heart,” she says.
To Moreki, hosting prime-time shows isn’t just about airtime; it’s about reshaping what leadership sounds like. “I don’t just report scores, I explore themes like youth development, gender equality in sport, and community wellness.”
Through her soulful segment, she brings healing and pride to the airwaves. “My voice becomes a connector between lived experience and shared growth.” In both shows, Moreki is driven by a sense of service. “Leadership is about preparing when no one sees you, showing up when it’s hard, and creating opportunities for others. You don’t need permission to lead.”
Thandi Caroline Sebola, host of The Ultimate Drive, entered radio with what she calls divine timing. “Purpose, purpose, purpose! That’s how I found myself behind the mic,” she says. For her, the microphone is not just a tool — it’s a chariot. “I use it to unpack campus issues, celebrate youth wins, and spotlight mental health. I make space for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
Her leadership is grounded in faith and authenticity. “It’s not about position, it’s about presence,” she shares. “I want young women to know they don’t need to shrink to fit. The media needs their voice. Leadership looks like them.”
Together, Ledwaba, Moreki, and Sebola represent more than SMU FM’s prime-time line-up. They are the sound of a university shaping leaders who think critically, speak boldly, and serve their communities.
At SMU, the airwaves are a platform that amplifies not only music and news but the future voices of African leadership. And here, in prime time, women lead.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Jan 15, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
In the evolving world of healthcare education, few stories capture both global leadership and local impact as powerfully as that of Khomotso Paulina Motiang, a Lecturer in the Department of Radiography at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). From global forums to SMU lecture halls, Motiang is redefining what it means to lead in radiography, using her platform to inspire change, develop young professionals, and advance MRI education in South Africa and beyond.
With a clinical career spanning public and private sectors, international experience, and more than five years in academia, her greatest influence is now felt in academia, where she nurtures future radiographers to lead with both skill and compassion. “We must remain human while striving for excellence,” she reflects, a principle that shapes every dimension of her work.
In 2024, Motiang’s commitment to transformation was recognised when she was awarded the International Society of Magnetic Resonance Radiographers and Technologists (ISMRT) Future Leaders Fellowship, an initiative developed in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This prestigious global fellowship positions her at the forefront of MRI education advancement in underserved regions. For South Africa’s radiography community, it is a milestone: Motiang is not only representing the country on global platforms but bringing global innovation back home.
Through the Fellowship, she is establishing the ISMRT South African Division, creating a national knowledge-sharing hub for MRI safety and best practice. “This Fellowship is not just personal, it’s a resource for the profession and a tool to empower others,” Motiang says.
At SMU, her teaching philosophy is equally progressive. She champions interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP), believing that modern radiographers must operate beyond their specialisation and work as collaborative healthcare leaders. Her supervision of undergraduate research projects in forensic imaging and AI in diagnostics demonstrates her commitment to producing forward-thinking graduates ready for global healthcare environments.
Her leadership extends to national structures: from 2025 to 2029, she will serve as the Gauteng Provincial Representative for the Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA), shaping national policy and professional development. Internationally, she continues to advocate for MRI safety and education through her Fellowship, and as a Fellow of the ISMRT.
Yet, Motiang’s leadership philosophy remains rooted in human connection. Beyond accolades and fellowships, she quietly donates food parcels to students in need and mentors first-generation university entrants. “Support doesn’t always come from policy. Sometimes it comes from people choosing to care.”
Her work embodies SMU’s vision: health sciences education that is both locally relevant and globally competitive. As a reviewer for the African Journal of Health Professions Education, Motiang advocates for African research that reflects the continent’s realities while contributing to global knowledge. From global MRI forums to the students she mentors daily, Motiang is a leader of substance, one who proves that advancing healthcare is not just about technology and systems, but about people, compassion, and vision.
A global voice and a local heart, she is redefining radiography leadership for South Africa and for the world.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Jan 15, 2026 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
In a field often dominated by complex statistics and siloed disciplines, Professor Kebogile Mokwena, South Africa’s first National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Chair at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), has emerged as a leading force reshaping the nation’s public health response to mental illness and substance abuse. With more than 120 postgraduate students supervised across multiple health disciplines, Mokwena’s work is not only academically rigorous but deeply grounded in the real-world challenges facing South African communities.
Her passion for public health and population mental health research was ignited early in her career. “I was always inspired to serve and work with people,” she says. After obtaining her doctorate in Public Health Education from the University of South Carolina, with specialisations in curriculum development and health promotion, Mokwena found her research calling in tackling the emergence of nyaope—a highly addictive street drug devastating communities across the country.
Since then, she has become one of the country’s foremost researchers on substance abuse and mental health, forming collaborations with institutions such as the University of Cape Town, Walter Sisulu University, the University of Johannesburg, and the South African Medical Research Council. Her studies estimate the burden of depression and anxiety among underserved populations, confirming a high prevalence of undiagnosed conditions often linked to broader societal issues, including crime and substance use.
Her appointment as SMU’s first NRF Research Chair has allowed her to expand her research portfolio while strengthening collaborations within and beyond the university. “I had to jump several hurdles before I was awarded the grant,” she recalls. “But the role has enabled me to plan long-term, mentor others, and broaden the institution’s research footprint.”
Mokwena’s academic influence spans disciplines and schools. She has supervised students in pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing, and medicine, covering fields as varied as surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics. She embraces interdisciplinary supervision, often initiating partnerships when public health questions intersect with clinical concerns. “All involved learn something new,” she notes.
Beyond academia, she serves on several boards and advisory committees, including the Vista Psychiatric Hospital Board, the Gauteng Substance Abuse Forum, and the SANCA Advisory Committee. These roles keep her connected to the practical implications of her research, informing policy and service delivery at multiple levels.
Despite facing gender-based assumptions in academia, Mokwena has remained steadfast. “People sometimes don’t expect to see a woman in my position,” she admits. “But I’ve learned to let my work speak for itself.”
Her advice to young women aspiring to make an impact in public health is bold: “Be brave enough to ask difficult questions. Be authentic. Work hard and enjoy what you do.”
Reflecting on her legacy, Mokwena hopes to be remembered not only for pioneering research but for advancing solutions that serve society: “My research lives in communities, churches, schools, and prisons. That is the impact I want to leave behind.”
By Tumelo Moila
