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

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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

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Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Science and Innovation upbeat on Developments at SMU

by Lorato | Oct 22, 2021 | Media Statements, statements

Media Statement
Date: 21 October 2021
For Immediate Release

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Science and Innovation conducted an oversight visit at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University on 19 October 2021. In attendance were members of the SMU Council led by Ms Mmanare Mamabolo (Deputy Chairperson of Council), University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter
Mbati, representatives of organised labour and members of the Student Representative Council. Other members of Council in attendance were Mr Thabiso Lekoana and Dr
Mangaliso Mahlaba. The Portfolio Committee was led by its Chairperson, Honorable Nompendulo Mkhatshwa accompanied by Honorable Tebogo Letsie.

The Committee embarked on a tour of the Campus to inspect both infrastructure and research facilities, which included the construction site of the new 2,000 bed student residence, the new boundary wall, NHLS laboratories, Virology/Microbiology laboratories and the new Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre. Following the Campus tour, the Vice-Chancellor made a presentation to the Committee on the University’s five-year Strategic Plan, the progress made as well as prospects and challenges.

As part of securing the future of SMU, Prof Mbati explained to members of the Portfolio Committee that Council had approved a New Business Model to ensure the financial sustainability of the University. Key to this model is increasing the numbers of students to 13,500, exploring new options for student funding, commercialization initiatives and a strong third stream income strategy. Such initiatives are important, according to the Vice-Chancellor, given some of the challenges related to student funding, student debt, backlog
maintenance, and the dire need for additional office space.

Mbati added that the University had made significant strides in creating a new institutional culture preceded by the signing of a Culture Compact by all stakeholders (management, labour and SRC) committing themselves separately and collectively to work for the good of the University. It was also emphasized that the roll out of the Performance Management System has been given sufficient attention for all employees to continuously contribute to a high performance culture. Professor Mbati emphasized the importance of every stakeholder playing their specified roles and not conflating them, in order for SMU to be successful.

Honorable Letsie emphasized the importance of stability on campus as an important recipe for success. He further cautioned that factionalism and lack of cohesion in the governance and management of institutions leads to dysfunctionality and ultimately universities being placed under administration.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee said it is their responsibility to ensure that the higher education sector delivers on its promises and mandate, and visits such as this provides them with an opportunity to get first-hand experience on how institutions are delivering on their mandates. The Committee was generally upbeat on the progress and developmental trajectory of SMU and promised to embark on future visits to check progress on the many exciting initiatives currently being undertaken at the University.

Issued by the Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Odette Ramsingh, email address Odette.ramsingh@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 3383/4707 Cell: 0824164932

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