by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating a major innovation milestone after HepaSure Diagnostics, a student-led healthcare enterprise founded by Nondumiso Nkosi, was crowned the Enactus South Africa Early-Stage Competition Champion. The victory secures South Africa’s representation at the Enactus World Cup 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil, where the innovation will be showcased before a global audience of students, investors and business leaders.
Founded by Nkosi, a medical scientist and student in the Department of Virology at SMU, HepaSure Diagnostics is developing an affordable, rapid and inclusive diagnostic solution for hepatitis B, with a particular focus on detecting occult hepatitis B infections—cases that often remain undetected by conventional screening methods. The innovation aims to improve early diagnosis, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare settings, while supporting global efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis.
The achievement reflects SMU’s commitment to transforming healthcare through research, innovation and entrepreneurship while empowering students to develop practical solutions to pressing public health challenges. “This achievement demonstrates what is possible when scientific research is combined with entrepreneurial thinking,” said Nondumiso Nkosi, founder of HepaSure Diagnostics. “Our goal has always been to ensure that people, particularly those in underserved communities, have access to accurate and affordable hepatitis B diagnostics. Representing South Africa at the Enactus World Cup is an incredible opportunity to showcase an innovation that has the potential to improve health outcomes both locally and globally.”
The victory marks the culmination of a journey that began when HepaSure Diagnostics joined the Enactus SMU programme as one of its student enterprises. Under the guidance of Enactus SMU Coordinator Naledi Mathole and the leadership of Enactus SMU President Nomsa Phoswa, the enterprise received structured entrepreneurial development, mentorship and coaching to strengthen its business model, sharpen its value proposition and enhance its investment readiness.
Following months of preparation, HepaSure Diagnostics earned a place among the Top Seven Early-Stage enterprises selected to compete at the Enactus South Africa National Exposition, held on 22 July 2026 at the Focus Rooms in Sandton. Sponsored by Harmony and other partners, the exposition brought together student entrepreneurs from more than 23 universities across South Africa, each presenting innovative business solutions designed to address critical social, economic and environmental challenges.
On 23 July 2026, HepaSure Diagnostics was announced as the National Early-Stage Champion, securing the opportunity to represent South Africa at the Enactus World Cup 2026 in Brazil.
“This success is a testament to the dedication, resilience and excellence demonstrated by our students,” said Mathole, Enactus SMU Coordinator. “At SMU, we are committed to creating an environment where innovation thrives and where students are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills needed to translate research into sustainable solutions that improve lives.”
Nomsa Phoswa, President of Enactus SMU, said the achievement reflects the strength of collaborative leadership and student innovation. “We are immensely proud of Nondumiso and the HepaSure Diagnostics team,” said Phoswa. “Their success highlights the impact of student entrepreneurship at SMU and reinforces our belief that young innovators can develop scalable solutions to some of society’s most complex healthcare challenges.”
Enactus South Africa forms part of the global Enactus network, an international non-profit organisation that empowers university students to create sustainable enterprises that address social, economic and environmental challenges through entrepreneurial action. By connecting students with business mentors and industry leaders, the organisation equips young entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into impactful businesses.
As HepaSure Diagnostics prepares to compete on the world stage in São Paulo, the achievement reinforces Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s vision of transforming health services through excellence and innovation. It also demonstrates the University’s growing contribution to scientific research, entrepreneurship and the development of future healthcare leaders whose innovations have the potential to improve lives in South Africa and beyond.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) continues to strengthen its contribution to advancing maternal healthcare through research that promotes compassionate, evidence-based clinical practice. A study by Dr Ntsoaki Margaret Tshabalala, a Nursing Science lecturer at SMU, has resulted in the development of comprehensive guidelines designed to improve holistic perinatal care during intimate examinations, placing women’s dignity, emotional wellbeing and informed consent at the centre of maternity care.
Intimate examinations, including assessments of the breasts, abdomen and vagina during pregnancy, labour, postnatal care and gynaecological screening, are an essential component of midwifery practice. However, they can also be a source of anxiety, fear and embarrassment, particularly for first-time mothers or women with previous traumatic experiences. Dr Tshabalala’s research highlights the importance of recognising not only the physical aspects of care, but also the psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs of women throughout the perinatal period.
“The findings show that holistic perinatal care must extend beyond clinical competence,” said Dr Tshabalala. “Midwives should provide respectful communication, obtain informed consent and offer psychosocial support throughout intimate examinations to ensure women feel safe, valued and respected.”
The guidelines were developed through a rigorous four-phase research process that included an integrative literature review, semi-structured telephone interviews with postnatal women, a nominal group technique involving midwives and specialists, and a Delphi study with maternal and neonatal experts from South Africa and abroad. This comprehensive methodology ensured that the recommendations reflected both scientific evidence and the lived experiences of women receiving maternity care.
The study produced eight key guidelines to strengthen holistic perinatal care. These include improving professional communication during intimate examinations, adhering to ethical and legal standards, creating supportive physical environments, strengthening staff training and competency, recognising individual patient needs, enhancing the quality of intimate care practices, providing social and psychological support, and ensuring management commitment to holistic care delivery. Together, these recommendations provide a practical framework for improving the quality and consistency of maternity care in clinical settings.
Dr Tshabalala believes these guidelines have the potential to improve trust between healthcare professionals and patients while reducing the emotional distress often associated with intimate examinations. “Providing compassionate, person-centred care is fundamental to improving women’s experiences during pregnancy and childbirth. When healthcare professionals communicate with empathy and respect, they foster confidence and contribute to better maternal outcomes,” she said.
The research forms part of Dr Tshabalala’s doctoral study, titled Development of guidelines for holistic perinatal care during intimate examinations, completed at the University of Pretoria. Her academic and professional background in midwifery, nursing education and maternal healthcare has positioned her as an advocate for improving perinatal care through research, education and clinical practice.
By translating research into practical guidance for healthcare professionals, SMU continues to demonstrate its commitment to transforming health services through excellence and innovation. The university’s emphasis on research that addresses real-world healthcare challenges reinforces its role in developing evidence-based solutions that improve patient care and advance the health and wellbeing of communities across South Africa and beyond.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating a significant academic achievement after Computer Science Academic Coordinator Dr Mosima Masethe completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Technology, producing research that advances artificial intelligence (AI) for African languages and strengthens digital inclusion across South Africa. This study contributes to South Africa’s multilingualism initiative by supporting efforts to ensure that indigenous languages are represented in education and used as mediums of instruction and communication.
Awarded by the Durban University of Technology, Dr Masethe’s doctoral research addresses one of the major challenges in natural language processing (NLP): enabling computers to correctly interpret the meaning of ambiguous words in Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho). The study demonstrates that combining modern AI techniques with language-specific knowledge significantly improves the performance of language technologies, even in low-resource languages with limited digital datasets.
The findings have important implications for the development of machine translation, virtual assistants, educational software, search technologies and digital public services. By improving AI’s understanding of indigenous languages, the research supports greater access to government information, healthcare, education, banking and other essential services in people’s home languages.
Reflecting on the milestone, Dr Masethe described the achievement as both personal and purposeful. “This achievement is not only a personal victory but also a reminder of what is possible through faith, perseverance, mentorship, sacrifice and consistent hard work,” she said.
She added that completing her PhD marks the beginning of a broader mission to expand research and innovation, rather than the end of her academic journey.
Dr Masethe believes the university is well-positioned to strengthen postgraduate education in emerging technologies, particularly where AI can address practical challenges in healthcare and society. “Working at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, I am inspired to contribute to the development of new postgraduate programmes and research pathways in natural language processing, computational linguistics, large language models, generative AI, artificial intelligence and related emerging technologies,” she said.
Her research also aligns with national priorities by promoting digital transformation, strengthening indigenous knowledge systems and expanding opportunities for historically underrepresented communities. The study demonstrates that effective AI solutions for African languages can be developed without requiring massive datasets, providing a practical framework for future innovation in language technologies.
Beyond the technical contribution, the research has already produced several peer-reviewed journal publications and international conference papers, laying a strong foundation for continued advances in explainable AI, computational linguistics and inclusive digital innovation for African languages.
Dr Masethe expressed gratitude to her family, supervisors, colleagues, mentors, students and friends for their encouragement throughout her academic journey, emphasising that collaboration remains central to future success.
The achievement reflects SMU’s commitment to research excellence, innovation and capacity development in the health sciences and beyond. By supporting pioneering research that applies advanced AI to real-world challenges, the university continues to strengthen its contribution to knowledge generation, digital transformation and equitable access to education, healthcare and information for communities across South Africa.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is strengthening reproductive health education through its partnership with the Centre for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan (CIRHT-UM), equipping future healthcare professionals with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to deliver quality, patient-centred care.
The partnership was highlighted during the two-day SMU–CIRHT Workshop held recently at the university’s Skills Centre. The workshop brought together academic leaders, clinicians, researchers and healthcare educators to review progress, strengthen institutional collaboration and explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning in sexual and reproductive healthcare.
The collaboration focuses on strengthening health professions education through competency-based training, curriculum development, faculty capacity building, simulation-based learning and research. It aims to ensure that graduates are prepared to provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including family planning services, quality counselling and evidence-based clinical care.
Opening the workshop, Dr Mabina Mogale, Project Coordinator of the SMU–CIRHT Project, said the partnership represents a long-term investment in healthcare education and service delivery. “The SMU–CIRHT partnership reflects our shared commitment to developing healthcare professionals who are clinically competent, compassionate and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. Every improvement we make in education ultimately translates into better patient care and stronger health systems,” said Dr Mogale.
He added that the partnership has enabled academic staff to strengthen teaching methodologies, exchange best practices and introduce innovative learning approaches that better prepare students for clinical practice. “The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, and our responsibility is to ensure that our graduates possess both the scientific knowledge and practical experience needed to provide safe, ethical and evidence-based reproductive healthcare,” he said.
Country Principal Investigator and UNIVEN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, Professor Sebi Lekalakala-Mokgele, highlighted the importance of institutional partnerships in strengthening health professions education across Africa. “Universities have a responsibility to produce graduates who are capable of responding to real-world healthcare challenges. Through the CIRHT partnership, we are strengthening our academic programmes, empowering educators and ensuring that students receive practical training that prepares them to deliver quality healthcare with confidence,” she said.
Prof Lekalakala-Mokgele added that collaboration promotes continuous learning and innovation. “Sharing knowledge, research and expertise allows us to build stronger institutions while improving healthcare outcomes for future generations.”
Country Co-Principal Investigator, SMU’s Vice-Dean: Research in the School of Health Care Sciences and Head of the Department of Public Health, Prof Mathilda Mokgatle, emphasised the need for academic programmes to evolve alongside changes in medicine, technology and patient care. “Healthcare education cannot remain static. Our curricula must evolve alongside advances in medicine, technology and patient care,” she said. “This partnership allows us to strengthen teaching and learning while ensuring that graduates are equipped to provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare that is evidence-based, respectful and patient-centred.”
She also stressed the importance of investing in educators, noting, “When we empower educators with modern teaching approaches and practical training tools, we strengthen the entire healthcare education system.”
Chairperson of the SMU–CIRHT Teaching and Learning Committee, Dr Sylvia Cebekhulu, said practical learning was critical to developing competent healthcare professionals. “Students learn best when theory and practice are integrated. Through simulation-based education, clinical skills laboratories and supervised clinical placements, they gain the confidence and competence required to deliver safe, ethical and compassionate care,” she said.
The workshop examined the three pillars underpinning the partnership: education, service and research. Discussions covered competency-based reproductive health curricula, simulation training, clinical supervision, patient-centred care, counselling, ethical decision-making and collaborative research.
The initiative reinforces SMU’s broader commitment to excellence and socially accountable healthcare education, while strengthening its capacity to produce professionals equipped to address reproductive health challenges and improve healthcare outcomes in South African communities.
By Dimakatso Modise
by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating the promotion of Professor Bettina Chale-Matsau from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor (Clinical/Diagnostic) in Chemical Pathology, recognising a distinguished career spanning more than three decades of scientific research, clinical practice, academic leadership, and service to healthcare. Her appointment reflects SMU’s commitment to advancing excellence in teaching, research and innovation while strengthening healthcare systems across South Africa and the African continent.
Professor Chale-Matsau’s professional journey began in environmental and water quality research before she pursued medicine to make a more direct contribution to improving people’s lives. Rather than leaving science behind, she integrated her research expertise with clinical medicine, ultimately specialising in Chemical Pathology. Today, she serves as Head of the Department of Chemical Pathology at SMU and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), where she provides strategic leadership in academic programmes, research, postgraduate training, laboratory quality management and specialist diagnostic services.
Throughout her academic career, Professor Chale-Matsau has remained dedicated to developing future healthcare professionals. In 2024, MBChB VI students recognised her as the Best Lecturer in Chemical Pathology, reflecting her commitment to teaching excellence. She has supervised and co-supervised numerous Master’s and doctoral graduates while continuing to mentor MMed, MSc and PhD candidates, reinforcing her belief that nurturing future researchers is one of the most meaningful contributions an academic can make.
Her research has made significant contributions to endocrinology, laboratory management, inherited metabolic disorders, and laboratory quality improvement. More recently, her work has focused on pathology-based point-of-care diagnostics, an emerging field that aims to make reliable, affordable diagnostic testing more accessible, particularly in rural and resource-limited communities. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, she is working to accelerate innovations that strengthen clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes across Africa.
Reflecting on her promotion, Professor Chale-Matsau said, “This promotion represents an opportunity to contribute even more meaningfully to research, postgraduate education and healthcare. I hope to inspire young scientists and clinicians to pursue research that addresses the health challenges facing our communities while ensuring that laboratory medicine remains at the centre of evidence-based patient care.”
Looking ahead, Professor Chale-Matsau aims to establish a nationally recognised programme in pathology diagnostics that advances biomarker discovery, point-of-care technologies, laboratory quality systems and translational research. She envisions strengthening collaborations across disciplines and institutions to position SMU as a leader in developing innovative diagnostic technologies that improve equitable access to healthcare throughout South Africa and beyond.
Her growing national and international profile is reflected in leadership roles within professional bodies, editorial responsibilities for the African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, invited presentations at international conferences and a sustained record of scientific publication and postgraduate supervision. These achievements underscore her commitment to advancing laboratory medicine while fostering excellence among emerging researchers and clinicians.
Professor Chale-Matsau said her promotion carries responsibilities beyond personal achievement. “I see this as an opportunity to strengthen research, mentor future leaders and contribute to healthcare solutions that improve lives. Innovation in pathology diagnostics has the potential to transform healthcare delivery, particularly for underserved communities.” This vision aligns with SMU’s mission of transforming health services through excellence in education, research and innovation, reinforcing the University’s role in producing knowledge that addresses national and continental health priorities.
By Tumelo Moila
by Lorato | Aug 12, 2026 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has marked 25 years of community impact by celebrating the achievements of its Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, community-centred healthcare.
The Department hosted a hybrid webinar, titled “Communicating Together: 25 Years of Community, Care and Social Impact”, at the university’s Pharmacy Building. The event brought together academics, healthcare professionals, students, and community stakeholders to reflect on the Department’s journey and consider the future of communication sciences.
The silver jubilee celebration highlighted the Department’s contribution to education, research, clinical practice and community engagement. Presentations throughout the programme explored the importance of communication, inclusion and equitable access to healthcare services, while encouraging collaboration to address emerging challenges in the sector.
Dr Samantha Govender, Head of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at SMU, reflected on the Department’s 25-year journey and acknowledged the contribution of staff, students, alumni and community partners in building its legacy. “Today is not only a celebration of our Department’s achievements, but also a celebration of the partnerships we have built with communities over the past 25 years. Our work continues to demonstrate that communication has the power to transform lives,” said Dr Govender.
She also presented on “Community Engagement as Transformative Pedagogy,” highlighting its role in developing socially responsive healthcare professionals. “Community engagement transforms education because it allows students to learn alongside communities while developing the knowledge, empathy and practical skills needed to become socially responsive healthcare professionals,” she said.
The webinar also addressed hearing conservation, with Dr Katerina Ehlert, Lecturer and Audiology Line Manager at SMU, presenting on “Protecting Hearing, Empowering Communities: The Role of Education and Participation”. She emphasised the importance of education and community participation in preventing hearing loss. “Hearing healthcare starts long before someone visits a clinic. Through education and community participation, we empower individuals to protect their hearing and seek assistance early,” said Dr Ehlert.
Ethics in professional practice was explored by Dr Rahab Mothapo, Senior Lecturer in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, who stressed the importance of ethical leadership in healthcare. “Our professional responsibility extends beyond clinical knowledge. Ethics, integrity and respect must guide every decision we make in serving individuals and communities,” said Dr Mothapo.
Dr Carmen Milton from the University of Pretoria further highlighted communication as a fundamental human right in her presentation, “Communication is Not a Luxury”, under the theme “Every Voice Matters: Inclusion and Access”. “Communication is a fundamental human right. Every person deserves the opportunity to express themselves, participate in society and access services without barriers,” said Dr Milton.
The programme also examined innovation and sustainability, advocacy and empowerment, interprofessional collaboration and socially responsive practice. Collectively, the discussions reinforced the importance of partnerships across disciplines in strengthening healthcare and building more inclusive communities.
As the Department celebrates its 25-year milestone, the webinar reaffirmed SMU’s commitment to producing compassionate and socially responsive healthcare professionals. Through education, research, clinical practice and community engagement, the University continues to advance its mission of transforming health services through excellence and innovation.
By Dimakatso Modise
