2025 Conference Committee

    Mahlodi Maphakela

    Conference, Executive, Speaker

    Sr Mahlodi Maphakela
    SAACHS - National Secretary
    Clinical Nurse Practitioner, University of Limpopo

    Mahlodi P. Maphakela is a dedicated Clinical Nurse Practitioner with 22 years of experience in Primary Health Care, student wellness, and public health advocacy. She provides comprehensive patient care through assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, while playing a key role in HIV/AIDS, TB and STI programmes at the University of Limpopo.

    Mahlodi serves as the Focal Person and Ambassador for the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Programme, where she leads prevention initiatives, coordinates survivor support, and develops GBV-related policies and guidelines for the Health and Wellness Centre. She is also actively involved in health promotion, peer education, and stakeholder referrals to enhance student and staff wellbeing.
    Her qualifications include Diploma in General Nursing, Psychiatry, Community and Midwifery; B-Tech in Occupational Health and Nursing Administration; PGD in Health Promotion; Master of Public Health.

    Her academic contributions include serving as Research Coordinator for the Department of Public Health (2021–2023) and as a Member of the University Council. She has presented nationally, co-supervised MPH students, and participated in international research projects. Mahlodi is also a published author and co-author, with recent work appearing in Curationis (2023), Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health (2025) and Springer Nature (2025) Journals. Currently she is studying towards a PhD degree at Sefako Makgatho University and is honoured to present her research study in this platform. 

     

    Synopsis

    This session unveils an innovative educational intervention developed to enhance PrEP uptake among Limpopo university students.

    Delegates will leave with actionable methods to strengthen youth-focused HIV prevention initiatives.

    Matsontso Mathebula

    Conference, Executive

    Dr Matsontso Mathebula
    SAACHS - National Deputy Chairperson
    Deputy Director Campus Health and Counselling, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

    Dr Matsontso serves as the Deputy Director Campus Health and Counselling in the Sefako Makgatho Health Science University. He has over a period of more than fifteen years served as the campus doctor for the various stages of this fledgling university.
    With a wealth of leadership positions in the NGO sector and working with young people both nationally and internationally, his contribution will facilitate the work of SAACHS an position it to better fulfil its mandate. He sees these institutions as a source of information that can be tapped through research therefore contributing to the body of knowledge and implementations of evidence based medicine.

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    Miemie Geya

    Conference, Executive, Speaker

    Sr Molimi Geya
    SAACHS - National Chairperson
    Director: Centre for Student Health & Wellness at University of Johannesburg

    Miemie Geya is Director: Centre for Student Health & Wellness at University of Johannesburg focusing on students’ health and well-being. She is passionate about young people and hopes to bring health services as close to them as possible.

    She was elected as a chairperson of SAACHS in 2020.

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    Tshidiso Ntshabele

    Conference, Executive

    Mr Tshidiso Ntshabele
    SAACHS National Editor
    Head of Department: Wits University

    Mr Tshidiso Ntshabele is the Head of Department at Wits’ Campus Health and Wellness Centre. He serves as a board member of South African Nursing Council (SANC) and is studying for an MPH at the University of Johannesburg. In 2020 he was elected as Editor in Chief of SAACHS, where his responsibilities includes Editing content (articles, photographs), setting editorial guidelines (tone or voice for SAACHS), and representing the Association.

    Tshidiso joined Wits’ Campus Health and Wellness Centre in 2023. Prior to this he worked at North-West University where he headed the Health Care Centre and before that he worked at the University of Johannesburg, the West-Rand Health District and the City of Johannesburg. 

    He completed his nursing diploma at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College in Soweto, this was followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care from North-West University. He is registered for a Bachelor of Nursing Science: Occupational Health at the University of Johannesburg. 

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