Celebrating our latest ad hominem promotions for 2026
Dear Staff and Student Colleagues
We are privileged to work in a place long known by the First Nations as Igamirodi !khaes — the place of the stars. It is a reminder that our strength as a Faculty lies in the many individuals who bring their distinct talents, perspectives, and commitments to our shared academic and scientific mission. Together, these contributions form the constellation that is the Faculty of Health Sciences.
It is therefore a pleasure to recognise a group of colleagues whose lights shine especially brightly this year. These individuals have undergone rigorous peer review and have demonstrated excellence across multiple domains of academic and professional practice. Their promotions, which take effect on 1 January 2026, reflect sustained achievement and a clear commitment to advancing the work of the Faculty.
In their portfolios, colleagues demonstrated:
- High-quality research and scholarly contributions
- Outstanding teaching and learning practices
- Excellence in scientific and technical roles central to our academic project
- Effective leadership and stewardship
- A strong commitment to social responsiveness and public good
We congratulate each colleague on reaching this important career milestone. Their achievements enrich not only their individual disciplines, but the Faculty as a whole.
Please join us in celebrating the following promotions:
Senior Research Officer
- Edina Amponsah-Dacosta
- Renee De Waal
Principal Scientific Officer
- Katherine Lennard
- Andrew Nel
Chief Scientific Officer
- Megan Petersen
Chief Technical Officer
- Simphiwe Gumede
- Thulisa Mtakazo
Principal Research Officer
- Suraj Parihar
Senior Lecturer
- Celeste De Vaal
- Nadia MusimbiIkumi
- Mnika Khuthala
Lecturer
- Frissiano Honwana
Chief Research Officer
- Emily Garman
- Simon Mendelsohn
- Virginie Rozot
Principal Clinical Educator
- Ilse Du Plessis
Promotion to Associate Professor
- Christella Alphonsus
- Zunaid Barday
- Rachael Dangarembizi
- Alina Esterhuizen
- Rebecca Gray
- Paul Matjila
- Keren Middelkoop
- Clinton Moodley
- Shiraz Moosa
- Stuart More
- Marc Nortje
- Marsha Orgill
- Shakti Pillay
- Riyaadh Roberts
- Qonita Said- Hartley
- Shamiel Salie
- Kate Webb
Full Professor
- Joel Dave
- Lionel Green -Thompson
- Alan Horn
- Lucia Knight
- Maritz Laubscher
- Mosedi Namane
- Aneesa Vanker
- Nicola Wearne
Congratulations to all. We look forward to the contributions you will make with your unique talents and skills. May your passion for and commitment to your fields burn even brighter in our rich galaxy.
Kaise Gangans
Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson
Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences