HSSC Committee 2022/2023

Empowering the next generation of leaders

The Health Sciences Students' Council (HSSC) is the highest decision making body on all issues of student governance at the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences. It is made up of ten students who are democratically elected to office. The HSSC members represent and make submissions which express student's views, concerns and aspirations to various committees such as the Faculty Education Board, the Assessment Committee, the Health and Safety committee and to the Dean.

The key role of the HSSC is to help students fulfil their academic goal of graduation, by helping to advocate for the most ideal teaching and learning environment at our Faculty. This means that students can approach and be assisted by the HSSC with the following:

The concerns The celebrations & opportunities
  • Academic exclusion
  • Academic and psychosocial support
  • Needle stick injuries
  • Acquiring TB while on duty
  • Problems with transport
  • Financial problems
  • Research opportunities
  • Arranging concerts at our faculty
  • Talks by influential speakers
  • Sports events
  • Talent competitions
  • Starting your own project

Meet your HSSC committee for 2022/2023

saeed miller

Saeed Miller
Chairperson
hssc.chair@uct.ac.za

Oversee the proper running of the HSSC, and represent the HSSC to structures within UCT, provincially, nationally and internationally.

"If you never know failure, you will never know success." ~ ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard

naledi mohale

Naledi Mohale
Deputy Chairperson
hssc.deputychair@uct.ac.za

My role is mainly to be of support to the Chairperson. Where we differ is that they are more responsible for the HSSC’s external image and I am more responsible for supporting the team and making sure that every member of the team has everything that they need to succeed.

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

darren piaray

Darren Piaray
Secretary General
hssc.secretary@uct.ac.za

As Secretary General I have to ensure the effective operation of all HSSC meetings and events. Besides this, I must also ensure effective and accurate records of our meetings are kept and that they are published so that we can remain transparent. I am also responsible to partake in decision making and offer my advice and input regarding executive decisions in the body.

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviour. Keep your behaviour positive because your behaviour becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

mamello khitleli

Mamello Khitleli
Treasurer
hssc.treasure@uct.ac.za

My role is to co-ordinate and overlook all transactions and be involved in all of the councils events or any activities requiring funds.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful” ~ Albert Schweitzer

Zahraa Davids

Zahraa Davids
Health & Rehabilitation Academic Officer
hssc.hracademics@uct.ac.za

As the health and rehab academic officer I liaise with various members of the H&R department management as well as class reps in order to aid students with various academic issues which they might encounter. Ultimately it is my job to ensure that all students have as seamless of an academic year as possible

“Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do” ~ H. Jackson Brown

Kyle Beley

Kyle Beley
MBChB Academic Officer
hssc.mbchbacademics@uct.ac.za

As the MBChB academic officer for the HSSC my role in the council is to facilitate problems within the MBChB programme specifically. I work hand in hand with the class representatives and assist in all matters that the class representatives are faced. I currently sit on 8 committees and councils representing the HSSC and the student bodies and ensure that all students voices are heard and all info is relayed back to the council and to the student body. I also engage with the faculty in continuously improving and evaluating the MBChB curricula, and ensure that support services are available to every student. Throughout my term I have prioritised students mental health and the consequences that faculty decisions have on students and strive to avail support services to all student in the faculty of Health Science.

“The only thing to fear, is fear itself” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

caitlin davids

Caitlin Davids
Transformation Officer
hssc.transformation@uct.ac.za

My role as the TO is to ensure that all student's circumstances and needs are taken into consideration when decisions have to be made by the deanery and the HSSC. I also need to be aware of all the voices of the student body no matter the degree or the year, when decisions must be made.

“If it’s meant to be it will be” ~ Unknown

hannah schaefer

Hannah Schaefer
Student Wellness & Outreach Representative
hssc.wellness@uct.ac.za

My role of HSSC Wellness & Outreach officer is to take care of the social and emotional needs of our students while having a holistic approach towards our community. We strive as a faculty to promote all round wellbeing, meaning not only academically but emotionally as well. I strongly believe that it takes a village to raise a student, we are all in this together and it’s crucial to lean on each other for support.

“As you grow older you will discover you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others” ~ Maya Angelou

matthew leong

Matthew Leong
Public Relations & Marketing Officer
hssc.pr@uct.ac.za

My role within the HSSC is to be the bridge of communication between us, as the HSSC, and all of the students within the faculty.

"Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success." ~ Kobe Bryant

hlamulo khorrommbi

Hlamulo Khorommbi
Sports & Entertainment Officer
hssc.events@uct.ac.za

I am the sports and entertainment officer, my role in the council is to see and make sure the sports of in our faculty are running and also to organize events.

"Life won't get easy you just have to get stronger" ~ Unknown