Dr. Christina Thobakgale

Dr Christina Thobakgale is the Head of the Division of Immunology at the University of Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Services. With a focus on strengthening South Africa's clinical and scientific capacities, her work seeks to improve health outcomes. She founded the Wits Immunology Research Program (WIRP), which aims to advance knowledge and understanding of the immunology of diseases while empowering the next generation of African scientists.

Her work focuses on translating immunological discoveries into practical solutions for underserved communities, addressing health challenges like infectious diseases, allergies, autoimmune disorders and transplantation.

Dr. Thobakgale has over a decade of experience mentoring Masters and PhD students and contributes to both teaching and curriculum development. She is committed to fostering collaborative partnerships that bridge the gap between research and clinical care, with a focus on improving diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments for better healthcare delivery.

Dr. Sipho Dlamini

Dr Sipho Dlamini is a Chemical Pathologist, with special interest in teaching, training, and laboratory management. His undergraduate qualifications are BSc (Biochemistry) and Diploma in Science Education (UNISWA), and MBChB (UCT). He did his postgraduate training as a registrar at TAD/SBAH as an NHLS/UP joint appointment and subsequently qualified as a Fellow of the College of Pathologists, FCPath (SA) Chem Path, with the CMSA.

He also holds a certificate in Advanced Management Programme (AMP) in the healthcare sector. He has worked as a Chemical Pathologist in various positions, both in the private sector and the NHLS (TAD/UP and Helen Joseph Hospital/WITS Complex). He was seconded to the NHLS CEO’s Office during the early stages of the SARS-Cov-19 outbreak, acting as Executive Manager: Laboratory Operations for 6 months.

In May 2023, he was contracted as a Principal Pathologist and acting HoD at NHLS/UFS Universitas Academic Laboratory. He assumed the HoD position in December 2024, with the mandate to help rebuild and stabilise the Department of Chemical Pathology at this institution. The Free State and North West NHLS outreach sites are fully networked and supported by his department.

Dr. Christoffel Opperman

Dr. Christoffel Opperman is a pathologist at the National Health Laboratory Service, Green Point Tuberculosis Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa. He completed his specialist training in the Division of Medical Microbiology at the University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, where he remains actively involved as an honorary lecturer, contributing to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

In addition to his expertise in medical microbiology, Dr. Opperman holds additional qualifications in molecular biology. His research interests include antimicrobial stewardship, bacteriophage research, and bioethics. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Stellenbosch University, focusing on the emerging yet often neglected diseases associated with non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Prof. Pawel Schubert

Pawel T. Schubert, MBChB, FCPath(SA), MMed(Anat Path), MScMedSc (Cytopathology), MPhil (Paed Path) is an Associate Professor and Head of Division of Anatomical Pathology at Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University and NHLS.

He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria and his Anatomical Pathology specialisation at Stellenbosch University. He was appointed as consultant in 2006 and has been at Tygerberg Hospital and the NHLS ever since. He is actively involved in training registrars, particularly in cytology and paediatric/perinatal pathology. He has a passion for cytopathology and what role it can play in diagnostic pathology especially in resource limited settings.

He is actively involved with research project, with an emphasis on placental and paediatric pathology, as well as numerous cytology projects. To this end, he has numerous peer reviewed publications in the international literature.

He is also a member of the International Society of Cytology, South African Society of Clinical Cytology, and the South African Division of the International Academy of Pathology.

Prof. Walda van Zyl

Prof Walda van Zyl holds a PhD in Haematology and Cell Biology. She is an associate professor and medical scientist in the Department of Medical Virology at the University of Pretoria (UP) and NHLS Tshwane Academic Division (TAD). Her research is focused on enteric viruses, specifically adenoviruses and enteroviruses, and involves the quantification and genotyping of these viruses from clinical specimens and environmental water samples, using Sanger and next generation sequencing.

She is the author and co-author of 28 scientific publications and serves on peer-review panels for scientific publications in the field of Virology. Her past and current supervision and co-supervision of post-graduate students include, 1 PhD, 14 MSc, 2 MMed (Virology) 17 BSc (Hons) students and 5 intern medical scientists. She is responsible for the verification and introduction of new molecular assays in the diagnostic laboratory at TAD and assists with troubleshooting any problems on the molecular benches.

He is actively involved with research project, with an emphasis on placental and paediatric pathology, as well as numerous cytology projects. To this end, he has numerous peer reviewed publications in the international literature.

Prof. Jessica Opie

A/Prof Jessica Opie
MBChB Hons (UCT) MRCP (UK) FRCPA (Haem)

Jessica Opie is Head of Haematology in the Department of Pathology at UCT and NHLS, Groote Schuur Hospital. She has 20 years’ experience in the academic haematology laboratory at NHLS with broad expertise and research interests. She is a passionate teacher and supervisor.

She strives to lead her dynamic and dedicated team of pathologists, registrars, scientists and students to deliver a high-quality haematology diagnostic service and perform clinically relevant research, whilst simultaneously teaching and training to a high standard.

Dr. Moshawa Khaba

Dr. Khaba currently serves as the Head of the Department of Anatomical Pathology in the Dr George Mukhari academic Laboratory, NHLS and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Dr. Khaba's academic journey includes a Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management from the University of Stellenbosch in 2021, fellowship in Anatomical Pathology from the College of Medicine of South Africa, Master of Medicine from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Diploma in Forensic Pathology from CMSA. His medical degree was obtained from La Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Cienfuegos, Cuba in 2008.

Dr. Moshawa Khaba is an Anatomical Pathologist and academic leader known for his significant contributions to the field of pathology and medical education. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Khaba has held key roles in various academic and laboratory settings, both in the NHLS and Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, showcasing his expertise in anatomical pathology and commitment to advancing healthcare and health sciences education. He is a generalist at heart with research interest in placenta, infectious diseases, neuropathology and autopsy pathology.

A passionate mentor, Dr. Khaba has successfully guided numerous students through Masters and Honors programs, overseeing research projects covering diverse topics. Dr. Khaba's significant contributions to the scientific community include numerous published manuscripts covering diverse topics. His research reflects a broad spectrum of interests and a commitment to advancing medical knowledge. He has received several grants for his research endeavours, and he is the section editor for journal of college of medicine of South Africa.

Mr. Sibulele Bandezi

Sibulele Bandezi is the Area Manager for National Health Laboratory Services in the KwaZulu Natal region. Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, he pursued a National Diploma in Medical Technology at the then ML Sultan Technikon in Durban KwaZulu Natal and qualified in 1996. He then obtained a B-Tech Biomedical Degree from ML Sultan Technikon in 1998, B-Tech Management Degree from Durban University of Technology (DUT), Advanced Business Program (ABP) from Business Studies Unit.

Sibulele’s career began at All Saints Hospital in the Eastern Cape and then moved to Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu Natal, subsequently progressed up the ladder and in April 2002 promoted to Area Control Medical Technologists for Zululand Health District. He held positions as KZN Regional TB and HIV Coordinator, Quality Assurance Coordinator (QAC) for four Business Units, and Zululand Health District Laboratory Manager.

He believes in management by information and displays results-oriented management traits with compassionate leadership style. He took over as Area Manager for the NHLS in KwaZulu Natal on 01st September 2023 with only one (1) labs out of 60 labs were SANAS accredited. His contribution to equity especial for the for the vulnerable people by driving SANAS accreditation in KZN to ensure high quality of service, same level received in private laboratory sector be received in public health Laboratory space. One of strategy used a slogan “Quality NOW and everything will follow”, the region now has 49 out of 60 laboratories accredited and has the first Public Health Laboratory in South Africa to achieve SANAS Accreditation on ISO 17025 Standard.

Sibulele is passionate about delivery of quality healthcare for vulnerable people of all races, believing that vulnerable people in the public sector should receive the same quality of laboratory service (where he has direct influence) as the private sector and equity in ensuring that rural communities receive the same quality of service as in urban settings.

Dr. Nadine Rapiti

Motto: Knowledge is power, but humanity is sharing knowledge.

Position: Head of Department, Haematology, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Academic Complex.

Qualifications: MBChB, FCPath, PhD (HIV Lymphoma), Fellowship Oxford University (Haemophilia), Clin Haem (HPCSA)

Current roles:
  1. President: South African Society of Haematology
  2. Chair: Haematology Expert Committee
  3. South African Councilor: International Society of Laboratory Haematology

Passionate: about improving haematology services in KZN by focusing on teaching and training. Led the re-accreditation of haematopathology training by the HPCSA in KZN in 2019. Also involved in patient care at King Edward Vlll Hospital (now Victoria Mxenge Hospital).

Goal is to improve haematology laboratory diagnostics in KZN and have a dedicated haematology ward at Victoria Mxenge Hospital (working in partnership with DOH and BMSF). Actively encourages research within the department and through collaboration.

Prof. Adrian Puren

Professor Puren has been the Executive Director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) since January 2022 and continues as Head of the Centre for HIV and STIs. Prof Adrian Puren was trained and held a lectureship at the University of the Witwatersrand before taking on various positions at the NICD. Adrian was appointed Deputy Director and Head of Virology in 1999 and Head of the Centre for HIV and STIs in 2017.

As head of virology, he focused on developing and implementing various viral diagnostic platforms to support the NICD’s EPI surveillance programs and diagnostic support. Adrian receives various PEPFAR grants focusing on HIV surveillance, HIV case surveillance, and HIV quality assurance and serves as PI/co-Pi/investigator on various surveillance studies. Adrian’s primary interest is developing HIV surveillance programs focusing on HIV incidence and using “big data” to inform surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation.

Adrian heads the regional and national endpoint diagnostics laboratory for HVTN-supported vaccine and antibody-mediated prevention trials. He serves as the quality assurance technical manager for the NICD. In this capacity, he has supported the National Department of Health’s implementation and quality assurance of HIV rapid testing. Adrian serves on various expert bodies, and the most recent is the South African Lancet Commission on High-Quality Health in the era of Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Jaco Oosthuizen

Mr. Jaco Oosthuizen is a technical scientist who enjoys troubleshooting and understanding how things work. His tertiary training started with a BSc in Biochemistry, whereafter he obtained a BScHons in Conservation Genetics, MMedSc in Human Genetics and currently registered for a PhD in Human Genetics. He is employed at the NHLS in Bloemfontein, where his profession as a Medical Scientist entails the genetic diagnosis of breast cancer and developmental delay.

He currently serves as vice-chair for the Science Programmes Committee for the School of Pathology at the University of the Free State, deputy chair for the committee of Medical Science in Human Genetics (MSHG) of the Southern African Society of Human Genetics (SASHG) and an ordinary member in the portfolio for genetics of the Committee of Medical Science (CMS) of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Prof. Nisha Naicker

Prof Nisha Naicker is the Head of Epidemiology and Surveillance at the National Institute for Occupational Health. She also holds the honorary positions of Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Department of Environmental Health, University of Johannesburg.

She is a medical doctor that has specialised in Public Health Medicine and received her PhD in public health from the University of Witwatersrand in 2012. Since then, her research has focused on Environmental and Occupational Health as well as surveillance systems for occupational exposures and health outcomes.

She has authored and co-authored over 80 peer reviewed publications and supervised over 50 post graduate students. She has served as a reviewer for national and international journals and is an academic editor for public health journals such as BMC Public Health.