Mosa Moshabela

Matlagolo Mosa Moshabela is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, succeeding Mamokgethi Phakeng on 1 October 2024. Phakeng had resigned in 2023 after an independent investigation into UK governance and Daya Reddy had served as interim Vice-Chancellor before Moshabela was elected.

Early life and education Mosa Moshabela was born and raised in South Africa. He pursued his medical degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he developed a strong interest in public health and primary care. Following his undergraduate studies, Moshabela completed a training in Family Medicine from MEDUNSA and subsequently earned a PhD in Public Health from the University of the Witwatersrand. He obtained a master's degree in Demography and Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Career

Academic positions Moshabela has held various academic positions throughout his career. This includes being Dean of the School of Nursing and Public Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and subsequently Deputy Vice-Chancellor for research and Innovation. His academic work is characterized by a commitment to improving health care delivery and addressing the social determinants of health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Research and contributions Mosa Moshabela's research spans several critical areas in public health, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and health care delivery in resource-limited settings. He has led and participated in numerous research projects aimed at enhancing the understanding and management of these diseases. His work often involves interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from medicine, public health, and social sciences.

Moshabela has published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his research findings at various international conferences. His research has significantly influenced health policies and practices in South Africa and other parts of Africa.

Leadership and advocacy In addition to his academic and research roles, Moshabela is actively involved in health advocacy. He works closely with various governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve health care access and quality. His leadership extends to several professional associations and health committees, where he contributes to shaping health policy and practice. He is the chair person of the National Research Foundation Board. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Honors and awards Moshabela has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to public health and medical research. These accolades highlight his impact on improving health outcomes and his dedication to advancing health equity.

Selected publications

Croke, K., Moshabela, M., Kapoor, N.R., Doubova, S.V., Garcia-Elorrio, E., HaileMariam, D., Lewis, T.P., Mfeka-Nkabinde, G.N., Mohan, S., Mugo, P. and Nzinga, J., 2024. Primary health care in practice: usual source of care and health system performance across 14 countries. The Lancet Global Health, 12(1), pp.e134-e144. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(23)00513-2/fulltext