SAHPRA fuels future Innovators with Tech Boost at SMU Awards

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) reinforced its role as a champion of scientific advancement by sponsoring top achievers at the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards hosted by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Held on 13 February 2026 in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, the ceremony honoured five exceptional students from the Faculty of Science and Innovation with high-performance laptops and accessories in recognition of their academic distinction.

The annual awards celebrate outstanding scholarly achievement and highlight the power of strategic partnerships in strengthening research, innovation, and skills development. During the handover, SAHPRA Learning and Development Specialist Zingisa Nodada underscored the regulator’s commitment to nurturing emerging scientific talent. She noted that the devices will enhance learning, support research productivity, and expand opportunities for students to benefit from work-integrated learning initiatives.

“Through this contribution, we are investing in more than devices; we are investing in potential. By equipping these high-achieving students with the tools they need to succeed, SAHPRA is proud to support academic excellence, strengthen scientific capacity, and empower the next generation of innovators who will shape the future of health and research in South Africa”, she said.

Echoing this sentiment, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Sechene Gololo described the sponsorship as transformative, emphasising that it affirms the value of excellence while actively nurturing future scientific leaders. He conveyed the faculty’s sincere appreciation for SAHPRA’s generous contribution, noting that it significantly strengthens their shared commitment to student success, academic excellence, and capacity development.

The event concluded with a renewed pledge of collaboration, demonstrating how targeted investment in high-performing students accelerates skills growth, fuels innovation, and helps secure a stronger future for science and technology in South Africa.