Klerksdorp: The unveiling of the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine at the North West University (NWU) has been welcomed by the Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, chaired by Karabo Tebogo Magagane.
According to South African Government News Agency, the event marks the culmination of over 20 years of visioning and planning. The university announced this week that the new medical school will be named the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine. This decision was made in consultation with and approved by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust. The NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine will be the 11th medical school in South Africa.
This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the NWU, the North West Department of Health, and private sector stakeholders. The school aims to address the significant shortage of healthcare practitioners in the province while also providing a foundation for the development of the country’s medical expertise.
Magagane stated that this significant development not only honours the legacy of Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was born in Klerksdorp in 1931, but also positions the province at the forefront of academic medicine, health innovation, and inclusive service delivery. ‘Naming the school after Archbishop Tutu is a fitting tribute to his enduring contributions to humanity and reflects the university’s commitment to social justice, human dignity, and nation-building,’ the Chairperson said.
According to the committee, the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine will be anchored in the core pillars of NWU – teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. The committee believes the school will harness the strength of a growing network of hospitals and clinics across the province, with Klerksdorp/Tshepong Tertiary Hospital serving as a key clinical training site. ‘The Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital, which previously partnered with Wits University, has already set national benchmarks in healthcare innovation, including becoming the first institution in South Africa to cure Extreme Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and successfully performing the first-ever pump cardiac bypass surgeries in its new catheterisation laboratory last year.’
The establishment of the medical school not only aligns with the transformative goals of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, recently signed into law, but also strengthens the province’s health systems in preparation for universal health coverage. ‘By equipping future health professionals through high-quality education and immersive clinical training, the School of Medicine will be instrumental in advancing accessible, equitable, and quality health care for all residents of the province,’ Magagane added.
The development is a catalyst for economic diversification in the City of Matlosana, which has been negatively affected by the decline of the mining sector. ‘The growth of the health and academic research sectors offers promising new pathways for local economic revitalisation, employment, and innovation.’
The committee said it remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen public health infrastructure, education, and service delivery, as part of its ongoing oversight work to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution and the spirit of the NHI Act. The first intake of students for the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine is scheduled for 2028.