HONOURING A LEGACY…NWU’s Desmond Tutu School of Medicine to Open in 2028!

The first intake of students for the newly established NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine is scheduled for 2028 – a milestone moment not only for North-West University (NWU), but for the nation. This medical school, the 11th in South Africa, represents a significant step toward closing the country’s healthcare gap and embodies the enduring legacy of one of South Africa’s most beloved moral leaders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The decision to name the school in his honour was made in close consultation with the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, receiving their full support. At an official naming ceremony held on 22 April 2025 in Sandton, dignitaries including Dr Anna Mokgokong (Chancellor of NWU), Prof Bismark Tyobeka (Vice-Chancellor), and Dr Mamphela Ramphele (Chairperson of the Tutu IP Trust) unveiled the name in an event marked by symbolism, purpose, and inspiration.

A Name That Carries Weight and Meaning

Archbishop Tutu once aspired to become a medical doctor before being called to ministry - a fact that makes this naming even more poignant. As Dr Ramphele noted at the ceremony, “It is fitting that Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s name will now live on in every graduate of the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine.”

Tutu’s lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and the principle of ubuntu made him a towering figure both spiritually and socially. His moral clarity during the liberation struggle and the Truth and Reconciliation era left an indelible mark on the country. Now, his values will form the ethical foundation upon which this new school of medicine will be built.

Building a School of Excellence and Purpose

According to Prof Tyobeka, the medical school will rest on three core pillars:

• Training: offering world-class undergraduate (MBChB) and postgraduate (MMed) programmes.

• Research: promoting cutting-edge scientific inquiry and discovery.

• Engaged scholarship: extending impact beyond academia into underserved communities.

These foundations will enable the school not only to produce highly competent healthcare professionals but to advance public health throughout the North West Province and beyond. Strategic partnerships with global institutions are also envisioned to ensure students and faculty gain international exposure and collaborative opportunities.

A Timely Response to National Needs

The project is a collaborative effort between NWU, the North West Department of Health, and private sector stakeholders. It aims to directly address the critical shortage of healthcare practitioners in South Africa - especially in rural and underserved regions. With a current doctor-to-patient ratio of 0.31 doctors per 1,000 people, the country faces urgent capacity challenges.

As Dr Mokgokong noted, this medical school is more than infrastructure: “We are not merely building a school of bricks and mortar, we are laying the foundation for something much greater and more enduring - doors of opportunity, healing, compassion, and transformation.”

The Spirit of Ubuntu in Every Graduate

The school’s namesake reminds us that medicine is as much about empathy as it is about expertise. By embodying ubuntuthe African philosophy of shared humanity - the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine seeks to instil compassion, equity, and civic responsibility into every student it trains.

As Premier Lazarus Mokgosi aptly stated, “His teachings must continue to galvanise and guide us to be solution-driven citizens.” The school’s graduates will be expected not only to heal but to lead, to advocate, and to inspire. 