The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) welcomes former SA Olympic Medical Officer, Dr Phathokuhle Zondi to the School of Clinical Medicine where she takes a position in academia.
She has been appointed to strengthen UKZN’s current focus areas in research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and research supervision in the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine.
According to UKZN, Media Liaison Officer, Sejal Desai, as an internationally respected Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician, academic, and health strategy consultant, Zondi brings to UKZN a wealth of experience spanning elite sport, public health, and corporate governance.
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“Her extensive leadership portfolio includes serving as Chief Medical Officer for Team South Africa at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, the 2017 World Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Desai.
“From 2016 to 2024, she chaired the Medical Advisory Commission for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), overseeing athlete care and clinical standards on the world stage. Her work evolved from treating individual athletes to designing systems that support athlete health, with a strong focus on female athletes and underrepresented communities.”
“Her leadership roles include serving as Secretary General of the College of Sports and Exercise Medicine South Africa, President of the South African Sports Medicine Association (2015–2017), Associate Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and Senior Medical Educator for World Rugby. She is also on the international faculty of the IOC’s Advanced Team Physician Course,” she added.
Zondi has completed numerous ultra-marathons, multi-stage cycling races, triathlons, and even summited Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Her achievements have not gone unnoticed: she received a Ministerial Recognition Award in 2017, and in 2023, was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Businesswomen of the Year.
To young people looking to carve their own paths, Zondi offers these words of inspiration. “You don’t have to have it all figured out from the start — but stay curious, stay committed, and stay kind.”
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“Your path may twist and turn, but everything you learn along the way will serve you. Don’t let fear or failure hold you back. The world needs your voice, your ideas, and your courage — especially in spaces where people like you haven’t always been seen or heard. Whatever you choose to pursue, carry it with intention,” she added.
Desai said UKZN is honoured to have a leader of Dr Zondi’s calibre join the School of Clinical Medicine and looks forward to the significant contributions she will make to the institution and to the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine both locally and globally.