The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) is pleased to highlight a public lecture hosted by Walter Sisulu University (WSU) on 18 November 2025, held in celebration of the distinguished career and lifelong contribution of Professor Lizo Ebden Mazwai, former President of the CMSA and a highly respected leader in South African medicine.
Celebrating a Lifetime of Leadership and Service
The lecture honoured Professor Mazwai’s enduring legacy as a surgeon,
academic, mentor and institutional builder whose work has had a profound impact on medical education, specialist training, and health care delivery, particularly in rural and historically underserved communities.
Keynote Address: “Growing Our Own Timber”
The keynote address, delivered by Professor Bhugwan Singh of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, was titled “Growing our own timber; the training of doctors in the Eastern Cape.” Professor Singh reflected on Professor Mazwai’s pivotal role in overcoming systemic barriers to the training of black medical doctors during apartheid and his visionary leadership in building sustainable local academic and clinical capacity. He highlighted Professor Mazwai’s unwavering commitment to dignity, equity, and community service as central tenets of medical professionalism. Throughout his career, he consistently championed the development of doctors grounded in academic excellence, social responsibility, and service to their communities.
The CMSA honours a giant in of medical leadership
Professor Mazwai’s career spans several decades of distinguished service and leadership. His national contributions include serving as Senior Vice President of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa from 2002 to 2004, and subsequently first black President from 2004 to 2007. In his tribute, Professor Victor Mngomezulu, Honorary Registrar of the CMSA, highlighted Professor Mazwai’s impact and the key milestones achieved during his tenure. These included strengthening specialist medical training through
expanded access to specialist examinations, improved examiners’ training and examination moderation, and strengthening relationships between the CMSA and training institutions such as WSU.
A Mentor and Role Model
The event brought together academic leaders, colleagues, former students, and family members, all of whom paid tribute to Professor Mazwai’s influence as mentor, role model, and advocate for socially responsive medical education. In his reflections, Professor Mazwai emphasized the unspoken social compact that accompanies education and professional privilege, reaffirming the responsibility of medical professionals to return their skills in service of their country and communities.
Preserving a Lasting Legacy
The CMSA is honoured to recognize Professor Mazwai’s outstanding contribution to postgraduate medical education and to share this lecture as part of preserving the legacy of leaders who have shaped South African medicine with courage, integrity, and vision.
Lecture in honour of Professor Lizo Ebden Mazwai
Prof Bhugwan Singh’s keynote address from 11:19
Prof Victor Mngomezulu ‘s tribute address from 02:15
