Yackoob Kassim (YK) Seedat, Emeritus Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal, passed away on 2 January 2026 at the age of 91 years. The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) mourns him as of one of its stalwarts, and a cornerstone of South African academic medicine.
Prof Seedat had trained in Renal Medicine under Sir Douglas Black in the UK, and was a global pioneer in hypertension research. Despite facing salary discrimination and restrictions on who he could treat under apartheid (1967-1976), he achieved a significant breakthrough in 1977 by being appointed to lead Addington Hospital’s first non-racial Nephrology Unit. Prof Seedat’s career spanned six decades and included serving as the Head of Medicine at the University of Natal Medical School from 1978 to 1994, the first black person to do so.
A prolific researcher, he authored over 500 publications and 40 book chapters, focusing primarily on the epidemiology and treatment of hypertension and renal disease in Black South African populations. His work, also presented at many conferences , earned him numerous international accolades, including the World Hypertension League Award and the International Society of Nephrology Pioneer Award.
His legacy is defined by his tireless dedication to improving health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa and his unparalleled service with integrity to professional medical bodies. Among his many national and international honours, Prof Seedat received the President’s Award for Meritorious Service in 1990.
Prof Seedat made an indelible contribution to medical governance in South Africa. He served on the Council of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) and was President of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in 2002, further exemplifying his commitment to ethical leadership and professional standards.
Distinguished Service to the CMSA
Prof Seedat was a stalwart of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), where he championed high standards in specialist training and examination and was a leader in its transformation.
• In 1978 he became the first black person to be elected to the CMSA Council and served on its Executive Council from 1992 to 2002.
• He served on the Faculty of Physicians including as its Chairperson between 1992 and 1995.
• In 1998 he became the first black person to be awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the CMSA, our highest honour.
• For his immense contributions, the CMSA bestowed upon him the Golden Jubilee Award and an Illuminated Citation in 2005.
In an act of extraordinary philanthropy, in 1995 Prof Seedat donated a house in Durban to the CMSA to use as its office. The building was aptly named in his honour.
Prof Seedat’s Legacy
In addition to his research record, Professor Seedat was a superb teacher, a stickler for accuracy and honesty, a powerful mentor and a loyal friend to many. He was also a vocal advocate for medical professionalism, famously urging new graduates to avoid practice primarily to accumulate wealth, and rather to focus on community service, reminding them that the true purpose of medicine is to be of ‘service to humanity.
Indeed, Prof Seedat exemplifies the CMSA purpose namely “to promote the highest degree of skill and efficiency in medical and dental practice and to cultivate the highest ethical standards and professional conduct … not for pecuniary profit, but for the betterment of humanity”.
He is survived by his loving family and generations of doctors whom he mentored and inspired. His impact on the landscape of South African medicine and the CMSA will persist deep into the future.
