Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) announced on June 17, 2026, the passing of its Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus. In its official statement, the university honoured her compassion and unwavering commitment to accountability, noting her readiness to confront difficult issues transparently and prioritise the institution’s long-term welfare above personal or organisational comfort. No cause of death has been disclosed, and all media enquiries have been directed to SMU’s Acting Director of Advancement and Communications, Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli.
Key Facts About Professor Matsha-Erasmus’s Passing and Legacy
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Official statement & media contact – SMU released its press statement on 17 June 2026, mourning Professor Matsha-Erasmus and designating Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli (Acting Director of Advancement and Communications) as the sole point of contact for all press queries.
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Tributes from the university – The statement specifically praised her compassion and steadfast dedication to accountability, underscoring her willingness to openly address challenging issues and place the university’s long‑term interests first—particularly during a period of significant institutional renewal.
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Tenure as Vice-Chancellor – Professor Matsha-Erasmus took office as SMU’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal on 1 June 2025. Prior to this, she served as the Founding Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
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Academic and research achievements – She was a prolific scholar with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and held a C1 rating from South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF). In 2024, she received the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC of the Year Award.
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Recent public engagement – Just over a month before her death, on 14 May 2026, Professor Matsha-Erasmus took part in a high-level strategic roundtable hosted by the British High Commission in Pretoria, which focused on South Africa’s health priorities, digital health innovation, and artificial intelligence.
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Personal background and cause of death – She was born in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) and spent her early childhood in the Tsitsikamma region, her family’s ancestral home. The university has not released any information regarding the cause of her death.
