Universities South Africa Mourns the Passing of SMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus
USAf pays tribute to Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, recognising her leadership, academic excellence and contributions to higher education, teaching and learning, and student development.
South Africa’s representative body for the heads of tertiary-institutions, Universities South Africa, (USAf), has responded with “shock and deep sorrow” at the untimely passing of Professor Tandi Matsha-Erasmus, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
In a statement, the Board of Directors and Management of USAf, the umbrella body representing the 26 public universities in South Africa, described Professor Matsha-Erasmus was a valued and active member of the USAf Board, having been welcomed into this role upon her appointment as Vice-Chancellor in June 2025.
Professor Matsha-Erasmus had recently accepted the appointment as Vice-Chairperson of the USAf Teaching and Learning Strategy Group (TLSG), which is tasked with transforming the curriculum to drive societal impact and enhance graduate employability. In this role, she was poised to make significant contributions to the enhancement of teaching and learning across South African universities.
She also served as a proxy representative on the Higher Health Board, which is the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)’s implementing arm for student health, psychosocial well-being, and holistic youth development across South Africa’s post-school education and training (PSET) sector.
In all these capacities, Professor Matsha-Erasmus demonstrated a combination of scholarly excellence and strategic acumen. She was a leader who believed in the transformative power of education and research to address the health challenges facing our continent.
“Rest in peace, Vice-Chancellor. You have run your race with excellence and integrity,” the statement said.
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